The Other Beast In The Basement

If you live in certain areas of the country, primarily the northeast, heating homes with fuel oil is probably your best option. Oil heat gives you cost advantages, is extremely safe, and offers a wide variety of fuel dealers to choose from. Along with those options, however, come a few responsibilities that should make your home life more enjoyable, make your heating bills lower, and help to avoid catastrophic damages that can occur with any mechanical system, in any home.

You may, at this point, think that this article is going to focus on the annual maintenance needed to keep your heating system running in tip-tip shape. That’s not the case. Maintenance is a whole article in and of itself, and I’ll discuss that issue another time. Today, I would like to focus on the importance of an item that is probably the single most forgotten fixture in your house. Stuck back in a dark corner of your basement – often covered with a variety of other things you’ve either forgotten about, or just no longer use and haven’t gotten around to dropping off to your local Salvation Army – is this great beast we call your OIL TANK.

When functioning properly, there really is no reason to think about your oil tank. It is truly ‘Old Reliable’. An oil tank is typically replaced roughly every 40 years or so, and has a life expectancy of around 40 to 50 years. Usually, the only people who pay any attention at all to the beast in the corner is the service man who visits it once a year to change its filter. He will probably give it a quick look over to make sure there are no obvious leaks or other cause for concern, and be on his merry way! How miserable it must be to be this lonely, neglected beast stuck in the corner of your basement. Considering the responsibility it carries on its shoulders, you owe it to yourself - and your poor old lonely tank - to take a few precautionary steps to ensure that you and your family are going to enjoy a safe and warm heating season..

First and foremost, it is important to keep the area surrounding the tank free and clear. Any problem, no matter how large or small, will always be more easily detected, if you can see past the mound of laundry, Christmas decorations, or whatever you may hide your oil tank behind. A large problem can often be avoided if it is caught while it is still a small problem. Remember, small problems cost less than large ones; and large problems are a lot more inconvenient than small ones.

Familiarize yourself with your tank, and the piping and accessories connected to it. Knowing the location of the tank-valve that’s stops oil supply can save you an awful lot of aggravation if a leak occurs in the oil line. Make sure you know how to read the gauge. This is important if your heat stops working. Among the first question a service man will ask if you call will be, “ Are you Out Of Oil”. Not knowing could cost you a few extra hours without heat when the mechanic arrives at your home to find an empty tank – after you told him there was oil in the tank.
Look for any changes in the tank position. A floor settles over time, and it is possible that the legs on your forgotten beast may need to be adjusted from time to time in order to keep the tank and the piping free from stress. Stressed tanks leak. Leaks cost money, and money trees are getting harder and harder to find these days.

On the outside of your house, make sure you know the location of your fill pipe. This is the pipe that the delivery driver will connect to his hose when its time for more oil. Make sure you have a cap on your fill pipe at all times. One of the leading causes of problems with oil tanks is water. Since water is heavier than oil, it will always sink to the bottom of the tank. It is no coincidence that tanks rust from the bottom. Almost every leaking tank can in one way or another be traced to water, moisture, or condensation.

Other than keeping a cap on the fill pipe, you can avoid moisture problems and rusting by making sure you keep your tank filled in the summer months. The oil company is never just trying to squeeze that last penny out of you for the year as I have heard so many people surmise. They know that a tank that is less than ¾ full is subject to moisture formation on the inside of the tank when its warm outside, and they are doing you a service when they suggest you fill up for the summer.

These are just a few things to help you and your big old beast in the corner enjoy a long, happy, healthy life together. Make sure you stop by that corner of the basement every few months and visit your tank and do a quick visual inspection.

If you are looking for a Delaware Valley heating contractor, please call us today at 888-545-HVAC or complete our service request form.

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