According to data from the United States Energy Information Administration, some 6 million American homes rely on fuel oil as their primary source of heat. With the majority of these homes located in the Northeast, knowing how to properly prepare your tank for summer downtime is an important concern. We’ve already gone over in detail the basics of fuel oil tank maintenance— so in this post, we look specifically at why you should keep your tank at least half full at all times.

Preventing Condensation in Your Home Oil Tank

A buildup of condensation is the biggest threat to any home oil tank. The more empty space there is in your tank, the more condensation can form. Water condensation in your oil tank creates a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms, which leads to sediment that can clog your fuel lines and burner nozzle, compromising the overall efficiency of your heating systems and potentially leading to failure.

In addition, because water is heavier than fuel, accumulated condensation will sink to the bottom of your tank. This can cause premature rusting from the inside out — a condition that’s both difficult to anticipate and expensive to fix.

Keeping your tank as full as possible at all times is the best way to avoid condensation and the problems it can cause. This is especially important over the spring and summer months, as fluctuations in outside air temperature can speed up condensation accumulation.

Other Benefits

Avoiding condensation isn’t the only benefit to keeping your fuel tank full. A full tank:

• Ensures you always have fuel on hand when you need it. This may seem obvious, but if you’ve ever suddenly run out of heating oil in the dead of winter, you know how important it is to be proactive about arranging fuel oil delivery.
• Lets you schedule deliveries at your convenience. Rather than waiting until the last minute to order fuel (and potentially having to pay an emergency delivery surcharge), periodic top-offs can be arranged around your schedule, saving you time, money and stress.
• Can save you money on fuel. The less fuel you need, the less you will be affected by periodic shifts in heating oil pricing. Heating oil can sit for years without degradation, so there’s no risk in buying and topping off when prices are at their seasonal low points.

When it comes to heating oil, a full oil tank is a healthy tank and a reliably heated home. Arrange a heating oil delivery by contacting Smart Touch Energy today! We offer reliable service, low rates, low delivery fees and an exclusive referral program that earns you money each time you recommend us to a friend. Best of all, with our Automatic Delivery option, you save an additional 3 cents per gallon and you never have to worry about running low on fuel again — sign up today!