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What Size Oil Tank Does My Home Need?

Date: January 17, 2022

We can help you choose the perfect tank.

home oil tank options massachusettsNothing lasts forever, including oil tanks. Unlike many home appliances, your home heating system’s tank can last for decades. The average lifespan is about 25 years, but once your tank passes the 20-year mark, its age starts to show.

Happily, Cubby Oil & Energy installs and services a variety of leak-proof, double-walled heating oil tanks for greater Boston customers. If your tank has reached the end of its life- cycle or your family’s heating needs have changed, we have you covered!

Many homeowners have never needed to purchase a new oil tank before. It’s reasonable to wonder, what size tank do you need for your home?

Measure Your Current Tank

Before you start shopping for a new oil tank, you should figure out your current tank’s size. Specifically, determine the capacity (measured in gallons) and dimensions (height, width and depth) of your tank.

Newer tanks list the capacity on their nameplate. If the tank in your home doesn’t have the capacity listed, you will need to estimate it based on its dimensions.

Estimating a Tank’s Capacity

Here are some helpful tools you can use to approximate your current tank’s size.

A typical home heating oil tank’s capacity is 275 gallons. They come in either a vertical (275V) or horizontal (275H) orientation. Depending on the placement of the tank, it can be larger. Standard aboveground tank sizes are 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675, and 1000 gallons. Belowground tanks tend to be considerably bigger.

A 275-gallon heating oil tank, according to industry standards, will adequately service a one or two-bedroom home. Three and four-bedroom homes require a 300 to 500-gallon model. If you’re still not sure, you can also use a helpful tank size calculator online.

This is a good starting point for your search. However, you should consider other factors to right-size your new heating oil tank.

Additional Sizing Factors

Once you have determined (or approximated) your current tank’s capacity and dimensions, you should weigh other items to guide your search for a new tank.

Physical space – Practically speaking, you need to determine how large a tank your room can accommodate.

Lifestyle – Do you take frequent vacations? Do you have elderly family members living under your roof? Are you conscious of your home’s environmental impact? These are all things that can affect your family’s heating oil usage.

Future family needs – Are you expecting a new addition in the coming years? Will an older relative be moving in with you? A growing family will require a larger heating capacity.

All these factors affect the size of the oil storage tank your home needs. Thinking carefully about them early will help the experts Cubby Oil & Energy right-size your oil storage. So, if it’s time to upgrade your heating oil tank, we are ready to help! We partner with top manufacturers like Roth and Granby and guarantee complete satisfaction in your equipment installation.

We also always offer incentives, specials, and financing deals for appliances and services! Now is a great time to contact Cubby Oil & Energy for your home heating needs.

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