Heating Oil Storage Tips for the Summer
Written on: July 3, 2023
We’ll help you protect your oil tank and home heating equipment.
If you open the door to your refrigerator, you’ll see many food and beverage products with “best-by” dates. Pick up a bottle of milk or a package of salami that you haven’t looked at for a while, and you’ll probably check that date to ensure it’s still safe to consume.
Many of our fuel customers have asked over the years if heating oil has an expiration date. They want to know if it can spoil, especially when it’s summertime, and their heating oil tank is full. We have good news: your fuel will be fine, even if it sits all summer, because the average lifespan of home heating oil ranges between 18 and 24 months. And the premium heating oil that OSI Comfort Specialists delivers has even better longevity!
Additionally, your oil tank can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, but there are some simple steps you can take this summer to ensure that your heating oil, tank and home comfort equipment all stay safe and secure.
1. Keep your oil tank filled.
If you finished the heating season with a quarter full tank or less, we suggest that you arrange a heating oil delivery to prevent warm weather condensation from forming on the interior walls. This water will settle in your tank, where it causes bacteria to multiply. This creates sludge that can clog your fuel lines and damage your boiler or furnace. Condensation also promotes corrosion, a significant cause of tank failure.
2. Give your oil tank a once-over.
Even though your oil tank is one of the longest-lasting pieces of home equipment, it won’t last forever. And ignoring the signs of impending tank failure can cause severe problems. Heating oil spills are expensive to clean up.
Take some time this summer to look over your tank for these warning signs that it might be approaching retirement:
- Rust, warping or dents on the tank body.
- Wet spots on the tank.
- Loose oil around the tank.
- Unstable tank legs.
- Pinhole oil leaks.
If you notice any of these issues, please get in touch with us right away to inspect your tank so that we can stay ahead of any potential leaks.
3. Arrange a heating system tune-up.
Annual heating system maintenance ensures that your equipment will operate as efficiently as possible. It helps prevent breakdowns before they happen and increases your system’s service life. And the summer is a wonderful time to tune up your heating equipment. Our technicians won’t be as busy with emergency no-heat repairs in Queens, Nassau and western Suffolk counties. We have more time for routine service calls, so you’ll have a better choice of appointment times.
A service call also allows our team members to look at your heating oil tank and ensure it’s in good condition. If it’s almost time for an oil tank replacement, the OSI Comfort team can set you up with a new, state-of-the-art tank that’s virtually leak-proof.
Contact us today to arrange an off-season oil tank fill-up or to request service.