How to Properly Store Heating Oil

Posted: October 6, 2025

Simple Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Tank

Heating oil is one of the most reliable ways to keep your family warm and safe during our cold Delaware Valley winters. But while most people focus on the furnace or boiler, the unsung hero of your comfort is your heating oil storage tank.

The fact is, if your tank isn’t properly cared for, and if you neglect guidelines for proper heating oil storage, small issues can quickly turn into costly repairs—or even a full tank replacement. The good news? With just a little attention and regular upkeep, your tank can last for decades. Here’s how to keep it in top shape.

5 Smart Tips for Oil Tank Care

1. Check for Leaks and Rust
   Inspect your tank regularly, along with delivery and vent lines, valves, and fittings. Look for excessive rust on the bottom of the tank, including around the seams there. You should also look for stains or oil spots—which could signal a leak or weak spot.
2. Inspect Tank Supports
   A tank is only as strong as the surface it stands on. Check the “legs” and “feet” to make sure they’re stable and level, ideally on a concrete pad or firm basement floor. If anything looks off, schedule a professional inspection right away.
3. Watch for Surface Damage
   Look out for dents, stains, settling, or tilting. These early warning signs can prevent major problems down the road.
4. Keep the Fill Pipe Accessible
   Overgrown bushes, snow piles, or clutter around your fill pipe make deliveries harder and risk delays. Keep the area clear all year long so your heating oil can always get where it needs to go.
5. Never Let the Tank Level Get Too Low
   A tank with very little oil breeds condensation, especially in the summertime, which can lead to rust, bacteria growth, and fuel sludge. This sludge can clog fuel lines and damage your system. If your tank is half full or less, order a refill—or even better, sign up for our free automatic delivery service so you never have to worry about it. We’ll take care of it for you, at no extra cost.

Oil Tank Protection & Upgrades in Chester County, PA

For homeowners with older steel tanks, we offer our ProGuard program. This tank protection plan gives you coverage and peace of mind in case of a fuel oil leak. Please contact us to learn further details about our oil tank protection program.

If you’re ready to upgrade to a modern aboveground heating oil tank, please contact us about your options. Today’s heating oil storage tanks are far more advanced than old models because they are virtually leakproof and have features that include:

• double-wall construction, with an outer tank of corrosion-resistant galvanized steel.
• leak-detection systems.
• long-term warranties.
• sleek designs that can generally be installed in small or unusually shaped spaces.

Why Wilson Customers Have an Edge

Oil tank care doesn’t stop at maintenance—it starts with the quality of the fuel you put inside. That’s one reason we only deliver B20 Bioheat Plus® fuel, a cleaner-burning blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel.

• Burns cleaner than conventional heating oil from the past.
• Longer equipment life and fewer repairs.
• Treatment of our fuel with additives to reduce waxing, sludge, and condensation.
• Protects both your tank and the environment.

Founded in 1926, Wilson Oil and Propane is committed to providing excellent service to customers who live in the Delaware Valley region of southeast Pennsylvania, northern Delaware, or southern New Jersey.

In addition to our dependable and safe B20 Bioheat Plus fuel deliveries, you can also count on us for prompt propane deliveries, expert HVAC repair and maintenance services, and new heating and cooling equipment installations. In short, we offer our customers multiple ways to lower their energy costs and enhance their comfort.

Reach out to us today to find out more about all that we can do for you.