If your home runs on heating oil, a quick look at your tank before the cold weather arrives can save you a cold house and an awkward call-out. Check the level, check the tank for cracks, bulges or leaks, keep the area around it clear, and order oil before you’re down to the last few inches. Most of this takes ten minutes and needs no tools. For anything to do with the boiler itself, our oil boiler engineers can help. Here’s what we suggest for rural homes around Abergavenny and across Monmouthshire.
Check how much oil you have
Most tanks have a sight gauge, a float gauge or an electronic monitor. Get into the habit of checking it every couple of weeks once the heating is on every day.
Don’t let the level run right down. Sludge and water can collect at the bottom of a tank, and running very low can draw that into the supply line, which may block the filter or cause the boiler to lock out. Many engineers suggest reordering when the tank is around a quarter full.
Delivery times can stretch in winter, especially around Christmas and in a long cold spell, so ordering early gives you a buffer.
Look over the tank itself
Walk around the tank and look for:
- Cracks, splits or white stress marks on a plastic tank
- Bulging or warping of the sides
- Rust, weeping seams or flaking paint on a steel tank
- Damp patches, oily stains or a smell of kerosene on the ground nearby
- A damaged or missing lid, which can let rainwater in
If the tank is bunded, meaning it has an outer skin to catch leaks, check the space between the two layers isn’t holding oil or water.
If you find a leak, stop using the tank if you can, try to contain the spill away from drains and watercourses, and get professional help quickly. Oil leaks can be costly to clean up and harmful to the environment.
Keep the area around it clear
Overgrown hedges, piled-up logs and garden rubbish around a tank make it harder to spot problems and can be a fire risk. Clear a space around it, keep the fill point easy for the delivery driver to reach, and make sure the pipe from the tank to the house isn’t damaged or exposed.
Some homeowners also fit a lockable cap or an alarm, as heating oil theft does happen in rural areas.
Signs the problem is the boiler, not the tank
If you have plenty of oil but the heating still won’t come on, the problem may be in the supply line or the boiler. Look out for:
- The boiler locking out and needing a reset
- A smell of oil or fumes inside the house
- Smoke or soot from the flue
- The boiler running roughly or noisily
Resetting once using the manufacturer’s instructions is fine. Don’t keep resetting it, as that can flood the burner with oil. Anything involving the burner, nozzle, pump or flue is a job for an OFTEC registered technician.
Oil-heated homes in Abergavenny, Chepstow and Monmouthshire
Plenty of homes across Monmouthshire and the Gwent valleys sit off the mains gas network. Farmhouses, cottages and rural villages around Chepstow, Usk and Monmouth often rely on oil, with tanks tucked at the bottom of the garden or beside an outbuilding. Tanks in exposed spots take the brunt of the weather, so they’re worth checking after storms as well as before winter.
If your oil boiler has given you trouble before, our guide to common oil boiler problems explains what usually goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my heating oil level?
Once the heating is on daily, checking every week or two is sensible. Usage rises quickly in cold weather, and a tank that lasted months in autumn can drop much faster in December. Regular checks help you reorder in good time and avoid the boiler running dry.
What happens if my oil boiler runs out of oil?
The boiler will lock out. Once a delivery arrives, the system may need air bleeding from the supply line before it will run again, and sludge from the bottom of the tank can block the filter. It’s often a job for an engineer, so it’s much easier to avoid running out in the first place.
How long does a heating oil tank last?
It depends on the material, where it’s sited and how well it’s been looked after. Many plastic tanks last somewhere around 20 years, but damage, sunlight and age all play a part. If yours shows cracks, bulging or staining, get it assessed rather than waiting for a leak.
Do I need my oil boiler serviced every year?
Yes, an annual service is recommended. An OFTEC registered technician will clean the burner, replace the nozzle and filter where needed, and check the boiler is burning safely and efficiently. Many manufacturers also require yearly servicing to keep the warranty valid.
Get your oil boiler ready for winter
If your tank or boiler isn’t looking its best, give us a call on 01633 865 903 or drop us a message and we’ll check your oil boiler over before the cold weather sets in.
