As Memorial Day creeps up on us, we’re sure you’re fantasizing about the day when you won’t have to set the thermostat for “heat” anymore this spring…and believe us, it’s coming sooner or later.
But when that day does arrive, it doesn’t mean you should abandon your heating equipment altogether for the season. For one thing, it’s a good idea to get heating tune-up of the way now rather than waiting until the fall, when everyone will be doing the same thing. For another, you should take care of your heating oil tank to avoid any unwelcome surprises down the road.
A professional heating tank inspection is a must, especially if you have an older steel tank that lacks the fiberglass inner lining of more modern tanks. But there’s something else you can do yourself (with a little help from us) that is just as important for a healthy heating oil tank: keep it at least half full during the offseason.
An empty (or mostly empty) heating oil tank will accumulate condensation (water) on its interior walls as temperatures shift between seasons. This condensation creates “perfect storm” conditions for bacteria growth, which will eventually turn your heating oil into line-clogging, efficiency-robbing sludge. Condensation will also eventually rot the bottom of your tank, since water is heavier than oil and will sink once it falls from the tank walls.
The bottom line: Condensation build-up is bad, and inspecting and filling your tank with heating oil is the best way to prevent it. Schedule a heating oil delivery now and it could prevent problems down the road. It could save you money, too, since pre-season heating oil prices are often lower than in-season prices, when heating oil demand and market prices are highest.
Is your heating oil tank less than half full? Contact Bottini Fuels today to schedule a heating oil delivery to your Hudson Valley home.