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Posted: May 19, 2025
While heating oil tanks can last for decades, like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s often hard to see trouble coming, because they generally erode from the inside out.
A lot of empty space inside your oil tank causes trouble and can shorten the life of your tank. That’s why it’s best to keep your tank at least half-full (preferably more) during the warm months.
Condensation is the reason for the trouble. Empty space in your tank is space where water condensation can form. Condensation is more common during the summer. Hot, humid days and cool nights create the perfect atmosphere for condensation buildup to accelerate inside your tank. And if your tank is aboveground, outdoors and in an unshaded area, it’s especially prone to condensation.
After water forms on the bare walls on the empty area of the tank, it drips down and sinks to the bottom of the tank because it is denser than heating oil. There, it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms. Over time, these become sediment, also known as sludge, which can create problems with your oil tank. One problem is that sediment can get into your fuel lines and clog them up. This will cause your heating oil system to shut down.
Keeping your heating oil tank full during the summer months prolongs its life. That’s because the same condensation that results in sludge can also corrode your tank from the inside out – a big problem that could be difficult to see coming and costly to remediate.
It’s always a good idea to get regular, professional inspections of your heating oil tank. You should also do your own visual inspections periodically, because some trouble signs of pending failure can be seen, including:
Other warning signs that your tank may need to be replaced include:
To help protect your aboveground heating oil tank, please follow these three tips:
For homeowners with older steel tanks, we offer our ProGuard program. This 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.
You can protect your tank further by always buying quality heating oil from a reputable company like Wilson Oil and Propane. We only deliver B20 Bioheat Plus® to our heating oil customers. This is a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil combined with premium biodiesel made from renewable resources such as plant oils and animal fats.
Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning, renewable substitute for traditional petroleum diesel.
Bioheat Plus fuel burns cleaner than regular heating oil, meaning your heating system will generally last longer, be more efficient, and require fewer repairs.
To make our high-quality fuel even better, we treat our Bioheat Plus fuel with an additive that reduces waxing and algicide build-up while helping to control condensation in the tank. All of this extends the life of the fuel inside your storage tank and prevents damage.
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 dependable B20 Bioheat Plus Fuel deliveries, you can also count on us for propane deliveries, expert HVAC repair 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.
