You may not know it by the weather we’ve been having, but summer is less than a month away – and soon it will be time to shut down your heating system for a few months of well-earned rest. But before you do that, we suggest doing two things (if you haven’t already): call for routine heating maintenance, and schedule a heating oil delivery.
The first of those suggestions probably makes sense, since regular maintenance helps keep your equipment in top shape year after year. But why fill your tank when you’re not going to use your furnace or boiler until the fall?
It’s pretty simple, really: a heating oil tank that is less than half full tends to develop a build-up of condensation (water) on its inner walls. That’s bad news for two reasons: first, the bacteria already living in your heating oil thrive in the presence of water, and when they do, they turn your heating oil into a thick sludge that clogs your fuel lines and burner nozzle.
The second problem condensation can create is corrosion: since water is heavier than heating oil, it will eventually fall from the tank walls and sink to the bottom of the tank, rotting it from the inside out. That’s a big problem that could be difficult to see coming and costly to remediate.
The bottom line is that condensation is not good for your heating oil tank, and keeping oil in your tank during the offseason is one of the best ways to prevent it from forming. 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 in central MA – and why not sign up for our SmartPay Plan while you’re at it to set yourself up for more predictable fuel bills next winter? Contact Needham Oil Complete Heating & Cooling today to learn more.
Please note: If your oil tank is 25 years or older, it could be time to replace it. There is currently a limited-time rebate of $200 available for Massachusetts residents who install a new oil storage tank – contact us for details.
At Needham, your safety and comfort are always our priority. Please see our COVID-19 Service Update Page to learn more about how we are working to keep your family and our crews safe, your home comfort equipment working, and your heating oil deliveries coming as we navigate this challenging time in central Massachusetts.