1. Get to know your Oil tank 

This may sound obvious, however if you have recently moved to a new house which has oil fired central heating, it is important you get to know your tank, most importantly the shut off valve in case of emergency!

2. Check your Oil tank regularly  

The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC), the trade association which represents oil manufacturers and suppliers, recommends that you check your tank weekly. It is important you keep an eye out for any cracks, scratches or bulges within your tank which may cause a leak.

3. When was the last time you replaced your tank?  

OFTEC suggest that an oil tank typically has an expected working life of twenty years and after that you should consider replacing your tank in order to avoid costly tank failure. Craggs Energy supply a wide range of oil tanks in all shapes and sizes, so if you do need to replace your existing tank, please get in touch with a member of our team who will be able to advise you with a tank to suit your needs.

4. Is your Oil tank insured? 

Did you know that most household insurance policies do not cover the Heating Oil tank? The Environment Agency strongly recommend taking out an additional insurance to cover your tank for any loss of oil, any costly environmental clean up’s and the cost of cleaning your own and any neighbouring properties.

5. Easy Access 

Make sure your tank is easy to access, for both your OFTEC technician and your Heating Oil delivery driver. When you order your Heating Oil make sure you add special delivery instructions to help the driver find your tank.

6. Is your tank protected from thieves?

Unfortunately the theft of Heating Oil is becoming more and more common from rural isolated homes. As we mentioned above, it is important to your tank is easy to access, however ideally don’t make it visible from the roadside. There are a few ways you can help prevent fuel theft, these include:

• Shield your tank from the road
• Install a security light or alarm
• Regularly monitoring your Heating Oil level so you are aware if theft has taken place

7. When was the last time you checked your Heating Oil tank level?

Running out of Heating Oil can be costly as you will require fuel quickly which usually incurs a higher pence per litre, alongside this a Heating Oil technician may need to called out to re-start your heating system

In order to avoid these issues, Craggs Energy can provide an Emergency Kit which contains 80L of Kerosene Heating Oil that can be easily stored in an outbuilding or garage. This emergency kit provides a reserve quantity of fuel which can be used to give you the time to order your fuel avoiding any potentially expensive emergency deliveries. To order your Emergency Heating Oil Kit call visit https://craggsenergy.co.uk/other-oil.html.

8. What do I do if my tank leaks or I spill Oil?  

If your tank is leaking, make sure you stop the flow by turning off your shutoff valve as Kerosene Heating Oil is toxic and can be harmful to the environment. In the event of spill call your local Craggs Energy depot as we are fully equipped to handle such situations via our sister company Craggs Environmental. In the event of a small spill we recommend you keep a spill kit handy, which can be purchased from our online shop at https://craggsenergy.co.uk/shop.html

9. Do you have water in your fuel tank? 

Condensation and leaks can occur in most Heating Oil and Red Diesel tanks. The presence of water can contaminate your fuel which can lead to boiler or application failure. We recommend using a Tank Sponge to eliminate this problem. The Tank Sponge contains super absorbent polymers that remove water from the tank leaving the fuel unaffected. To purchase a Tank Sponge order online at https://craggsenergy.co.uk/tank-sponge.html

10. Have an annual inspection!

OFTEC recommend having your Kerosene Heating Oil boiler serviced by one of their qualified technicians at least once a year. At the same time, ask your technician to carry out a tank inspection too who will be able to check the condition of your Oil tank, the filters and supply pipes. To see which technician we recommend in your area please make contact with your local Craggs Energy depot.