Right-Sizing Your New Heating Oil Tank

If it’s time to replace your heating oil tank – if it’s showing signs of wear and age, for example, or if your heating needs have changed – one of the most basic and important questions you’ll need to ask is what size the tank should be.

Here’s a quick guide to some important heating oil tank sizing considerations:

• Before you shop for your heating oil tank, it’s helpful to know what size your current tank is, and what sizes are available. When it comes to heating oil tank sizes, two sets of numbers matter:

  • The capacity of the tank (measured in gallons); and

  • The dimensions of your tank (height, width and depth).

  If you have a newer tank, the capacity is probably listed on its name plate; if your tank that doesn’t list its capacity, you will have to estimate based on dimensions.

• A typical residential heating oil tank size is 275 gallons and comes in either a vertical (275V) or horizontal (275H) orientation. Heating oil tanks may also come in different sizes depending on whether they’ll be installed above or below ground. Some other common above-ground tanks include 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675, and 1000 gallons (underground tanks can be much larger). An industry rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes most often need a 275-gallon heating oil tank; three or four bedroom homes need a 300 to 500-gallon tank.

• Other sizing factors to consider include:

  • Physical space: Some homes can’t fit larger heating oil tanks; be sure to measure your space before you start to shop for your tank.
  • Family planning: As your family grows, so does your energy consumption; better to plan for this in advance if you can.
  • Lifestyle references: Is your family eco-conscious? Do you spend long stretches away from home? Do you have elderly people under your roof that prefer a warmer house? All of these factors affect the amount of heating oil you need – and how big a tank your tank should be.

Once you’ve thought about these sizing factors, you’ll have a better idea where to begin your journey toward a heating oil tank upgrade.

When it’s time to upgrade your heating oil tank, trust the pros at Needham! We feature top-quality, double wall construction heating oil tanks that are virtually leak-proof. We’ll even take care of removing your old tank in accordance with all environmental laws and codes.

Contact us today to learn more and get a FREE, no obligation estimate on a heating tank upgrade for your Massachusetts home!