If you are one of the many thousands of homeowners with a single-skinned tank, you’re at a higher risk of environmentally damaging leaks, and you could even find that your home insurance is invalid. But what should you do and what should you look out for?
If you do have a leak, this can lead to contamination of drains, groundwater, and water bodies which can harm livestock, wildlife, fish, and plants! It can also result in expensive clean-up costs, fines from the Environment Agency and could even cause damage to the foundations of your home.
Preventing spills and leaks isn’t just smart, it’s essential for the protection of the environment and your purse.
What are the tank issues that you should look out for?
- Rust or corrosion (if the tank is metal)
- Sun-bleaching (if the tank is plastic) leading to brittleness
- An unstable or damaged base
- Visible cracks in your tank
- A constant smell of fuel around your tank
- Dead foliage around the base of your tank – a clear sign that your tank may be leaking
- Dents or bulges that could be a sign on significant tank damage
To keep your tank in shape, it’s a good idea to carry out regular checks. Look out for any signs of leaks around the pipework, valves, and filters, and make sure your contents gauge is working properly. It’s also worth having a quick look at your drip trays or remote fill pipes to be sure no oil or water is collecting where it shouldn’t be.
Trimming surrounding vegetation will make it easier to spot any problems early on, before they become serious.
If you do spot any of these tell-tale signs it could be an early indication that your tank may need replacing to avoid unexpected disruptions, costly repairs, and potential harm to your home and the environment.
That’s where we can help. If you have a concern, our team of experts are on hand to offer guidance and advice. We also offer maintenance services and a range of tank replacement options, which is where your Cosy Heating Club £50 tank discount comes in handy.
How to keep your tank in tip-top condition?
Tank Sponge Eco
One way to safeguard your tank and heating system is to use Tank Sponge Eco, which drops neatly into your tank. This is a fantastic way to absorb up to 0.7 litres of water contamination resulting from condensation in your tank. Sucking up the moisture before it affects the quality of your fuel, it’s a simple solution to prevent harmful tank sludge and expensive damage to your boiler. Best of all, as a Cosy Heating Club member, you get one Tank Sponge Eco free each year, which usually costs £20.
CosyConnect
If you’ve ever run low on oil, you’ll know just what a worry that can be, especially if it’s in the middle of winter. Checking your oil tank levels probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list, but can you imagine running out of oil in freezing conditions? Sadly, it happens more often that you might think.
That’s why we’ve created CosyConnect, a handy monitor that prevents you from ever facing the prospect of an empty oil tank again. And now’s the perfect time to arrange an instalment.
CosyConnect costs just £7.95 a month*, and comes with a three-year supply agreement. This will allow you to automatically set your monitor to reorder your heating oil once it has reached your preferred refill level.
Helpfully, CosyConnect also detects sudden losses of oil, so if you do experience a catastrophic leak or even oil theft, you’ll be the first to know, helping to prevent damage to the environment or an expensive refill!
CosyConnect can also detect water in your oil tank, so if you do forget to refresh your Tank Sponge Eco it will alert you to take action. You can either top up your tank with fuel additives to address any harm caused by moisture in your tank, insert a fresh TankSponge Eco, or arrange for your tank to be drained and cleaned using our helpful tank maintenance services.
Whether it’s for you or for an elderly relative, CosyConnect provides peace of mind in an instant.
* price per tank
How can we help you?
We’re here to help keep your oil tank in top condition. Whether you’re unsure if you need to clean your tank or you’re uncertain about spotting wear-and-tear signs, just let us know. We offer guidance, regular maintenance and replacement options. And, if you do need a new tank, you can be safe in the knowledge that we’ll supply and install it to the highest safety standards using our team of OFTEC registered Engineers.
If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of our friendly team for advice about your home heating oil tanks, please give us a call on: 01837 55700
