SG Tanks

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3 Tips to ‘Winterproof’ Your Oil Tank

Autumn Leaves - Blog post

 

Now that the summer months have been and gone, and all those memories of BBQs are starting to sizzle away into the distance, it’s time to embrace the upcoming autumnal weather.

 

With temperatures dropping, the sun setting earlier in the evening, and the risk of snow ever increasing, it’s important to safeguard yourself against these changes in environmental conditions.

 

One such area to look at in particular is your oil tank. After all, the last thing you want to be dealing with over the autumn months is an unexpected oil leak or a heating issue. Nobody wants to be cold at Christmas so, by following our three tips below, you can ensure this won’t be a problem for you.

 

1. Order Oil Early.

 

When the outside temperature drops, more and more people turn on their heating. This results in a sudden surge in demand for oil, which causes prices to spike and makes it more difficult to have your tank refilled quickly.

 

Avoid this rush by checking your oil tank levels regularly and ordering your oil as early as you can. This will not only give you peace of mind that you’ll have enough oil to last the winter months, but you’ll save yourself a lot of money and hassle as well. If you don’t check your oil in advance, you could be in for a very cold Christmas.

 

2. Service Your Boiler.

 

Over the summer months, it’s likely that you won’t have used your oil tank much, if at all. Therefore, after such a long period of inactivity it’s important to check that the system is still working as safely and effectively as it was before.

 

The best way to do this is by monitoring the tank for any external signs of damage, then arranging a boiler service with an OFTEC-registered technician. This will help avoid any unexpected winter breakdowns, reassuring you that your heating will be faultless over the colder months.

 

3. Cut Plants Back.

 

Plants tend to go a bit mad over the summer so, if they’re getting in the way of your oil tank, you should think about cutting them back. Doing so will both help streamline any oil delivery and make it much easier for you to identify any external tank damage.

 

It’s also important to keep an eye on the tank’s vents and bund areas, as these can become clogged with leaves and debris when the autumnal weather sets in.

 

If you require any further advice or assistance on how to properly maintain your oil tank over the winter months, click here for some more useful tips. Alternatively, contact us today – a member of our team will be more than happy to answer any queries you might have. 

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Going Away? 3 Things To Do Before You Leave

Woman relaxing in the pool

Let’s set the scene. You’re lounging by the hotel pool, cocktail in hand, soaking up the rays and letting life pass you by. It’s bliss, and exactly what you need after a long hard few months.
 
However, a thought suddenly springs to mind – did you turn off your heating before you set off on your travels? You were so stressed with the last-minute packing; it must have slipped your mind!
 
You start to panic, frantically looking for your phone to message your neighbour, and then remember you forgot to give them a key before you left as well. The whole thing’s a complete disaster, and you start to dread how much the bills are going to be when you get back home.
 
Don’t let this situation happen to you – follow these three tips to ensure your home stays in tip-top condition while you’re away.
 

1. Check your heating

 
Avoiding a huge energy bill should be your number one priority. After all, there is nothing worse than getting back from holiday to find an unexpected bill greeting you on your doorstep. Save yourself a ton of money by turning your heating off before you go away, or setting your thermostat to an ‘away’ option if it has one.
 
If you have an oil tank in your garden, make sure you keep the oil level topped up before you go away. If you’re off on a summer holiday, for example, oil during these months is actually cheaper, and having a fuller tank will avoid moist and condensation building up. If this were to happen, you could be leaving yourself susceptible to leaks, which can be very expensive to clean up.
 

2. Tell your neighbour

 
One of the easiest ways of keeping your home secure is by simply letting your neighbour know that you’re going away. By doing so, you’ll have somebody best placed and readily available to keep an eye on your property. If you give them a key as well, they’ll also be able to pop around once every while to check everything is still OK.
 

3. Unplug appliances

 
Unplugging appliances is a vital thing to do and not just for saving money – for staying safe as well. Many appliances, such as hair straighteners, irons and ovens, pose a fire risk when they’re left on, so it’s important to turn them off before you go away to avoid any unnecessary damage.
 
While you don’t need to unplug every single appliance, you should unplug as many as you feel necessary. Leave the fridge on though – there’s nothing worse than coming back to a load of warm, mouldy food.
 
Here at SG Tanks, we are experts at installing and maintaining oil tanks. For any help or advice on how to look after it before you go away, get in touch with us and a friendly member of our team will be more than happy to help.

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Don’t forget about your oil tank this summer

Bunded oil tank positioned outdoors

While you’re lounging by the pool or manning the BBQ this summer, spare a thought for your oil tank sitting at home.

 

It’ll probably be the last thing you want to think about when you’re soaking up the sun, but the heat and humidity of the summer months can seriously affect oil tanks. This is because the warmer air can cause condensation and moist air to build up in your tank, leading to rust and corrosion. In turn, this corrosion can eventually lead to leaks and other issues, which could be expensive to sort out.

 

So, how can you guard against this? Obviously, you can’t control how hot the weather is so is there anything you can do to reduce the risk?

 

Good news – there is.

 

1. Check on it

If you want something to work as efficiently as possible, you have to maintain it. The same applies to oil tanks. By checking on your tank regularly, you can keep it free of leaks. This will not only save you money in the long run, but it will also protect the environment.

 

Since summer is often a time when you don’t need heat, there is less of a demand for professionals to come out and service oil tanks. Therefore, it’s easier for leaks and minor tank damage to be overlooked.

 

Make sure you clue yourself up on what to look for when checking your tank, both internally or externally. Otherwise, a minor issue could manifest into a major problem which you’ll only realise when you need to use the tank again.

 

2. Fill it up

Many people leave their oil tanks for the summer with either a little bit of heating oil left in, or completely empty. While this might make sense, leaving your tank so empty can allow moisture to build up and cause corrosion. A very easy and effective way of preventing this is simply by filling your tank up over the summer. After all, the less space there is in the tank, the less chance there is for moisture to accumulate. Simple.

 

Moreover, as summer is an off-peak season, heating oil prices are normally cheaper so filling your tank then can be more cost-effective. You’ll also get the added bonus of not having to wait for a professional to come out when you need heat in the winter months, so it’s a win-win.

 

Final thoughts

Summertime can be a lot of fun. A time full of beach activities, BBQs and water fights – what’s not to like?

 

What is less fun though, is coming back from a holiday to an expensive oil tank leak because you didn’t maintain it well enough before you went away. Don’t make that mistake. Check on your tank and make sure to fill it up before you go away. Then, you can feel rest assured that it’ll still be fine by the time you get back.

 

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Steel or Plastic – how to decide which oil tank you need

Steel Oil Tank

Bunded oil tanks come in many shapes and sizes, but another key criteria you need to think about is what they’re made of. This material can either be steel or plastic, with the choice you make very much dependent on your requirements.

 

So, what are the main differences between the two materials? As you might imagine, both have their various advantages over the other so, to help you decide, we are going to look at each of these in more detail.

 

Steel Oil Tanks: Advantages

 

1 – Durable.

Steel is more resilient to extreme weather and is able to endure more accidental damage. It also offers a longer lifespan than plastic, as it is much more durable.

 

2 – Security.

With the recent rise in oil theft, steel oil tanks are a better option when it comes to security. This is because steel is a stronger material, making it more difficult for thieves to syphon oil from. They are also heavier so are more difficult to remove.

 

3 – Storage.

Steel tanks are a better option for larger businesses as they can hold a lot more oil than plastic options. This can allow you to take advantage of cheaper oil prices, as you’ll be able to bulk buy more of it.

 

Plastic Oil Tanks: Advantages

 

1 – Lighter.

Steel oil tanks are much heavier than their plastic counterparts which, while might be advantageous against thieves, isn’t always practical. Plastic oil tanks are much more lightweight and manoeuvrable, making them easier to transport and move if required.

 

2 – Rust.

Unlike steel, plastic doesn’t rust, so plastic oil tanks don’t develop clogged filters over time. They also don’t require repainting to keep them fresh and rust-free, like you would need to do with a steel oil tank.

 

3 – Flexible.

Due to the nature of plastic, most plastic oil tanks are whole and unlikely to split. They are also able to regain their natural shape in the event of damage or adverse weather, making them less prone to oil spills.

 

The tank you choose to buy will largely depend on your needs. If you own a business and are more concerned about security, then a steel tank is likely the better bet. Whereas, if you are looking for an oil tank that you can take with you wherever you go, then a plastic tank is more practical.

 

Still feeling stuck? Feel free to contact us if you would like more advice.

 

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Heating oil or natural gas: which is right for you?

Green Plastic Tank Installation On Concrete

In February we have already seen some examples of extreme weather sweeping across the UK. While it hasn’t been anywhere near as a powerful as the ‘polar vortex’ which hit America and caused temperatures to drop to as low as -30C – the snow and winter weather has caused significant disruption.

 

And as temperatures plummet, our fuel costs increase as we all look to heat our homes. This has led to many people looking into the possibility of having either a domestic oil tank or LPG gas installed. Before you do, you need to understand the differences between the two options.

 

At SG Tanks we firmly believe that domestic heating oil is the better solution – here’s why:

 

It’s more efficient

 

There has been a belief for a long time that oil furnaces are not as efficient as gas boilers – but this actually arises from a misconception. It was common for system to run without proper insulation which made them far less efficient. Modern heating systems with a sufficient level of insulation will make huge improvements in efficiency.

 

Additionally, heating oil actually burns a lot hotter than natural gas which means that the rooms being heated heat up faster and use less fuel to do so. Additionally, heating oil creates far less condensation that natural gas, so an oil boiler will typically last for much longer than an equivalent gas boiler.

 

It can be cheaper!

Conventional wisdom says that natural gas is generally cheaper than heating oil – however, it is important to look below the surface to understand the truth. Having a private oil supply means that you are in complete control of how much oil you use. It is also worth pointing out that the price of oil fluctuates to it is a good idea to buy an excess of oil when the price is cheap.

 

It is also worth noting both that oil burns more efficiently than gas, and that homeowners are generally more carefully with fuel that they are managing themselves. So, it could be the case that switch over to oil actually makes you save money because you are managing your usage closely.

 

Ultimately you are the only person who can decide whether a domestic heating oil tank is right for you – if you would like more assistance and information on having an oil tank installed at your property, please get in contact with the team at SG Tanks today. You can call us directly on 01903 856403 to speak to an experienced member of staff.