Loss Prevention for Heating Tanks

Did you know?

It's sound advice to have a professional heat service technician check your tank system if your fuel consumption increases sharply or if your furnace is not operating properly.
To ensure that an underground tank is not leaking, it's a good practice to carefully measure and record the product levels during the off-season months.
Painting your above ground tank a light color will help reduce condensation and bottom corrosion.
Keeping your tank filled during the off-season months will also reduce your condensation.
Your dealer can add a fuel additive to your tank to prevent sludge buildup and to displace any water.
A fuel gauge installed on your tank will significantly reduce the chances of overfill during fuel delivery.
Above ground tanks, piping and filters located under rooflines should be protected from falling ice and snow.
Absorbent batting or kitty litter both work well to soak up spilled petroleum product.

Responsible Tank Management

Professional trade journal publications recommend that tank owners conduct periodic maintenance inspections of their heating oil systems to look for signs of:

Spills or overfills around the fill pipe, vent lines, or tank.
Leaks from fittings, valves, filters, tank gauges, and piping.
A release including the smell of oil in your home or around the tank area.
Dead vegetation in the area of the tank and fill spout.
Rust, wet spots, or excessive dents on the tank's surface.
Obstructions (insect nests, ice, or snow) in the vent pipe.
Tank instability. Legs for above ground tanks should be stable and resting upon a sturdy masonry footing. The bottom of the tank should be off the ground and clear of debris, leaves, snow, etc.

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