With energy costs higher than average still, getting as much mileage out of your heating oil has become a high priority for many homeowners.
Whether you have a single-skinned or double-skinned oil tank, implementing effective strategies can help you conserve fuel, save money, and reduce your environmental footprint. Here are our recommendations to ensure your heating oil lasts longer.
Optimise Your Thermostat Settings
Adjusting your thermostat by even a single degree can lead to significant savings. Aim to set living areas at around 20°C and bedrooms at 16°C. Utilise thermostats to schedule heating to turn on during peak usage times, ensuring that unoccupied rooms or times of the day don’t consume unnecessary energy. This simple form of oil tank maintenance can substantially reduce consumption and maximise your fuel preservation.
Seal and Insulate Your Home
Preventing heat loss, especially during winter, is a vital next step. Ensure that doors and windows are properly sealed with weather stripping or draught excluders to prevent heat from escaping through tiny cracks. Consider adding further insulation to your loft, walls, and floors to retain more warmth. By minimising drafts and heat escape, your heating system won’t have to work as hard, conserving more oil in your domestic oil tank.
Regular Oil Tank Servicing and Maintenance
Your oil tank’s efficiency is directly linked to its condition and reliability. Schedule annual oil tank servicing with professionals like SG Tanks to inspect and maintain your system and ensure it remains in perfect working order. Regular servicing can identify potential issues early, ensuring that your oil burner operates efficiently all while prolonging the lifespan of your tank. Oil tank technicians like SG Tanks can also provide oil tank accessories and parts to replace broken or worn items which may also be affecting oil usage levels.
Monitor Your Heating Oil Usage
Invest in a heating oil monitor to track consumption habits and reduce over-using your bunded oil tank. Understanding when and how much oil you use can help you improve efficiency, whether it’s by identifying peak usage times or detecting possible oil tank leaks that could be linked to insufficient heat coming through.
Enhance Boiler Efficiency
An inefficient boiler can waste a significant amount of heating oil. Regular boiler maintenance, including cleaning and part replacements, ensures optimal performance. If your boiler is outdated, consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. This not only conserves oil but also reduces the likelihood of requiring oil tank repair services due to system strain.
Utilise Zonal Heating Systems
If possible, implement zoning in your smart heating system to give you more control over your heating and energy usage. This innovative smart home feature allows you to heat specific areas of your home as needed, rather than the entire space. By directing heat where it’s most required, you reduce unnecessary oil consumption, making your heating oil last longer, and by extension, you’ll be preventing unnecessary waste.
Secure Your Oil Tank
While unlikely to happen to you, it’s naive to ignore the threat of heating oil theft. Ensure your oil tank is secured in a protected and inaccessible environment for trespassers or intruders, and, if possible, install security lighting or cameras to deter them. A steel bunded (double-skinned) oil tank offers an extra layer of protection, safeguarding the oil that’s being used and recirculated in your tank. Regularly inspect your oil tank for signs of tampering or damage, and consider professional oil tank replacement if your current tank shows signs of excessive wear, corrosion, or dents.
Regularly Check for Water Contamination
Water in your oil tank can compromise heating efficiency. Conduct periodic oil tank maintenance checks for water contamination, especially after heavy rainfall or during temperature fluctuations. SG Tanks offers comprehensive oil tank servicing to address these types of issues promptly, with our technicians on hand to ensure that your oil tank remains uncontaminated and works reliably all year round.
Plan Your Refills Strategically
Avoid waiting until your tank is nearly empty before refilling. Ordering heating oil during off-peak times can be more cost-effective and ensures that you’re not caught short during extended periods of cold weather. Keeping your oil tank topped up regularly also reduces the chance of condensation, which can lead to water contamination.
Professional Oil Tank Specialists to Help You
Making your heating oil last longer involves a combination of proper maintenance, smart usage habits, and ensuring your heating system operates efficiently. By taking these on board, you not only save on energy costs but also extend the lifespan of your heating oil tank for less.
At SG Tanks, we specialise in oil tank installations, servicing, repairs, maintenance, removals and replacements. Whether you have a commercial oil tank or a domestic setup, our expert team is ready to provide tailored oil tank advice and services across Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, and the South East. Contact us today to ensure your heating system is optimised and that you won’t be caught short when winter arrives.
