7 Top Tips for Heating Oil Homes
Spring has sprung and what better time to prepare your heating oil system for the transition from winter to spring.
Following the winter months, making sure everything is in good working order not only minimises potentially costly repairs but also ensures your heating system is as energy efficient as possible.
Here are seven top tips to get your heating oil system ready for spring:
Check for leaks
Giving your oil tank a visual check for leaks is a good way to spot any deterioration of your tank and ensure spill prevention. Are there signs of rust or corrosion, is there a damp patch or oil stain you can see, are there any unusual smells? A quick look at the tank’s fill cap can help you see if there’s any sign of sludge or sediment build-up.
Spring-clean the area around your tank
It’s a good idea to remove dead or overgrown grass, ivy and leaves from around your heating oil tank. If there’s a path surrounding it, it’s worth keeping it clean and free from slippery dirt, moss and debris to ensure your fuel deliveries are as smooth as possible.
Tank maintenance
Whilst it’s worth visually checking regularly for cracks and corrosion to your heating oil tank and system pipes, booking in a professional service is important to maintain your heating oil tank correctly from a technical perspective. Having it assessed by a fully qualified OFTEC oil heating engineer as part of your annual boiler service will limit the risk of your tank failing.
Give your insurance policy a spring check-up
We recommend you check with your insurers to make sure that your tank and its contents are covered by your home insurance policy. Ensure your policy covers your expenses related to cleaning up heating oil spills on your property, environmental clean-up for accidental oil loss, and liability expenses to cover neighbouring lands and boreholes.
Restore your thermostat to spring settings
To maximise energy efficiency in the often slightly warmer spring months, adjust your thermostat settings or consider installing a programmable thermostat if you don’t have one.
Spring is a great time to tick off simple DIY energy-efficiency jobs
Another energy-efficient tip, is to take the opportunity in these months to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Seal any drafts you’ve noticed over the colder months while they’re still fresh in your mind. A draught excluder or weather stripping can help here. It’s also worth reviewing your home’s insulation and improving it where necessary.
Be prepared for autumn
Our final tip brings us full circle. By preparing your heating oil system in spring, you’ll be ready for the colder months ahead. This will help you avoid any last-minute problems and ensure your heating system runs smoothly all year round.