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Maintaining Your Home’s Heating Oil Tank

Date: December 21, 2020

Is Your Tank Overdue For An Inspection?

oil tank corrosion massachusetts

Have you checked out your home’s heating oil tank lately?

Maybe you passed it while down in the basement getting holiday decorations or noticed it after a recent delivery of B40 Bioheat® SuperPlus™ from Cubby Oil. But if you haven’t taken a close look at it lately, now is a good time to do so.

Heating oil tanks can last for decades. But they don’t last forever. That’s why you should regularly inspect your heating oil tank. There are obvious signs of problems that, if left unaddressed, could lead to tank failure and a messy, costly cleanup and tank replacement. Here’s some of what to look for.

  • Rust
  • Broken leg brackets
  • Warps
  • Dents
  • Weeping or wet spots on the sides of the tank
  • Pinhole leaks

The most common reason, however, for tank failure is something you don’t catch early on: corrosion from the inside of the tank out.

How Does Heating Oil Tank Corrosion Happen?

Heating oil tank corrosion happens because of condensation buildup inside your heating oil tank when there is more air than oil in there.

That buildup causes condensation to drip off, then sink to the bottom of the tank. Once there, it creates an environment ideal for the development of sediment. That sediment is what corrodes your heating oil tank and can clog the fuel lines as well.

How Can I Avoid Oil Tank Corrosion?

Remember what we said about condensation buildup happening when there is more air than heating oil inside your tank? If you keep your heating oil tank at least 50% full, you dramatically reduce the condensation buildup and thus protect your heating oil tank. This is especially true during the spring and summer. This is why we highly recommend that you fill your heating oil tank at the end of heating season (April-May). Your tank will be protected, and you’ll be ready no matter when you need to turn on the heat in the fall.

Also, too, if you can’t remember the last time your tank was professionally inspected, it might do you well to schedule an appointment to have that done. Our team of professionals can access the quality of your tank with contactless in-home service and make any recommendations as fit.
[h3] Automatic deliveries can assist too!

When you enroll in Automatic Delivery, you never worry about your tank not being full for long. We factor your heating oil usage history alongside the current weather conditions to accurately predict when you will need a delivery and get it to you before you ever run low.

With more than 70 years of serving our customers, we understand what you want—dependable, responsive service and easy heating oil deliveries at a fair price. That’s what you’ll get from Cubby Oil & Energy—one of the leading heating oil suppliers in eastern Massachusetts. Become a Cubby Oil customer today and experience the Cubby difference.

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