Ensure you, your home and the environment are protected from potential oil spills or leaks

Is it time to check your heating oil storage tank?

If you are one of the 1.5 million homes in the UK using kerosene as an efficient and cost-effective way of heating your home, providing hot water or fuelling your oil range cooker, it has never been more important to check your oil tank. Heating oil can cause serious problems if lost to the environment. It can pollute rivers, harm wildlife and contaminate ground and drinking water.

The clean-up costs could also be large and are not always covered by household insurance policies. That is why it is recommended that you check your home heating oil tank is in good working order at least once a month, and each time before placing an order. With warmer weather upon us, why not take this opportunity to give your heating oil tank a once over.

Make sure that your heating oil tank and the area giving access to it are not becoming overgrown with vegetation and are clear of rubbish and clutter. Not only will your delivery driver need clear access to make your heating oil delivery, but he will also need to make a visual inspection to ensure the tank is fit for purpose and can safely hold its contents.
Once the heating oil tank and surrounding area are clear, check the tank’s base or supports for cracking or subsidence. Your heating oil tank should be based on a solid, level surface that will support its weight when full. Also, think about how the delivery driver will fill your tank - if he must use a ladder, is there a solid surface that is big enough to safely place the ladder on?
Check all visible pipework, valves and filters for damage and signs of leaks, such as dampness or staining, especially around joints.
Check vegetation for signs of dieback, this is a good indication that heating oil has been lost to the environment.
If your heating oil tank is plastic, look for any whitening, cracking, splits or bulging.
For a metal tank, you should check for signs of rust, blistering of paint and oil dampness on the joints.

If you see anything you are worried about or anything that has changed since you last looked, you should take advice from a qualified oil heating professional. Our customer service team will happily recommend someone in your area. If your home heating oil usage suddenly increases unexpectedly, you should check your tank and pipework immediately for leaks. To report an oil spill or leak, contact the Environment Agency’s 24-hour emergency hotline on 0800 807060.

If your tank needs a top-up of heating oil, click here for a quote today.

Stay warm with WCF Chandlers, The Home Of Heating Oil

With our domestic heating oil services for homeowners, bulk fuel solutions for farms and businesses, and local village buying groups with thousands of members across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, and the East Midlands, WCF Chandlers ensures you never run out of fuel, whether it’s home heating oil, gas oil for your farm, or diesel for your commercial operations.

Whether you need heating oil for your boiler, red diesel for farm machinery, or commercial fuels and diesel for your business fleet, we have you covered. Across all our depots, we are committed to providing exceptional value and exceeding expectations with our award-winning service. From affordable heating oil to bulk fuel supplies, WCF Chandlers delivers the right solution for your needs.

Get an instant heating oil quote 24/7 with our easy-to-use and secure online ordering system. Simply enter your postcode to see live heating oil prices near you and place your order anytime.

Emergency Heating Oil: If you run low, we offer express deliveries and kerosene boxes that can be collected directly from our Grantham depot, giving you peace of mind when you need fuel quickly.

We also support local Village Buying Groups, allowing you to benefit from more competitive prices by grouping deliveries in your area. With thousands of members, our buying groups reduce distribution costs, and we pass those savings directly to you. Find your local group and join today.

For complete convenience, we can even manage your fuel levels with the WCF Chandlers Tank Smart Monitoring service. And if you’d prefer to spread the cost of your heating oil, consider our flexible Heating Oil Payment Plans, which allow you to secure the best available price and spread the cost over time.