Heating oil might not be the first thing on your mind once Memorial Day passes and the kids are done with school here in Rhode Island – but there are at least two things you should do to make sure your heating system doesn’t create a problem for you down the road.
The first and most obvious of these things is to get your annual heating system service out of the way; early summer is the perfect time to beat the late-summer/early fall rush and get a convenient service appointment time.
The second is to keep your heating oil tank at least half full.
The reason? Steel heating oil tanks don’t like water, and a tank that contains more air than fuel is more likely to accumulate condensation (water) on its interior walls as temperatures shift during your tank’s spring/summer/early fall hiatus.
Condensation creates two problems for your heating oil tank: first, it encourages the bacteria in your fuel to grow, which will eventually cause system-jamming, efficiency-sapping sludge to accumulate in your tank. Second, since water is heavier than oil, it will sink to the bottom of your tank where it will speed corrosion – a problem you won’t see coming until it’s too late.
The bottom line: Condensation is not good for your heating oil tank, but you can avoid (or at least minimize) it by keeping your tank at least half full during the offseason. Topping off your tank now could be a good way to save some money, too, since heating oil prices are often at their lowest during periods of minimal demand.
Need an offseason heating oil delivery to top off your tank? Contact us today. And while you’re at it, why not sign up for convenient services like E-billing, Auto Pay, and our Monthly Payment Plan? They’ll make paying your bills a snap next heating season!
