Essential Tips for Storing Heating Oil Safely at Home

Many homeowners start to depend  on the use of   heating oil for home heating when the cold weather arrives.  

Thus, to ensure optimal performance and longevity, it is important that you have a proper heating oil storage. Also, the top priority should be ensuring the safety of the area in and  around your  house.

Appropriate  process of storage is necessary to lower the risk of mishaps and accidents.

You will find instructions on how you can confidently and safely store oil for home heating in this blog-post. 

Importance of Storing Home Heating Oil

There are various significant considerations to be taken care of while storing the heating oil in your property. These can be placement of the storage, having continuity of the oil supply to the tank, and saving the cost. 

Continuity in supply: Storing the heating oil makes sure that you have a continuous and reliable source of heating fuel in your tank, especially in the winter months when the demand is high. 

Convenience: The storage of oil for home heating is convenient as this eliminates the need for frequent deliveries. 

Saving of cost: You can avoid the  changing framework of costs by buying the oil for your heating tank in bulk and keeping it at home.

Work efficiency: If the home heating tank receives a constant level of oil supply, it can work efficiently and effectively.   This also enhances  the longevity of the tank and gives it an optimal level of performance. 

Preparing for an emergency: You may need some oil when there is an emergency and  storing heating oil can help fulfil this. 

Heating Oil Storing Processes

The better use of oil heating is based on the best process of heating oil storage. This is based on the tank selection, installation of the tank, and making the right choice of locations for installing the tank and storing the oil. 

Selecting the tank: You should choose a perfect and suitable oil tank that can hold sufficient oil. The tanks are generally made up of fibreglass or steel. 

Choosing the location: You should also choose the right location for the heating oil storage. The place where you are storing the heating oil should be far from any kind of danger and/or fire. 

Choosing proper delivery services: The delivery services of the heating oil that you are taking should be recommended by various of your friends, communities and experts. 

Professional level maintenance: You should make contact with the high-level professionals and experts who will help you to maintain the tank of storage. 

Checking the safety signs: You should cheque the signs of danger like any leak, spill, or corrosion in your home heating tank. Keep your tank away from any kind of drains, ponds, and streams. If possible, work on  the evaluation process every month. 

Where Can The Heating Oil Be Stored At Home?

The heating oil can be stored outside the home, above ground or underground.  

Need of different containers: You can store

• Ten litres or more in a plastic container.
•  20 litres or more in a metal container.
•  For near about 30 litres there should be use of a demountable fuel tank.  

Where you can store less than 275 litres of fuel: If you wish to store more than 30 litres and less than 275 litres of heating oil, you should contact the local Petroleum Enforcement Authority or PEA.  

Storing fuel over 275 litres and up to 3500 litres:  If you wish to store fuel over 275 litres to 3500 litres in the UK, this will come  under the regulations of Control of Pollution(storage of oil) England 2001. 

•  The tank should be in proper size and shape  for the quantity of heating oil in it. Within its complete capacity it should be  only 85% full.  Based on visual audits, there should not be cracks, dents, or other damage on the tank.
•  When storing more than 2,500 litres of heating oil, bunded tanks are  needed and they can be the best solution for safe storage.

Where Can The Heating Oil Be Stored At Home?

You should store your heating oil for home heating in an area that is protected from direct sunlight, out of children’s reach and has good ventilation. The tank should be placed  far from the roof, and should not  catch any  damage from unpredictable and unmanaged weather patterns. Additionally, make sure that the location where the heating oil storage has been  kept accomplishes all safety regulations and is not being kept inside the house.  

Tank Maintaining Process

In the UK this is very essential for the homeowners to become familiar with various tank monitoring processes. They should also get the guidance from experts to have proper level of tank maintenance.

Keeping emergency kit: You should have an emergency kit always ready with you. You should also develop a proper plan for emergency response that is connected to spills, leaks, or any other dangerous incidents for your heating oil storage. 

Furnaces to be cleaned annually: Depending on the size and shape of  your oil furnaces, they  should be cleaned once a year. You should work on this for the safe storage of your home heating oil. 

Always cheque the leaks and spills: You should always keep an eye on whether or not the heating oil storage tank is having any spills or leaks. 

Using proper delivery services: You should take the delivery of the heating oil from a reputed supplier who will assure about the quality of the heating oil. 

• If the tank hasn’t been filled with other types of liquids or fuels, there will not be any kind of contamination and boiler damage.
•  You can routinely verify the tank for water or condensation.

Challenges On Way

You have to face many challenges while storing the home heating oil. There can be safety concerns, issues in the integrity of the tank, many environmental concerns, etc. 

Safety concerns: If you are not concerned with safety issues while installing and storing the home heating tank with heating oil, there can be the risk of hazards of fire, spills, and leaks. 

Integrity of the tank: A tank that is poorly managed and is in a bad  shape, can develop issues of cracks and corrosion. This can also lead to oil leaks and may affect the property and the process of home heating.

Environmental concerns: The spills and leaks can lead to severe environmental concerns like the negative effect on the animal habitats and soil. 

Regulatory compliance: There are also some of the legal requirements for having well-maintained   home heating oil storage.

There can be a requirement of a bunded heating oil tank in those situations 

• Where spills of oil can flow inside an open part of the drain or a manhole cover.

•  Where the tank pipes are not seen. 

•  Where it cannot be recognised whether the tank is filled or not. 

This is also connected with the Petroleum Spirit Plastic Container Regulations 1982 and The Petroleum Spirit Regulations 1929.

Sudden risks and mitigation process: You should avoid storing the fuel of the home heating tank in an area where there is a risk of flood. You should  store the oil in an area that will have minimum risk of damage. You should have the contact of an expert and the emergency kit available with you in case of an occurrence of sudden risk. 

Steps For Storing Home Heating Oil

For the proper level of storage of the oil of home heating you should make regular verification of the tank and you also should work with using the best quality of heating oil available in the market. 

Making regular checkups of burners

You should work on regular cheque-ups of the burner and this is needed for the proper  functioning of the tank with safety and efficiency. 

Using a good quality heating oil

For storage and usage, you always need to use a good quality heating oil. This will reduce the leaks and spills of the oil tank. 

Maintaining the tank

You should maintain the home heating tank by regular inspections of leaks and corrosion or any other kind of damage. 

Working with a supplier who is trustworthy

You should take the delivery of the oil for home heating from a trustworthy and well-known supplier who will help you to cheque the situations of hazards. 

Maintaining an adequate level of ventilation

You should install the tank and store the oil in a place where there is enough ventilation. 

Having awareness and installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors

There is a need to have an awareness about  the dangers of carbon monoxide. This is an odourless gas that is generated by the wrong process of combustion. You should thus install the carbon monoxide detector for the safety of your home. The detector can be installed around the sleeping areas. 

Storing Oil Safely

There is a need for safe storage of oil to prevent any kind of environmental harm or accidents during home heating. You should also follow the local regulations for this. 

Training for family members

You should train your family members about  all the signs of danger to prevent them from any kind of accident or sudden hazard. 

Making the schedule of the regular checkups

You should make a schedule for regular checkups of the oil tank and storage. 

Act Immediately After a Spill

You should act immediately after you see a spill and should take all necessary steps. In the UK the people should adhere to Control of Pollution Regulations, policies for reduction of fuel poverty and building regulations.

Keeping the home heating oil away from theft

You can use CCTV cameras, security alarms, etc to reduce the risk of theft. You should make the installation of the tank in a safe area.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this can be said that the heating oil that is a significant need of your home heating should be stored and maintained well. By taking safety measures you can be safe from any kind of potential hazards. 

For the safe storage of the home heating tank you have to make the prioritisation of adhering to the safety protocols and should contact the supplier who will help you to store the oil for home heating properly. You should always take advice from various experts.