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Posted: February 3, 2025
The sludge that is sometimes found in a heating oil tank is a mix of dirt, rust, and oxidized fuel that has settled at the bottom. What causes your fuel to be oxidized? It’s due to bacteria, which will grow because of water in the tank. This is a result of condensation created on the walls of the empty part of a heating oil tank.
Heating oil sludge can cause major problems for heating systems. If it’s not properly taken care of, sludge can make its way into the fuel itself and clog the supply line. In extreme cases, this can make a heating system stop working entirely.
The good news is that heating oil sludge is preventable. Here is how you can stop heating oil sludge build-up.
Condensation can be a common problem for heating oil tanks during the summer. Hot, humid days and cooler nights create the perfect atmosphere for condensation buildup to form inside your tank. If your storage tank is aboveground, outdoors, and in an unshaded area, it’s especially vulnerable to condensation.
The best way to avoid condensation build-up inside your storage tank is to keep your tank full during the warm months. The easiest way to do this is to be on our automatic delivery schedule, which helps us head off any condensation problems with your heating oil tank. We’ll make sure the level in your heating oil tank never gets too low, no matter the time of the year.
After water forms on the bare walls in the empty area of the tank, it drips down and sinks to the bottom of the tank because water is denser than heating oil. There, it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms.
Over time, these organisms turn into sediment. As previously noted, this sediment (another name for sludge) can get into your fuel lines and clog them. This will cause your heating system to shut down.
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 in the Delaware Valley. 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 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.
You may be able to enjoy all the benefits of B20 Bioheat Plus fuel right now with your next heating oil delivery when you become a Wilson Oil and Propane customer. We’re the People You Can Trust if you live in the Delaware Valley region of southeast Pennsylvania, northern Delaware, or southern New Jersey.
Founded in 1926, Wilson Oil and Propane is committed to providing excellent service to our customers every single day. 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.
