Heating oil storage tanks are among the most durable items in your home. They’re also the most essential. After all, without a sound tank to hold your oil, your home’s heating and hot water systems will likely be out of commission.
And oil tanks can last a long time—more than 25 years in many cases. Still, when it’s time to replace your heating oil tank, you want to choose a new model before the old one springs a leak.
Here are some questions you should ask to determine the right size for your new tank:
To determine the size of the tank you’re replacing, you need to know its capacity and dimensions.
You can measure its dimensions (height, length, and width) yourself. This will help when choosing a replacement because you’ll know how large a tank your space can accommodate.
An oil tank’s capacity is also measured in gallons. Newer models will have the capacity listed right on the nameplate. If the capacity isn’t marked on the tank, you can estimate it using the dimensions. There are online calculators that can help you with this.
If you feel you’re calling for a heating oil delivery too often, your existing fuel tank might be too small for your home’s needs. The most common residential oil tank size is 275-gallon, which can accommodate a two-bedroom house. For a three-bedroom house or larger, you may need a 300- to 500-gallon tank.
The Poore’s Propane and Oil team can identify the volume of tank your home size generally needs.
It’s crucial to plan for lifestyle changes that might affect how much heat and hot water you require. The following changes can increase your heating oil usage:
Also, remember that the winters can get frosty in the Delmarva region. We often recommend an additional 30 percent capacity to have a fuel buffer for inclement weather.
While heating oil tanks are highly durable, it’s important to have them checked regularly. This is especially true if your tank is over 15 years old. Corrosion happens inside your tank, where you can’t see easily, and a significant oil leak is expensive to clean up.
The Poore’s team has been installing, servicing, and repairing heating oil tanks since 1954—right alongside all our available propane services! We know the warning signs of a failing tank. We can fix it for you, and if your tank needs to retire, we can replace it and safely remove your old tank. And today’s oil tanks are amazingly designed, with vertical and horizontal orientations, double-wall construction and corrosion-resistant materials.
Are you concerned about your heating oil tank? Request a service appointment today.
