The Do’s and Don’ts of Heating Oil Tank Ownership
One of the greatest advantages of heating your home with oil is the personal energy independence that this fuel inherently provides. Whereas those who heat their homes with electricity or natural gas depend on the utilities for their energy supply, and those who use propane are sometimes locked into tank lease contracts, owning a heating oil tank gives you the power to independently control your fuel supply and home comfort.
But with great power comes great responsibility.
Fortunately, this responsibility is the kind that’s almost never a burden; in fact, it’s usually the opposite. Because you own your oil tank, you get to choose your fuel supplier and thus, can enjoy the convenience of doing business with a full-service company like Tomasso Bros.
Still, there are a few simple Do’s and Don’ts that every heating oil tank owner should keep in mind throughout the year and especially during the winter.
DO
- Shovel a clear path to your tank or fill pipe whenever it snows, and keep snow from piling atop and around the tank. This will help ensure your delivery driver can get you the heating oil you need when you need it.
- Cautiously remove any icicles hanging from gutters or tree branches above your tank. On rare occasion, icicles can become large and sharp enough to dent or even puncture your tank.
- Consider signing up for ProGuard Tank Protection, which provides up to $50,000 in protection against an aboveground tank release, or up to $100,000 in protection against an underground tank release, along with numerous other valuable benefits.
DON’T
- Try to assess tank damage on your own. You can and should spot-check your tank for dents and leaks from time to time, but if you see anything amiss, you’ll want to call Tomasso Bros. ASAP.
- Attempt to fill your heating oil tank yourself. “Personal energy independence” does not mean you should be handling your own fuel. There’s a reason all Tomasso Bros. drivers are CDL licensed with Hazmat endorsements.
- Assume you can just leave an old underground tank on your property and forget about it. There are strict rules and regulations for abandoning or removing unused underground tanks, which is why it’s important to consult a tank removal expert like Tomasso Bros. if you’re moving into or away from a home with an underground tank or having an aboveground tank installed.
You can find out more about your oil tank in our last blog post. Call 908-351-0313 or contact Tomasso Bros. if you have any specific questions or concerns.
Blog Archive
Fill out this quick contact form to get in touch with Tomasso Bros. Need something more specific? Get in touch with us on our general contact form here.