Many industries rely on oil tanks, including the agricultural sector, automotive, construction, marine and plant industries. There are also around 1.5 million homes in the UK who live off-grid, and rely on oil tanks to store their home heating oil, so these systems are essential for many people in both domestic and commercial sectors.

A build up of sludge can do a lot of damage to your heating system, so it’s important to have your oil tank cleaned regularly by a professional company. This process can be very thorough and it’s an essential part of good oil tank maintenance, so if you want to find out more about oil tank cleaning and why it’s important, read on for our handy guide.

What happens during an oil tank clean?

Cleaning an oil tank isn’t something you can simply do yourself, you’ll need to contact a professional company who specialises in cleaning and desludging services. During a clean, an expert will empty the contents of the tank by pumping it out into a holding container. The tank is then thoroughly cleaned and any build up of sludge is removed, before separating any leftover waste from fuel that is still good to use.

The waste is then disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, and any leftover clean oil is pumped back into the tank.

Why is cleaning so important?

Sludge and water can build up in your oil tank over time, and if the water level builds up enough then the contents of your tank will start to overflow through the fuel outlet pipe. This can lead to water and oil entering your heater system, leading to boiler breakdowns.

Therefore, regular cleaning is a must to prevent this build up and to drastically lessen the chances of your boiler breaking down. Another potential is when water mixes with an oil such as biodiesel, it can lead to the growth of microbes which leave a sticky residue. This residue can block filters and lead to heating failures, so regular cleaning of the tank is important to prevent this residue buildup.

If you’re in need of professional oil tank cleaning, get in touch with the team at Moorland Fuels. We have all the experience and equipment you need to carry out thorough cleaning and desludging, and we’ll make sure that any usable oil is saved to be pumped back into the tank. For more information or to arrange an appointment, give us a call today or visit our website.