What Size Oil Tank Do I Need For My Home?
Homeowners have a lot to think about when it comes to owning a home. There is so much to think about that you might end up forgetting your HVAC system. Remember that they also need to be tended to, including those that are fueled by heating oil. If recently moved into a house that has an oil heating system, then don’t forget to monitor your oil tank. Even if you haven’t recently moved, maybe some time has passed since you last checked your oil tank. If so, now is a good time to do it.
Fuel oil helps ensure you have a warm, safe, and comfortable home. It wouldn’t be good to run out of heating oil, especially when you need it the most. Harsh weather could mean that it may take several days for the oil delivery company to refill your tank. Hence, you need to stay on top of it if you choose to have COD or will-call deliveries.
If your tank is old and it is time for a heating oil tank replacement, you might be wondering whether you need to purchase a different heating oil tank size. You need to ascertain if your existing oil tank size is ideal for your home’s heating oil requirements.
The Importance Of Oil Tank Size
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Many households use heating oil to achieve a warm and comfy home. If you utilize heating oil as your main heat source, you should be familiar with your home’s heating needs. This way, you can determine the oil tank size that best fits your home. Likewise, you can also determine when you need to book a fuel delivery ahead of time.
Here are some reasons it is important to know the size of your oil tank:
- Determine The Amount Of Heating Oil Left – Knowing the size of your tank will help let you know the amount of oil you have left in your tank. Some older tanks aren’t equipped with built-in gauges that let you know when the oil is running low. If this is what you have at home, a simple calculation is available to help you know how much oil you have left.
- How Much Oil To Buy – When you know the tank size and the amount of oil left, you can estimate how much heating oil you need to buy to last the cold season. This will help you plan and budget accordingly.
- Understand Your Heating Oil Consumption – You can be a more conscious consumer by knowing your home’s heating oil consumption level. This will also help you conserve heat better.
- Avoid Running Out Of Oil – You must know the size of your oil tank, so you don’t run out. Running out of oil means you become vulnerable to the cold weather, which is especially dangerous when the elderly or children live with you at home.
When To Upgrade Your Home Oil Tank
Many aspects need to be considered before you upgrade your existing oil tank. However, it is helpful to know why you need to do so as it will be easier to figure out the size you need. A few of the reasons could be:
- You currently have a defective and old oil tank.
- Your home’s heating needs have changed, such as an increase in family size, so you need a larger tank.
- You want to benefit from the economies of scale. Buying in bulk means you can get more oil price discounts. Therefore, you require a larger oil storage tank for this.
Common Home Oil Tank Sizes
To understand heating oil tank sizes, you will need to know how measurements work. For example, the capacity is how much oil is required to fill the tank. It is measured in gallons if it is for residential use. The tank’s size can also refer to its measurement in inches by its width, height, and depth. Knowing these measurements can help determine the capacity of your tank.
Determine your current tank’s capacity to know the size you’ll need. Older tanks typically don’t have labels where their size is indicated. Therefore, you might need to use a measuring tape to determine the size. Modern tanks usually have size labels, so it is easier to find out what their sizes are.
Residential heating oil tanks have a standard size of 275 gallons. Other sizes are 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675, and 1000 gallons. Note that commercial-use tanks can be as big as over 30,000 gallons to accommodate large spaces.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Heating Oil Tank
Several factors impact the size of the heating oil tank you should purchase. Mainly, it relies on the heating oil your home consumes. Here are several other factors to consider when determining which heating oil tank size is the right one for your home:
- Spacing Requirements: Check your existing oil tank’s physical size if you want to upsize your oil tank. This way, you’ll determine if you have room to accommodate a bigger one.
- Number Of Occupants: More heat is required for larger families. You will use more oil during the cold season as your family grows. Hence, a bigger tank is needed to ensure everyone remains warm and comfy.
- The Home’s Size: A good guideline to follow when determining which oil tank size best fits your needs is to count how many rooms your home has. If there are one to two bedrooms, smaller tanks are typically okay. On the other hand, houses with more bedrooms require bigger fuel oil tanks.
- Heating Oil Consumption Habits: Take note of your home’s heating habits. You might have a low heating oil consumption because you are a conscious consumer. Factor in the time you are away from home during winter as well. After all, you will save a lot on heating oil consumption if you are usually out on vacation during winters.
- Emergency Preparation: Leave a 20% leeway on your fuel consumption. This takes into account any emergency that might happen. For instance, a snowstorm could delay the next delivery, and the next refill might take longer than expected.
Hire A Professional For The Oil Tank Installation
Once you’ve assessed your family’s heating oil needs and the tank size which best works for you, you’ll need to contact your local, trusted heating oil tank provider for a heating oil tank installation. A professional contractor will make sure that you’ve chosen the correct tank size for all your heating requirements. The installation process will also go in a safe and professional manner with a certified contractor on the job.
Qualified heating oil tank installers will find the best place to put your tank in your home. This way, the tank is properly secured to a solid base while still easy to access. This is a crucial task because it will help prevent issues from occurring. It will also keep the tank from being exposed to hazards caused by temperature drops resulting in a frozen heating oil system. A professional oil tank installation company will take account of all of these risks while using the required industry-standard protocols.
Conclusion
A lot of considerations are needed when choosing the oil tank size for your home. Get the help of a qualified professional by calling your local, trusted heating technician. This way, you can be sure that the whole process, including removing and installing the oil tank, is an easy and hassle-free process.
Call Lawes Company For Fast & Reliable Oil Deliveries
Lawes Company offers trusted and affordable heating oil deliveries. We are known for our honest heating oil prices and skilled services. Not only that, but we also offer HVAC services which also impact how much fuel your system requires to keep your home warm and safe.
We offer different heating oil plans and financing options as a way to customize your fuel deliveries to meet your needs. Be sure to contact Lawes Company today to ask for more information or request service.
Contact us now at (732) 741-6300 to find out more!