What Size Oil Tank Do I Need For My Home?
Homeowners carry a wealth of responsibility when it comes to taking care of their homes. They sometimes do not remember that their HVAC systems, such as a furnace or boiler, require ongoing maintenance, including those that utilize heating oil. If a property owner just moved into a home that had a heating oil system, or if a homeowner has not recently inspected the heating oil tank, now is the time to check on it.
A home remains warm, comfortable, and safe because of the fuel oil. No one ever wants their heating oil tank depleted when they need it the most. As the weather gets colder, you may be unable to fill your oil tank for several days. Therefore, if you are using C.O.D. deliveries or will call, you must carefully monitor fuel oil levels.
If you are due for a heating oil tank replacement, you have to consider the heating oil tank size. Your reasoning would be to consider if the heating oil tank that you currently have installed can meet your fuel oil needs.
Why is the Heating Oil Tank Size Important?
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As stated before, many households use heating oil to warm their homes. Therefore, if your heating source is heating oil, you should familiarize yourself with the full extent of your home heating needs. Once you are aware of your average fuel usage, you can decide on the appropriately sized oil tank needed for your home. Similarly, knowing the size of the tank helps you plan and organize a heating oil delivery before your supply gets too low.
Some reasons for knowing the size of your oil storage tank include:
- Determine the Remaining Heating Oil in the Tank: Once you are aware of the size of the oil storage tank, you will be able to determine how much heating oil remains. Some older tanks are not equipped with built-in gauges to alert you when the fuel is low. If you have a gauge less tank, there is a calculation you can use to figure out how much oil is left.
- What Quantity of Oil Should You Purchase: If you know the size of the oil tank and how much fuel remains in it, you can determine how much heating oil you need to purchase for the rest of the winter. You will be better able to organize and budget for buying heating oil.
- Better Understanding of Your Consumption: When you recognize the heating oil consumption levels, you become a wiser consumer who will be able to conserve their heating oil.
- Never Run Out of Heating Oil: The top reason why you ought to know the size of the oil tank is so that you never run out of heating oil. Unfortunately, if you run out, you may have to tough it out during the wintry weather, which could be disastrous in homes with young children or senior citizens.
When Should You Upgrade the Oil Tank at Home?
You should consider several factors if you want to upgrade your oil tank. First, you should know why the tank needs an upgrade since it makes it easier to determine the size you need. Here are some reasons for upgrading the oil tank:
- Your current oil tank may be dated or defective.
- Your home’s heating needs may have changed because your family size grew. You may need a bigger tank.
- You may want to purchase fuel in bulk to earn a discount. A larger tank can accommodate large quantities of oil.
Common Sizes of Home Oil Tanks
You first must understand how measurements work as it relates to the size of the heating oil tank. For example, the capacity is the quantity of oil used to fill the oil tank. We measure the volume of home heating oil tanks in gallons. You can calculate these measurements based on the height, width, and depth. Once you have these dimensions, it is easy to calculate the capacity of the tank.
When determining which oil tank size is best suited, the best action is to figure out the capacity of the tank. While the dated tanks do not carry a size label, you can use a measuring tape to compute the tank’s size. However, more modern tanks have size labels; therefore, you do not have to worry about figuring out the quantity of fuel.
Heating oil tanks for homes typically carry 275 gallons of fuel. However, you will find tanks that hold 1000, 675, 550, 500, 420, 340, and 280 gallons. Some tanks carry over 30,000 gallons which business owners use for commercial operations.
What to Consider When Buying a Heating Oil Tank
You have to consider several factors when choosing the size of your heating oil tank. The quantity of heating oil consumed determines the size of the heating oil tank needed. Here are some of the factors that you must consider when selecting the ideal size of heating oil tank for your home:
- Space Available: How big is your current tank? If you are going to purchase a larger tank, ensure that there is adequate space to accommodate it.
- Number of Persons in the Household: If you have a large family, you need to have the option to produce more heat. As your family grows, you will use more oil in the winter. Therefore, a bigger tank is better suited for your family size to ensure everyone is comfortable and warm.
- Size of the Home: Another determining factor when selecting an oil tank size is the number of rooms in the home. Smaller homes with one or two bedrooms require small tanks; however, larger homes with five bedrooms need larger tanks.
- Usage Habits: You have to look at the heating habits of your household. Some households are conscious of their consumption. Also, look at the periods when you are on vacation. If you spend time away from home during the winter months, you will reduce heating oil consumption.
- Preparation for Emergencies: You should always calculate a 20 percent leeway to your fuel usage to account for unforeseen emergencies. For instance, a snowstorm could delay delivery for longer than you planned.
Oil Tanks Should be Installed by Professionals
After you have considered the heating oil needs of your family and selected the ideal size of the fuel oil tank for your home, your next step is to contact a heating oil tank supplier that is certified for the installation. A qualified contractor ensures that your tank is the correct size to meet the needs of your home and guarantees that the tank is professionally and safely installed.
Expert heating oil tank installers also situate the oil tank in the best space in your home for easy accessibility. The installer will also erect the tank on a solid foundation to reduce incidences of oil leaks which are very dangerous. The installers will also ensure that the tank is not open to any hazards if the temperature drops because this can cause the heating oil system to freeze. A qualified oil tank installation company will consider all these risks by keeping in line with the protocols and standards of the industry.
Conclusion
Consider several things when choosing the size of an oil tank for your home. You must contact a local, professional heating technician to assist you. This professional support makes the process convenient, efficient, and easy, including removing the oil tank and installing the new one.
Call Hart Home Comfort For Your Home Heating Requirements
When you need superior HVAC services in the area, do not hesitate to call Hart Home Comfort. We have the best professionally certified technicians who can conduct high-quality heating and cooling services, including maintenance, repairs, replacements, and installations. All our friendly techs are equipped with the correct tools, extensive knowledge, and years of experience to service any HVAC system accurately. Click the link to view our service area.
Our company has the most competitive and affordable home comfort service costs in the area. When you need to replace your HVAC system, we can recommend the best and most budget-friendly unit for your home. Schedule an appointment with Hart Home Comfort today for a free, in-home estimate.
We also offer fast and reliable home heating oil deliveries. You can choose from one of our many financing plans and delivery options. This way, you can customize your oil deliveries to meet your needs. Hart Home Comfort delivers EcoBlend Bioheat® heating oil, a blend of high-quality ultra-low sulfur heating oil and biodiesel. By ordering your fuel from us, you can help reduce carbon emissions and help the environment while taking advantage of our superior oil delivery services. Call today to schedule a full delivery for your home or office.
For any questions about what Hart Home Comfort can do for you, give us a call today. Click here to contact us now or call us at (631) 667-3200 to find out more!