Around 1.5 million homes in the UK use heating oil for hot water and central heating because they are off-grid and not connected to the mains supply.
In a commercial setting, heating oil can be used to fuel machinery in construction, agriculture and horticulture. It can also be used to generate electricity, fuel furnaces and heat commercial buildings, including holiday homes.
Bunded oil tanks are a legal requirement for businesses which store oil on their premises. They are also a wise choice for homes (or a legal requirement if your tank has a capacity over 3500 litres), rather than a single skinned tank, as the bund gives extra protection in the event of a leak. If a leak happens, the outer tank (bund) will contain the oil which would otherwise have leaked into the local area, causing contamination and a costly clean-up process.
Bunded heating oil storage tanks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a big range of capacities, suitable for both homes and businesses. They are usually stored outside but can also be stored inside or under the ground.
Buying a bunded heating oil storage tank for your home or business is a big investment, so you don’t want to get it wrong. But which is the best bunded oil tank for you?
That is a big question and the answer is different for everyone. There are a few important factors to take into account to help you choose the right one.
All bunded oil tanks sold in the UK should meet British Standards and be certified by OFTEC. OFTEC is the trade association for the heating and cooking industries, which is dedicated to safe and efficient heating, and certifies both the equipment and the technicians who install it.
Get advice
Because a bunded oil storage tank is such a big investment, it makes sense to get advice. Tanks for Everything has a big range of oil tanks and many years of experience. We can advise you on the best tank for your home or business.
An OFTEC-registered technician can help you choose the right type of tank and where to put it, to ensure it complies with all regulations.
Carry out a risk assessment
Before choosing your bunded oil storage tank, it is important to carry out a risk assessment. This is to ensure your new tank will comply with building regulations and environmental considerations, and that you have taken into account the potential fire risk.
Your tank cannot be located:
- Within 1.8m of a non-fire rated building or structure
- Within 760mm of a non-fire rated boundary
- Within 1.8m of non-fire rated eaves
- Within close proximity to a balanced flue
Once you have carried out your risk assessment, you may have a better idea of which tank would be right for you, taking into account issues like the size and location of your proposed tank.
Get the right size
Bunded oil storage tanks are available in a huge range of sizes. Ideally, you would want to aim for a tank big enough to hold a year’s supply of oil, but there are other factors to take into consideration.
As a rule of thumb, you will require about 500 or 600 litres of oil per year for every bedroom in your house – so around 1600 litres per year for a three-bedroom house. But if you have a bigger house, have your heating on more often than usual or also use oil for an Aga, your oil consumption could be much higher.
For safety reasons, you should only have your tank filled to about 80 or 90% full – so to use 1600 litres of oil a year you would need a 2000 litre capacity tank.
For some properties, it won’t be possible to store a year’s worth of oil, just because you don’t have the space. Most people don’t want to take up their entire garden or garage with an oil tank, leaving them with no leisure or storage space. You may even choose to have a smaller tank just because a larger tank spoils your view! A larger tank in your garden will be harder to conceal than a smaller one.
Another factor is that there are cost advantages to getting a larger tank than necessary, allowing you to store more oil (more on that below!).
Choose the right shape
Oil storage tanks come in a range of shapes:
- Slimline (tall and narrow)
- Vertical (cylindrical)
- Horizontal
- Low profile (a shorter horizontal tank)
The different shapes all have their own advantages and are designed to fit into whatever space a customer has available.
Slimline tanks are designed to fit where there is minimal space available, for example alongside a garden path, behind a garage or along a boundary.
Vertical tanks are generally more cost-effective due to their inherent strength from the design process. They fit well into corners or where space isn't an issue. Tanks for Everything stocks bunded plastic vertical tanks in capacities from 1230 to 15000 litres.
Horizontal tanks fit well into corners or where space isn’t an issue. If you are updating from a steel tank to a plastic one, a horizontal tank will probably best fit the space you already have available. Tanks for Everything stocks plastic bunded horizontal tanks with capacities from 650 to 3500 litres.
Low profile tanks are usually installed in areas of high winds or where the tanks need to be as unobtrusive as possible. They can easily be hidden behind hedges, shrubs or even low walls. Tanks for Everything stock several bunded plastic low profile tanks, all with a capacity of 1200 litres.
Choose the right material – steel or plastic
Bunded oil tanks are available in two materials – steel and plastic. They both have lots of advantages and a few disadvantages, so it is important to choose the one which is best for your home or business.
Steel tanks are more expensive, but they have a longer life expectancy than plastic tanks. Steel oil tanks can also hold bigger amounts of oil – Tanks for Everything stocks tanks with capacity of up to 20,000 litres – making them a better choice for businesses. Steel tanks are also more durable in extreme weather and are better for security – protecting the fuel inside from theft.
Plastic oil tanks (made of hardwearing polyethylene) are cheaper than steel oil tanks and less prone to corrosion. They are also flexible and will regain their shape after bad weather, meaning they are unlikely to crack. They still have a good life expectancy – up to 20 years if carefully maintained. Plastic oil tanks are much lighter than steel, meaning they are easier to transport.
Think about buying heating oil
Of course, your tank is to store heating oil, so it is important to understand the pricing of heating oil (kerosene). The prices fluctuate a lot during the year, rising as the weather gets colder and the need to heat homes and businesses increases.
It makes sense to research prices, buy at the right time and, if possible, buy enough to see you through for at least a year. If you do that, you won’t end up having to buy again when the prices are high.
June to August is usually the best time to buy heating oil and September to February is the worst time. Whatever time of year you are buying, you should still shop around and compare prices from different suppliers.
The cost difference between a small oil tank and one twice the size is fairly minimal, but if you have the space for a bigger tank, the saving in being able to buy enough oil at the right time is substantial. Reducing the number of deliveries will also help you save, as delivery costs are an added expense on top of the cost of the oil itself.
You could also join a ‘heating oil club’ in the local community. This is where the whole community orders their oil together to lower the overall cost and get a better deal for everyone in the community.
Once you have chosen the right bunded heating oil storage tank for your home or business, it should give you many years of safe and reliable service. But there are still a few things to remember.
You should give your oil tank a visual check every six months and definitely after any periods of extreme weather, including storms, heavy snow or heatwaves. Things to look out for are:
- Cracks and splits
- Rust
- Bulging
- Faulty fuel gauge
- A sudden increase in oil usage
- A stronger smell of oil
- Subsidence of the tank base
You should also ensure there is no foliage close to the tank – this can make access difficult and could even be a fire risk. Foliage should be kept at least 600mm away from the tank.
As well as checking the tank yourself at least twice a year, it is recommended that an OFTEC registered technician maintains your tank every year. The technician should check pipework, the integral bund, gauges, valves and oil filters.
You should also have your tank cleaned by a professional tank cleaning service about every five years.
By following these tips, you will maximise the life expectancy of your tank and ensure it continues to function safely for many years to come.
