Oil Tank Inspections Checking your oil tank can help you to stay safe and save money. Your heating oil is a valuable resource, and protecting it is essential. The financial and environmental costs of a leaking or failing oil tank can be significant — not to mention the stress it causes. That’s why regular tank checks are so important. Spotting potential issues before they become major problems is always the best approach.
Top Up During Summ er While it might seem unnecessary to refill your oil tank during the warmer months, it’s actually a smart move. Here’s why:
Lower Prices : Oil prices often dip in summer due to reduced demand, making it more cost-effective to top up now. Prevent Moisture and Sludge : Leaving your tank low creates room for moisture to accumulate. Combined with heat and humidity, this can encourage bacterial growth, leading to sludge build up that can damage your tank and heating system. Be Winter-Ready : Refilling now ensures you're prepared when temperatures drop again — no last-minute rush for deliveries when you need heating the most.
When Should You Check Your Oil Tank? We recommend giving your tank a routine visual check — at the very least, before you refill. This helps prevent delivery issues and, more importantly, catches problems before they escalate.
What to Look For During your tank check, inspect for signs of damage, leaks, or anything unusual:
Around the Oil Tank: Clear away overgrown vegetation that could hide issues. Check the base or supports for cracks or ground movement. Ensure the contents gauge is working (and closed if it has a valve). Pipework and Fittings: Look for cracks, dampness, staining, or damage — especially at joints and valves. Inspect surrounding vegetation for signs of die-back (which could indicate a leak). Check bunds (secondary containment) for liquid, rubbish, or signs of failure. Plastic Oil Tank (Bunded or Single-Skin): Look for whitening, cracking, splitting, bulging, or any distortion Metal Oil Tank: Watch for rust, paint blistering, pitting, or oil dampness on seams and welds. If you notice anything unusual or if something has changed since your last check, please call us on 01278 431 451 (Option 4 for Service) we can then arrange to send an engineer out.
Plastic tanks cannot be repaired — if you see signs of deterioration, replacement is usually the only safe option.
Sudden Spike in Oil Use? If your oil usage increases unexpectedly, check your tank and pipework immediately for leaks. You may also want to consider installing a Tank Monitor for early warnings of sudden drops in oil levels.
Stay Proactive — It’s Your Responsibility While your annual boiler service (from an OFTEC-registered engineer ) should include a tank inspection, it’s ultimately up to the homeowner or tenant to ensure the tank is safe and secure.
Take advantage of good weather and check your tank today.
Or take advantage of our ✅ Free Tank Check – Available in your area.
To book, call 01278 431 451 (Option 4 for Service) and mention this offer.