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Written on: December 26, 2022
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they generally erode from the inside out.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have them checked periodically by a professional since cleaning up a tank leak can be incredibly expensive.
Today’s heating oil tanks come in a range of sizes and shapes. The heating oil pros at Broco Energy can help you find the most suitable heating oil tank and get it installed quickly and correctly.
Two numbers are vital to know: the capacity of the tank (measured in gallons) and the dimensions of the tank (depth, width, and height). Newer tanks usually have the capacity listed on the nameplate. With an older tank, you’ll have to calculate the dimensions to estimate the capacity.
Although aboveground heating oil tank sizes can include everything from 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675 and 1,000 gallons, the most common size for a residential heating oil tank is 275 gallons. The shape of the tank can be either vertical (called a 275V) or horizontal (275H). It’s important to note, however, that a 275-gallon tank cannot hold that much fuel. Some space—usually 15-20%–must be left free to compensate for air and debris inside the heating oil tank.
In cold climates like ours, few heating oil tanks are kept outdoors because heating oil can thicken and gel in extreme cold. Although additives and kerosene blends (also known as winter blends), can slow gelling, the better solution is to locate your heating oil tank indoors, typically in the basement.
A general industry rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes typically require a 275-gallon heating oil tank; three- or four- bedroom homes need a 300 to 500-gallon tank.
Available space. Some homes cannot accommodate larger heating oil tanks; you’ll need to have your space measured before deciding on your replacement tank.
Current and future family size. As your family grows, so does your fuel consumption.
Lifestyle. Do you spend long vacations away from home? Do you have elderly relatives living with you who need a warmer house? These are among the factors that will affect how frequent your heating oil delivery will be– and how big a heating oil tank you should get.
As a full-service heating oil company, Broco Energy can assure you that you’ll save a lot of headaches — and avoid equipment issues down the line — if you bring in certified professionals to replace your heating oil tank.
Not only can we offer you a wide selection of heating oil tanks and the knowledge to install them correctly and efficiently, our installers are also experienced in the best ways to transfer your existing fuel and dispose of the old tank.
Our reliable team of heating oil professionals will work with you from the beginning to ensure that you have the right size for your heating needs, your heating system and the size of your home.
Once your tank is selected, our expert installation team will adhere to all industry regulations, guidelines and codes to handle a proper heating oil tank installation that’s safe and efficient.
Check with Broco Energy to make sure that your heating oil tank is properly inspected and maintained. You will also need to upgrade at the right time—before you run into an expensive issue that could have been avoided.
Are you ready for a new heating oil tank? See if you’re in the Broco Energy service area, and then contact us to get started.
