When you have an above ground oil tank, it’s important to make sure that it is properly maintained. You want to be sure that it can last as long as it possibly can, and proper maintenance ensures that it lasts for many years. The guide that follows provides you with a few tips you can use to ensure that your oil tank is properly maintained.
Look at the Legs of the Tank
Before you can have the tank filled, you need to inspect the legs to make sure that they aren’t rusted or falling apart. If the tank is not properly supported, it could fall to the ground and become damaged. If you notice any rust, you need to have the legs replaced before it is filled to ensure they are strong enough to support its weight.
Make Sure the Shut-Off Valve Works Properly
It’s important to be able to regulate the oil that is coming into your house. Look closely at the shut-off valve to ensure that it isn’t rusted and try to turn it slightly to ensure that they can be turned with ease. If it is rusted to the point where it can’t be moved, you need to have a professional come to your home to replace the valve for you. It’s not a job you want to do yourself because it could be dangerous, and you could actually cause more damage to the tank accidentally.
Have the Tank Inspected
If you recently moved into a house that has an oil tank, you need to have it inspected before you start using the oil to heat your home. You want to be sure that there is plenty of oil in it and that there is no damage that needs to be repaired before you use it. This ensures that you and your family are as safe as possible at all times. It won’t take long for the technician to determine if there is anything wrong with it and provide you with an estimate for what it will cost to do the necessary repairs.
Check for Leaks
When you have an oil tank, you want to be sure that it doesn’t leak. Leaks could be harmful to the environment and cost you have to pay more to heat your home each month than you would normally have had to pay if there weren’t any leaks. To test to see if the tank is leaking, look closely at the gauge on the tank that indicates how much oil is in it. Check it every few days and annotate what information you see on it. If you notice that the number is lessening on a regular basis, even if you aren’t using the oil, you may have a leak that needs to be addressed.
If you notice any of the issues listed above or simply are unsure how to inspect the tank or read the gauge, contact an oil company right way to have a technician come to your home. He or she can walk you through everything that you need to know about the tank and the gauges. This ensures that you will never have to worry about running out of oil again in the future and will keep you from having to pay any extra costs to have technicians come out to your home when really, they don’t need to.