What Size Oil Tank Do I Need For My Home?
There’s a lot that you have to worry about as a homeowner. During the winter, your HVAC system is one of the most important aspects to pay attention to. Oil-heat systems, much like other types of HVAC systems, require annual maintenance to perform well. Furthermore, if you’ve neglected to check your home’s heating oil tank as of late and you use will-call oil deliveries, it might be time to verify your oil tank levels. Be sure to schedule a delivery with ample time.
For those who are due for an oil tank replacement, you’re likely going to wonder whether or not you need to purchase a different heating oil tank size. There are several things you need to look at when you are choosing the size. The main consideration to look at would be your consumption needs.
Finding The Right Size Home Heating Oil Tank
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As mentioned previously, you need to find the right size tank for your home. A lot of households use heating oil to comfortably heat their homes. If you are utilizing heating oil as a primary source to power your furnace or boiler, you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with your respective needs. You want to know how much oil you regularly use. Knowing your consumption habits can help you find the optimal size heating oil tank for your household. By figuring out the optimal tank size, you can better determine when you need to schedule your oil delivery. This can help you stay ahead of things, and it can keep you from running out in the middle of winter.
Why It’s So Important To Know The Size Of Your Oil Tank
Here are some of the reasons why it’s so important to know the size of your oil tank:
Knowing How Much Oil Is Left
The only way you can be sure of how much oil you have left is by knowing your oil tank size. You need to know the size of your tank so you can accurately estimate how much is left. This is especially true if you have an older tank. A lot of older tanks don’t have built-in gauges. Therefore, you won’t have anything showing you that your tank is running low. Some of the newer tanks do feature these gauges, which can make it easier to identify if you need to schedule a heating oil delivery. If you don’t have a tank with a gauge, knowing the size of your tank can give you a way to calculate whether or not you need to refill.
Knowing How Much Oil To Buy
Without knowing your tank size, you will have no way of knowing how much oil to purchase. You need to know the size of your oil tank if you want to know how much to buy. With your tank size handy, you’ll know how much you need to purchase to get you through the winter months. This can give you a way to budget your oil usage during the coldest months of the year.
Knowing Your Consumption Habits
You also need to know what size of tank you have to figure out how much oil you are using. Without knowing the size of your oil tank, you don’t know how much you are using regularly. This means that you cannot do any sort of analysis on whether or not you are wasting energy and money. You can become a lot more of a conscious consumer when you know how much you are using.
Keeps You From Running Out
Perhaps most importantly, knowing the size of your tank will help to keep you from running out of oil. This can help you avoid those frigid days. Not only can it be uncomfortable to go without any heating oil, but it can be dangerous if it’s cold enough. This is especially true if you have older people or children living in your home.
When It’s Time To Upgrade Your Heating Oil Tank
There’s plenty that you need to look at when it comes to figuring out when it’s time to make any sort of oil tank upgrade. There’s got to be a reason for your upgrade. This can help you identify the right size much easier. There are several reasons you might need to upgrade. These can include but aren’t limited to:
- Your tank is too old.
- Your tank is defective.
- Your consumption habits drastically changing.
- Wanting to save money by purchasing more oil at a time.
Some Common Oil Tank Sizes
When you are trying to figure out the right oil tank size for your home, you need to know how to measure the tanks. Knowing how the measurements work is the first step to figuring out the optimal tank size. For example, when manufacturers refer to the capacity of the tank, they are talking about the amount of oil needed to fill the tank. The capacity is typically measured in gallons when you are looking for a residential tank. The size of the tank is likely to be listed by its (width, height, and depth) in inches. You can easily identify the capacity of the tank by looking at these factors.
To determine the right tank size for your needs, you’ll want to look at your existing tank’s capacity. This can give you a baseline when shopping for a new tank. A lot of the older tanks in the marketplace don’t have dimensions listed on them. If your tank doesn’t, you can easily measure it with some measuring tape. This can help you calculate the overall size of the tank yourself. A lot of the newer tanks will have labels that dictate the size directly on them. This makes it easier to identify what size of tank you already have.
The standard size of a residential heating tank is 275 gallons. Other sizes are sold. They come in sizes ranging from 288 to 1,000 gallons. That being said, you will find some being sold that hold over 30,000 gallons. These are typically reserved for commercial properties/buildings.
Some Of The Top Factors To Consider When Buying A Heating Oil Tank
There are plenty of different factors that should come into play when you are buying an oil tank. The size of the tank you end up getting should be carefully considered. The main thing you want to factor into your purchasing decision would be your consumption habits as a household. There are other things that you will need to consider along with this. Some of them include the following:
- Spacing Requirements: One of the things you need to factor into your purchasing decision when you are trying to determine the right size would be space limitations. Do you have space requirements you need to adhere to? A good way to do this is by checking your current tank. How big is it? Is there any room for a larger one? If not, you know that you’ll need to buy the same capacity or smaller. If there is room for a larger one, you can figure out how much extra space you have available.
- Number Of Household Occupants: You want to factor in the total number of people you have in your home. You will need a larger capacity tank if you have a larger family. If you don’t, you can get away with having a smaller one. Is your family planning one expanding anytime soon? If so, you might want to get a tank that you can grow with. You’ll be consuming more and more oil throughout the winter as your family gets bigger.
- The Size Of Your Home: You always want to factor in the overall size of your home when choosing the right tank size. It’s a good idea to count how many rooms your home has. A 5-bedroom home will typically need a bigger tank. If you only have a couple of bedrooms, you will likely be able to get away with having a smaller tank.
- Consumption Habits: You need to factor in your household’s average consumption habits. Are you conscious of your heat usage? If so, you might be able to get by with a smaller tank. However, if you are someone that uses your home constantly and who doesn’t monitor your heating usage, you likely want to have more of a buffer with a larger tank.
- Factor In Emergencies: You always want to factor in emergencies when choosing the right size tank. A good rule of thumb is to give yourself 20% leeway when it comes to the fuel you use. There’s always the risk of a blizzard or snowstorm that can keep you from being able to take delivery of more oil. Factor this into the equation when you are trying to figure out how big of a tank you need.
Opt For Professional Oil Tank Installation
Once you’ve figured out what your heating oil needs are for your family, it’s time to find a company that can handle the installation for you. You want to identify a certified installer to handle the installation on your behalf. A professional with experience will ensure that the entire process is done properly.
They will not only handle the placement, but they will also help you secure it. The last thing you want is a suboptimal installation. Having the wrong placement can cause issues and not having a solid foundation can lead to leaks and other issues. You want your tank to be protected against elements that could lead to freezing issues too. A professional that knows what they are doing can help mitigate a lot of the issues that could cause you trouble in the future.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell, there’s plenty to consider when you are trying to figure out the right tank size for your household. Contact an experienced installer to get their advice on what size tank you should get and to handle the installation for you. Getting a professional to do the legwork is always recommended because they can help with tank selection, placement, and installation to ensure you have a heating system that works well for a long time.
Call Van Varick & Sons For All Your Home Heating Needs
For all your HVAC and oil delivery needs, contact Van Varick & Sons. We have some of the most highly qualified and professionally certified technicians in Northern New Jersey. Each of our friendly techs can conduct a variety of HVAC services, such as oil tank upgrades, boiler maintenance, ductless installations, furnace replacements, air conditioner repairs and more.
We have various oil delivery plans and financing options. This way, you can customize your fuel deliveries to meet your needs. Our heating oil delivery and HVAC services are affordable and are done accurately and promptly at all times.
All of our services come with a guarantee. Our HVAC maintenance services improve your energy efficiency and home comfort while decreasing your HVAC costs. We can also assist you when you need to replace your heating and cooling system. We will help you find the best make and model for your home without sacrificing your budget. Our experts have the skills, training, and experience to ensure that all your home comfort needs are met. Book an appointment with us today. Call Van Varick & Sons for a free, in-home estimate.
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