Your heating oil tank plays an essential role in keeping your family safe and warm during the coldest winter nights. But many people aren’t sure how old their tank is or how long it will last. Here are some of the frequent questions we hear about heating oil tanks.
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they generally erode from the inside out.
If your oil tank is more than 30 years old, it’s a good idea to look into your heating oil tank replacement options.
Besides just wearing out due to age, a heating oil tank can fail because of condensation on the inside. When there is a lot of empty space in an oil tank during the spring and summer, condensation can form along the inside walls. This eventually turns into sediment later, and, if ignored, can result in corrosion.
To avoid condensation from forming, you should keep your oil tank full during the warm-weather months.
Besides getting periodic professional tank inspections, you should also do your own visual inspections because some trouble signs can actually be seen. These include dime-sized blisters in the paint (commonly found on the tank’s underside); pinhole leaks caused by corrosion inside the tank; condensation on the outside of the tank long after a heating oil delivery; and evidence of corrosion on the tank’s exterior.
The most common size for a residential heating oil tank is a 275-gallon aboveground tank. A general industry rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes typically require a 275-gallon heating oil tank; three- or four- bedroom homes typically would need to go larger.
On top of the heating oil tank is a clear glass or plastic cube that is marked with numbers that resemble the gas gauge of your car: F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red marker or float commonly indicates the amount of fuel left in your tank. If the float is at the bottom of the gauge or not visible at all, your tank is empty or nearly empty.
To make sure the gauge is working, carefully remove the outer case and gently press the float down. If it bobs back up to the original position, the gauge is working. If the gauge is not working, contact your heating oil supplier and let them know. The last thing you want to do is to start guessing how much oil is left in your tank.
Ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic delivery. This allows them to be accurate about your fuel needs so they can make a heating oil delivery and you can continue to feel warm and safe using heating oil at home.
But if you still prefer to call for heating oil, you need to give your supplier extra time when conditions are harsh in order to avoid running out of fuel. It’s best to call for more fuel when your oil tank falls to the one-quarter mark.
If you’re ready to replace your tank, see how you can save money with Hudson Valley heating oil tank equipment rebates.
Heating oil comes from crude oil, which has to be refined to remove impurities. It’s then separated into different “fractions.” More refined, lighter fractions are used to produce such products as gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel and No. 2 home heating oil, which is what you use to heat your home. By the way, did you know that diesel fuel and No. 2 fuel oil are virtually the same thing, in terms of their chemical composition?
Refining is just a step in the process. There is more work to be done before your fuel reaches your heating oil tank. After it is refined and ready for use, heating oil is transported by ship, barge, truck, and/or pipeline to major fuel terminals. It is distributed from these terminals to local heating oil companies.
Many of these companies have their own storage facilities, which can hold thousands of gallons of heating oil. These secure storage facilities ensure that an adequate supply of fuel is on hand during the cold months to ensure people get their heating oil delivery whenever they need it.
Home heating oil has progressively grown cleaner and more efficient. In recent years, there have been significant improvements in oil heat’s efficiency and cleanliness, thanks in large part to vast reductions in the sulfur content of heating oil. Here is why this is important.
In the Hudson Valley and elsewhere in the country, heating oil has been reformulated with Bioheat fuel, which consists of ultra-low sulfur heating oil that’s blended with renewable biodiesel. Bioheat fuel blends represent the future of heating oil in our country.
The most refined grade of heating oil available, Bioheat fuel is one of the cleanest burning heating sources for your home. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly and no changes to your existing heating oil system are necessary.
Here are a few reasons why the use of Bioheat fuel is a game-changer in terms of reducing carbon emissions, according to Clean Fuels Alliance America:
Bioheat fuel has a significant advantage over other “green” home heating products: it’s available right now and is currently offered by heating oil retailers. It’s heating both homes and water right now — all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat fuel, which will further reduce our carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.
Find out more about Bioheat fuel in the Hudson Valley.
All of us depend on our water heater for a range of needs. From showering and bathing to cooking to washing clothes and dishes and more, it’s nearly impossible to stay comfortable and clean without it. So how long can you depend on your current water heating system to keep all of that hot water flowing without any problems?
The life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years.
How long your storage tank water heater lasts depends on a number of factors, including the temperature of the water you set for the tank, the volume of water used, the overall quality of the water heater model, and perhaps most importantly, the water quality. In the Hudson Valley, you may have to contend with “hard water,” which means your domestic water has a high amount of mineral content.
To head off any problems, especially if you have hard water, it’s a wise idea to call on an experienced heating oil technician to flush out your oil-powered hot water storage tank once a year. This procedure will remove sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank. This sediment is caused by the build-up of minerals. Your technician can also check the condition of the anode rod, which generally lasts from 3-5 years.
Storage tank water heaters contain many parts and components, including a long metal anode rod, which extends the life of your water heater by preventing corrosion from building up inside your tank.
Usually made of magnesium or aluminum, the anode rod does its job through a process called electrolysis. The metals in the anode rod attract ions that normally would cause rust in iron and steel. But instead, these ions latch on to the anode rod and as a result, cause it to degrade over time. Without the anode rod, your water heater could rust out in just a few years. That’s why it’s so important to replace the anode rod after it degrades.
A direct-fired water heater is the most common type, with a dedicated burner inside to heat water that is stored in a tank. As you use the water in the tank, the supply of hot water is constantly replenished.
On the other hand, an indirect-fired water heater uses the burner inside your boiler to heat your tap water. A typical design is a water tank with coiled pipes inside. These coiled pipes connect to your boiler. Hot water from the boiler passes through the coil, which heats up the water surrounding it. Thanks to this design, the boiler water never mixes with the contents of your water heater. Because of this configuration, an indirect-fired water heater is highly efficient and just one example of why heating oil is a leader in efficiency.
Some telltale signs of a failing water heater tank include higher water heating bills, water stains and unusual noises. If it takes longer to heat water than it used to, or the water doesn’t get as hot, these are also signs that you may be ready for a new water heating unit. A big trouble sign is a slow leak from your tank or rust on the tank or in your tap water. (A water tank rusts from the inside out).
If you think your water heater is failing, please contact your local heating oil company for advice about a water heater replacement.
With winter off to a fast and furious start, it’s a good idea to review the basics of how a boiler (also known as a hydronic system) keeps a home warm. That way, if you run into heating issues over the next few months, you’ll be better prepared to discuss the situation with your heating service contractor.
While the majority of new homes built in the Hudson Valley rely on a warm-air furnace for central heat, there are many other homes here that rely instead on a boiler for heat.
There are two main types of boilers found in Hudson Valley homes: a steam boiler, commonly found in the oldest homes, and the modern, and more energy-efficient, hot water boiler. Steam boilers require special safety precautions because of the temperature of the steam (the water must be heated to 212°F). As a result, it is vitally important to follow a regular maintenance schedule.
Your boiler extracts heat from heating oil as it burns; it can also be powered by propane gas, natural gas, or wood pellet. This heats the water (or creates steam) that will run through the zones that are calling for heat. The heat is delivered into your living space through either radiators or baseboards.
The problem is that some heat (as much as 30% in some older boiler models) will be lost as exhaust, which means you are paying a lot of money for heat that will never reach your living space. See how much you can benefit from a new boiler installation.
A more efficient version of the hot water boiler is the condensing boiler, which is designed to keep heat loss to a minimum. By recycling heat from the exhaust process – and by operating at lower temperatures overall – your condensing boiler can improve operating efficiency by 10-15% compared to a non-condensing boiler.
However, a condensing boiler is not practical for all homes. Plus, condensing boilers cost more to manufacture. Installing a condensing boiler correctly requires highly trained technicians who know how to capitalize on the efficiency benefits of these sophisticated heating systems.
Regular maintenance is a vital money-saving investment for home heating systems– not just because it can keep your equipment running safely and at peak efficiency, but also because four out of five heating system breakdowns are preventable if you follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.
A professional tune-up and safety check allows your heating service contractor to fix minor issues before they become big problems (worn parts, etc.). Regular tune-ups can also help you conserve heating fuel over the winter.
Contact your local Hudson Valley heating oil equipment service contractor for further information.
We’ve provided answers to some of the most common questions oilheat consumers in the Hudson Valley have about preparing for a delivery, checking the tank level, avoiding run-outs, and more.
If you have a heating oil tank in your basement, you’ll hear a whistling noise as your tank starts to fill up. But don’t worry. This is perfectly normal.
Besides the tank itself, your heating oil storage system includes important components like the fill pipe, vent pipe, and vent alarm.
After the driver arrives, he connects the hose from his oil truck to the fill pipe and starts releasing the oil. As oil flows into the tank, air is pushed back out. As the air goes through the vent alarm–located between your tank and vent pipe–it makes a whistling sound. When the whistling stops, the tank is just about full.
Since your basement tank is out of sight from the driver, the vent alarm prevents overfilling and the possibility of a spill. Safety codes do not allow your heating oil company to deliver your fuel if the vent alarm is not working.
On top of the heating oil tank is a clear glass or plastic cube that is marked with numbers that resemble the gas gauge of your car: F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red marker or float commonly indicates the amount of fuel left in your tank – if the float is at the bottom of the gauge or not visible at all, your tank is empty or nearly empty.
To make sure the gauge is working, carefully remove the outer case and gently press the float down. If it bobs back up to the original position, the gauge is working. If the gauge is not working, contact your heating oil supplier and let them know. The last thing you want to do is to start guessing how much oil is left in your tank.
To make winter deliveries easier and stress-free for you, ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic delivery. This allows them to be accurate about your fuel needs so they can make a heating oil delivery and you can continue to feel warm and safe using oilheat at home.
But if you still prefer to call for heating oil, you need to give your supplier extra time when conditions are harsh in order to avoid running out of fuel. It’s best to call for more fuel when your oil tank falls to the one-quarter mark.
Ice and snow can turn an already tough job into a potentially hazardous one. Maneuvering with a heavy hose while navigating slippery surfaces can be challenging;
You can help the driver make safer deliveries by keeping the path to your oil tank clear of snow and ice and removing any nearby obstacles, such as fallen branches.
It is also important to shovel or plow your driveway and keep it free of ice. Safety codes prohibit your heating oil company from parking an oil truck on an incline unless it is perfectly dry. Just because you can get your car down your driveway doesn’t mean a 15-ton heating oil truck can make it too.
Marking the edges of your driveway also makes it easier for delivery drivers to navigate.
Please reach out to your Hudson Valley heating oil company if you have any questions about heating oil delivery. If you think your tank may be wearing out, read about replacement options for your heating oil tank.
People who live in the Hudson Valley are probably more familiar with Bioheat fuel than other areas of the country. That’s because many families throughout the Hudson Valley region already rely on Bioheat fuel to keep their homes warm!
As you’ve probably heard, Bioheat fuel is one of the best tools for reducing carbon dioxide in the environment without sacrificing comfort or needing to undertake expensive, disruptive equipment replacements.
So how does Bioheat fuel stack up against traditional heating oil? Well, Bioheat fuel basically works the same as traditional heating oil. You can use it in existing home heating fuel systems without modification. But here’s the key difference: Bioheat fuel represents an enhanced eco-friendly alternative to conventional heating fuel.
You don’t lose any heating power with Bioheat fuel. On the contrary, it burns much more efficiently, reducing heating system maintenance, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions. It has the highest Btu content of any alternative fuel!
Bioheat fuel is a blend of renewable biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur heating oil. Biodiesel is a gallon-for-gallon replacement for petroleum fuel. It’s made from organic and recycled ingredients like:
Blended with ultra-low-sulfur heating oil, biodiesel is an excellent and practical way to reduce carbon emissions.
Bioheat fuel cuts harmful greenhouse gas emissions significantly because biodiesel achieves emissions reductions of at least 50% compared to petroleum. Using Bioheat fuel instead of traditional heating oil means reductions in the following emissions:
The production process for Bioheat fuel has many benefits. It diverts waste products from landfills and puts them to good use. It also supports American farmers and biodiesel producers.
The production process puts excess oil and fats to good use. Food is never sacrificed for fuel in the production of Bioheat fuel. Bioheat fuel is sourced and produced right here in the United States, supporting local farmers, local industries and local economies.
Bioheat fuel has a significant advantage over other green home heating products: it’s available right now and is currently offered by heating oil retailers. It’s heating both homes and water across the nation as we speak — all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat fuel, which will further reduce our carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.
During a meeting at the Northeast Industry Summit a few years ago, the entire Northeast heating oil industry resolved to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2023, a 40% reduction by 2030, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
We are well on our way along the road to a carbon-neutral future! By 2030, it’s estimated that biodiesel will displace 529 million gallons of heating oil.
Bioheat fuel is readily available here and remember, it requires no modifications to your existing system. You can enjoy all of its benefits right now with your next heating oil delivery. Learn more about the benefits of Bioheat fuel.
While heating fuel prices seem to be on a slow downward trend, many homeowners remain concerned about how much heating oil they will use this winter—and how much it will cost them in the long run.
While there are many variables that affect fuel usage—including outdoor temperatures, the quality of insulation in your home, the efficiency of your furnace or boiler and your family’s own heating preferences, there are general guidelines that can help you estimate how much heating oil you can expect to use.
Here is an example. If outdoor temperatures average about 32° over a 24-hour period, a typical 2,500-square-foot house will burn about six or seven gallons of heating oil per day.
So, if temperatures are right around the freezing mark and you have a quarter of a tank of oil left in your 275-gallon tank, you’ll have enough oil to last about a week. This is why you should call for your heating oil delivery when your tank gets no lower than one-quarter full, especially during cold weather.
Remember: it’s always better to be conservative and order your heating oil early rather than getting stuck in a no-heat emergency because your tank came up empty. The best way to avoid these risks and hassles altogether? Ask your heating oil supplier about automatic heating oil delivery service, which frees you from the task of always checking the fuel level in your oil storage tank because you’re worried about running out.
Even if you’re a long-time heating oil consumer, it never hurts to review the basics of reading the heating oil tank gauge, especially in preparation for winter. Here are three key points.
Why not take care of filling your oil tank now so you don’t have to be worry about it later—when everyone is asking for fill-ups? Contact your heating oil supplier today to request a delivery—or ask about the availability of automatic delivery for your heating oil.
Read more about heating oil storage tanks.
It won’t be long before we’re “cranking up” the heat again in our Hudson Valley homes. At the beginning of the heating season, local heating oil companies field a lot of calls from anxious customers worried about noises they hear after their oil furnace or oil boiler starts operating.
As with any piece of equipment, many of the sounds you will hear from your heating system are perfectly normal, especially when it starts and stops operating.
Let’s put the focus on furnaces first. A furnace refers to the heating unit in a warm-air, or forced-air, system. After the air is heated in the furnace, a blower forces it through ducts. The warm air is then released through vents or registers in your home.
To help you distinguish between minor and major problems with your warm-air furnace, here’s a list of common sounds you may hear. These are general guidelines provided solely for educational purposes. A correct diagnosis can only be made after a system inspection by a heating oil service professional.
A lot of folks in the Hudson Valley have a hot water (hydronic) system. To deliver heat to your home, water circulates around your boiler’s combustion chamber. A circulator pumps the hot water through pipes to heat baseboards or radiators. Eventually, the water returns to the unit to begin the cycle again.
Steam boiler systems work similarly except they generate steam, which rises up to radiators (no circulators are needed). A low water cut-off shuts down the boiler if water levels drop too low, preventing boiler damage
A noisy boiler can be a fairly common problem for people who have a closed loop hot water boiler. Similar to a radiator in your car, your boiler is filled with water. But if air leaks into the system, the pressure rushes through the pipes. This results in a banging noise.
Why does this happen? Air can be drawn into the system in several different ways. This includes a defective valve, a broken bleed screw, a pressure leak, or previous repairs done to piping.
Another possibility is a problem with the expansion tank. Because water expands when heated and contracts when cooled, extra space is needed to store air. This is called an expansion tank. But air can be drawn back into the boiler from this device.
If you have any concerns about the operation of your heating system, please get in touch with a heating oil service professional and request a heating system inspection.
Did you know that you can qualify for rebates when you install a new oil furnace or oil boiler? Read more about heating oil equipment rebates in the Hudson Valley.
There is no longer any doubt that Bioheat fuel represents a smart solution for the delivery of a better, clean-burning fuel for your home and our environment. With awareness—and curiosity–growing about this remarkable, renewable fuel, we’ve tried to answer the most common questions we’ve been hearing from oil heat consumers in the Hudson Valley.
Bioheat fuel is a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with renewable biodiesel that’s made from organic and recycled products. These products can range from soybean oil, used cooking oils, and inedible corn oil to canola, tallow, fats, and algae.
These renewable products are defined as feedstocks for producing biodiesel. Blends of biodiesel in heating oil are designated in percentages. For example, a 5% blend of biodiesel is defined as B5. B10 refers to a 10% blend, while B20 is a 20% blend.
Yes. Bioheat fuel burns more cleanly and more efficiently than conventional heating oil. So, you’ll be using less heat to get the same amount of warmth, and your heating system will last longer. You’ll also likely find that you need fewer repairs on your system. You may also be able to extend the time between system maintenance services. All of this amounts to savings!
No. Biofuel is a broad term that can include various products including not only biodiesel, but ethanol, renewable hydrocarbon diesel, and raw vegetable oil known as RVO or LR100. It’s important to note that raw vegetable oil does not meet industry specifications; it is not biodiesel or Bioheat fuel and it is not suitable for home heating oil use.
Yes. Bioheat fuel is domestically made and helps our economy by helping meet our nation’s energy needs without incurring the cost of new land use or drilling, or paying premium prices for imported fuels.
The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry now support about 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year.
Nationwide, some three billion gallons of biofuel were consumed last year, and biofuel use is expected to exceed six billion gallons by 2030. This will eliminate over 35 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually. Expect those numbers to get even more impressive as biodiesel takes us farther along the road to clean energy.
No. Most major heating system manufacturers accept Bioheat fuel as covered under their warranties for use, and you won’t need to make any changes to your furnace, boiler, or oil storage tank to use it. Performance standards for Bioheat fuel have been approved by ASTM International, an organization that sets industry standards for fuels and lubricants.
Learn more about Bioheat® Fuel and then contact your heating oil dealer.
Bioheat® fuel is an affordable home energy source that’s making an impact right now on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for our climate. Its efficiency and cleanliness are leading us on a bright path to a carbon-neutral future that is not too far away.
Here’s just one example of how Bioheat fuel is making an impact. Just two heating oil retailers in New England displaced nearly 1.5 million gallons of heating oil with approved Bioheat fuel in the first half of 2020. Doing this resulted in an 80% reduction in GHG emissions, compared to traditional heating oil.
For the heating oil industry to achieve its stated 2023 goal of 15% fewer emissions, the standard Bioheat fuel blend will need to be in the 20% range. There are already many heating oil companies in the Northeast that are delivering Bioheat fuel at this level. Some are even delivering blends as high as 50% (B50 Bioheat SuperPlus™ fuel)
Thanks to research and development being spearheaded by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), heating oil is being made more cleanly and efficiently than before.
The overall goal is to transition to even higher levels of Bioheat fuel, which will further reduce the carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.
During a meeting at the Northeast Industry Summit in 2019, the entire Northeast heating oil industry resolved to achieve a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2023, a 40% reduction by 2030, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The biodiesel that’s blended with ultra-low sulfur heating oil to create Bioheat fuel is a gallon-for-gallon substitute for petroleum-based fuels, which have a higher carbon intensity. By 2030, it’s estimated that biodiesel will displace 529 million gallons of heating oil.
Biodiesel, a non-toxic, degradable renewable liquid fuel, is generally produced from agricultural byproducts, including used cooking oil, animal fats, inedible corn oil, soybean oil and canola oil.
This puts excess oil and fats to good use. Food is never sacrificed for fuel in the production of Bioheat fuel. Bioheat fuel is also sourced and produced right here in the United States, supporting local farmers, local industries and local economies.
Bioheat fuel is readily available now through local retail oil companies and it requires no modifications to your existing system.
The bottom line: in the Hudson Valley, we are well on our way along the road to a carbon-neutral future!
To learn more about the benefits of Bioheat fuel, please go here.