According to the 2021 Census, nearly 866,000 households across England and Wales use oil as their only way of generating heat. More widely, around 1.5m UK households are off grid and so rely on oil, including those with other sources of heat, for example for hot water.
So, as a nation, we rely on oil for warmth more than you may have realised. If that applies to you, in the words of Game of Thrones, Winter’s Coming. And, as it draws closer, there are a number of good reasons to prepare your tank for the coldest time of the year.
Neglect your oil tank during the chilliest season and you can expect to lose heat, while facing potentially expensive and urgent call-outs and repairs and even risking your safety, at the time of year when you most need to stay toasty.
So if things go wrong, it’s more than just an inconvenience. And the last thing you want is a breakdown in freezing conditions. Carry out a range of checks while it’s still autumn and guarantee efficient, dependable heating when it’s most important. It’s also essential to pinpoint and resolve any niggles before they become wintertime emergencies.
What you need to do to get your oil tank ready for winter:
- Check your tank for any indications of wear and tear.
- Assess oil levels and top up if necessary before the cold weather sets in. How much oil you’ll need will depend on how big your property is, how many of you live there, personal preference and how cold it happens to be that particular year. Equally, if you’re hosting extra people, for example over Christmas, that can mean you need more fuel. So make sure you order yours in plenty of time.
- Get your boiler serviced ahead of the winter.
- Look out for water collecting inside your tank.
- If you have an older steel unit, be vigilant for rust and cracks. With plastic models, the issue can be bulges or splits as the temperature drops.
- Keep an eye out too for loose fittings, weakened hoses and gauges which are faulty or inaccurate and so could impact your tank’s performance.
- The base of your tank is an important element. Any weaknesses here could compromise your whole system, so resolve any issues you find as quickly as you can.
- While you may think your tank is pretty secure, in fact winter is peak time for oil thefts, and it’s obviously easier to operate unnoticed during the longer hours of darkness. Fit a good-quality lock on your oil tank cap, install motion-sensor lights around your tank and consider having CCTV or alarm systems if you feel you’d benefit from extra security measures.
- Consider opting for an alarmed tank gauge, for example if you’re replacing your oil tank, which highlights sudden dips in oil levels. This can help you spot leaks or thefts before they become significant problems.
Looking after your oil tank with LV Fuel Services
At LV Fuel Services, we provide UK-wide, cost-effective fuel tank maintenance services, as well as domestic oil tank cleaning, plus installation and replacement, as necessary. We also offer the same services to commercial organisations. Our approach is reliable and professional yet friendly, and backed up by 25 years’ worth of knowledge and expertise. (We also have numerous important industry accreditations, including CHAS, the health and safety accreditation scheme.)
Finally, you can rely on us to comply with all environmental regulations, and consistently prioritise safety.
Explore our winter heating oil tank guide for more advice and tips on looking after your tank throughout the winter.
Book us now to check your oil tank ahead of the winter – call 0800 799 9739 or email info@lvfuelservices.co.uk. We’ll also be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
