How Long Does Heating Oil Last?

Know how long you can count on your fuel

If you use heating oil and a heating oil tank to warm your Cape Cod home once winter hits you know that there are all sorts of important things to be aware of. Considering how cold it can get here, having a certain level of knowledge about your heat source is very often imperative. When it comes to heating oil, this includes knowing how long your heating oil will last, how many years you can get out of your heating oil tank and when you should be ordering your fuel.

Heating oil’s shelf life

Most things don’t last forever and heating oil is no exception to this rule. If you take care of your heating oil properly by using the right additives and storing it correctly it can usually last about 18 to 24 months. Once you hit this time frame, bacteria finds its way into your heating oil tank and fuel, which makes it unusable.

If you are looking to get as many months as possible out of your heating oil supply you should:

• Have a pretty solid idea of how much heating oil you use per winter season so that you don’t over order and end up having a supply you don’t get around to using.
• Schedule routine professional heating oil tank inspections that check for corrosion, rust and other issues that could potentially damage your fuel.
• Invest in high quality heating oil from a supplier who you can trust.

A heating oil tank’s shelf life

Your heating oil tank should live out your fuel by a landslide. In fact, heating oil tanks are made to last for years and years. As long as you properly maintain your tank, you can count on it working properly for about 15 to 20 years. With impeccable maintenance and a little bit of luck, you can sometimes get 30 years out of heating oil tanks.

While you can anticipate heating oil tanks having a long life, they will eventually need to be replaced. If you notice any of the below signs your tank may corroded and it may be time to start thinking about getting a new one:

• If your tank’s efficiency has significantly decreased
• Rust
• Condensation or weeping that appears on the outside of your heating oil tank after a fuel refill
• Abnormal smells
• Oil leaks

When to place an order for fuel

It goes without saying that we use the most heating oil throughout the winter. But don’t wait until the cold weather hits to order your fuel.

Spring and summer are actually the best time to place your heating oil order. The demand is lower, which makes it easier to get and often times cheaper. Plus, when you stock up on a reasonable supply of fuel when it’s warm you don’t have to worry about being without fuel once temperatures drop.

Heating oil services from Cape Cod Oil & Propane

Cape Cod Oil & Propane knows how important heating oil can be to anyone out here on the Cape. That is why we pride ourselves on being the most reliable heating oil delivery service in the area. Our team can also install, repair and maintain heating oil tank.

Contact Cape Cod Oil & Propane today for the heating oil you need to stay warm.