It’s that time of year! The cold winter wind sets in, we start to use more oil and the need for regular oil deliveries increases. It is important to remember your oil tank and its location to ensure the oil tank is safe from the winter’s worst weather and your delivery person can access your oil tank.
Here are some tips to ensure your tank is safe, secure and problem free for the winter:
1. If the tank and/or fill pipes are under a deck, refrain from using salt on the deck. Salt is highly corrosive for metal tanks and pipes. The life span of metal is drastically shortened when exposed to salt and water. To help prevent this issue, you can cover the tank and pipes to ensure the salt and water doesn’t hit the tank or use an alternative such as sand.
2. If your tank is outside, you should have a valve protector. The valve protector can help prevent things such as ice and snow from breaking off the valve during the winter. A new valve protector can be purchased for $50 – $100, depending on your type of tank and type of valve protector you prefer.
3. Avoid piling snow on or around your outside oil tank. This can lead to the oil line freezing and possibly breaking by the weight of ice and snow or by a shovel. We would recommend the area be cleared regularly so your driver can inspect the tank at the time of filling.
Some tips to ensure your tank can be safely filled:
- Make sure ice and snow are cleared so your driver can find the oil tank and/or fill pipes.
- If access to your oil tank or fill pipe is through a gate, please ensure the gate is clear and can open and close freely.
- If you have cleared a path to the oil tank or fill pipes (THANK-YOU!), please ensure that it is ice-free. You can either sand or salt the area. A safe and clear delivery path will ensure quick and regular deliveries.
Thank you for taking the time to read these tips. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call our office at 902-453-2121. We are always here for you!