As the name suggests, home heating oil tanks are sized. Around 5 months of oil can be stored in one tank! This is due to the slightly varying temperatures inside a home during the winter season.
Through seasons such as summer fun, storage is very helpful. It allows you to easily access what you have left of the oil you used to heat your home, as well as giving you a place to donate the leftover oil.
By having these sizeable tanks, chances are you will have no trouble finding a way to use up all of it. You can also see how much has changed and gone down over time, giving you proof that it was used.
To access your oil, you must remove the tank plug. Then, you can either put new oil in or take what is left out.
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Size matters
As the Heating Oil industry grows, so does the demand for tank sizes. Heating Oil Tanks are not made to last very long without periodic cleaning and refilling.
Many newer homes have a single large heating oil Tank size that is used up and full for awhile before another tank is needed. This means that as the home owner owns a larger Tank size, they need to be careful with how much they use it.
Heating Oils haveFragrance/aromas that are removed during processing, so if something has been added back, it may be removed. For example, if there is Frosted Flakes in your oil, then Frosted Flakes would be added back into the oil formula.
There are two main reasons for having a 2-3 gallon capacity Heating Oil Tank: (1) You will need 2-3 gallons of heated oil per hour of heat service you require; and (2) You will need more oil than your current Tank can hold.
How much oil do I use?
When using home heating oil, you will want to know how much you have. Some places charge by the gallon, but we prefer coin-for-size systems where you can make a small change in the system to save money in the long run.
Many oil tank sizes are not enough oil to comfortably operate an entire household. Depending on who you ask, you will get different numbers for a household with one or two heaters. We suggest having a count of five people and five loads of laundry, as well as one full-time cook and one housekeeper.
One person may only use their heater once per day, so there is no need to purchase two tanks of oil! If there is still too much oil left over, buy some clear Latex roofing underhangings to hold up the underlying tank trucks.
Tank size formula
There are three main size groups of home heating oil tanks. These size groups are small, medium, and large. Each of these size groups has a different formula for tank size.
Smaller tanks are typically between 200–300 gallon sizes. This is the classifications for regular canola oil, light olive oil, and peanut oil.
Medium sized tanks are between 300–400-gallon sizes. This is the classifications for light olive oil, medium olive oil, and vegetable oils such as coconut or grapeseed butter.
Large tanks are over 400-gallon sizes. This is the classifications for heavy olive oil and tallow oils.
Copper loss factor
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Use the formula!
As mentioned before, light heat oil such as vegetable oil or olive oil is more likely to be used. This is due to the fact that these oils tend to heat more slowly than other types.
Unfortunately, this can be a problem for some. Some homes may not have a window that is exposed to the weather and can view a tank full of oil. Homes where there is only one family member living may also need to take into account that one person does not use enough oil to stay warm all winter!
As mentioned before, this can be a problem if you do not know how much your house was heated with. You might be blind in the wrong area of the house! Luckily, there are ways of knowing how much oil you need but this article does not discuss those.
Example of oil usage
When looking at an oil tank, there are some things that you should look for from a distance. From afar, you can see if it is full or not. You can also see if it is winterized or summerized.
Winterization involves putting away blankets and floor heaters to ward off temperatures that are below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Summerization occurs when the oil is stored in the cooler months of the year instead of winter.
Both cases involve having a way to access and use the oil, so do not worry about those happening during storage.
Rule of thumb for tank size
Most heating oil tanks are around 5 gallon sizes. You can fit about 5 complete loads in one tank. If you were duning the oil, you would say that each load takes about a minute to put in, and then you can leave them. Then you would come back an hour or so later to check on them.
That is how long it takes to load the oil into the tank and then to withdraw it at delivery. However, with stock room, you can have many more than five!
In fact, some delivery companies offer their services with only four slots left! That is why we suggest having at least two more slots left just in case one of them are ruined by weather or somebody accidentally turning off the supply system. General rule of thumb: if there is not demand for more stock room, get rid of some type of storage unit.
What if I want to switch to natural gas?
When it comes to choosing a heating oil, the size you use in your home can make a difference. These canister sizes are designed to hold a certain amount of oil before you have to refill it.
Smaller cans hold more oil and must be refilled faster due to this fact. This is not an issue for many, as they would only use a small amount at a time.
Largeer cans hold more but take longer to refill due to the length of the can. This is not a problem for long-term storage, as the heat from the oil will stay in place for some time.
Home Heating Oil tanks should be evaluated for possible leaks every year to check for any decay or movement of the steel inside. If there are signs of leakage, then it is time to replace the tank.