As we prepare to say goodbye to heating season in Rhode Island (for a few months, anyway), it’s important to prepare your heating oil tank for its well-earned summer off–and one of the simplest ways to do that (besides getting your equipment inspected and maintained) is to schedule a heating oil delivery.
You’re probably asking why you should order fuel, considering that it’s going to sit in your tank for a few months before you use it. Good question!
There are actually two reasons to do it, the first of which is to prevent bacteria from forming in your fuel. Condensation (water) is more likely to form inside an empty heating oil tank than inside of a tank that contains more fuel than air, and bacteria LOVE water. They love living in your heating oil, too, and eventually they’ll break it down into a thick sludge that jams your fuel lines and burner nozzle.
The second reason to keep some heating oil along for the ride in the months to come is to avoid an eventual tank failure. The same condensation that led bacteria to proliferate in your heating oil can also sink to the bottom of your tank (since water is heavier than heating oil) and corrode it from the inside out – a big problem that could be difficult to see coming and costly to remediate.
The bottom line is that your heating oil tank is not a fan of condensation, and keeping it at least half full during the offseason is one of the best ways to keep it happy. Topping off your tank now could also be a good way to save some money, since heating oil prices are often at their lowest during the offseason.
Need to top off your heating tank this summer? We can help you with an offseason heating oil delivery – and why not sign up for Smart Pay Payment Plan while you’re at it to set yourself up for more predictable fuel bills next winter? Contact us today to learn more.
