Four steps to get winter ready

With winter approaching fast, it’s time to make sure you’re ready for the colder months ahead. From routine maintenance to making sure your tank is topped up, it’s time to get prepared for the colder temperatures and avoid any unexpected surprises. Here are four things you can do today to get winter ready.

1. Keep an eye on your fuel tank

When it’s not used regularly, your fuel tank could be losing efficiency. And if you’re not keeping a close eye on its condition, you could be missing small signs of damage that might be affecting its performance. Make sure you inspect your fuel tank at regular intervals for signs of wear and tear, including cracks, bulging, rust and leaks. In particular, pay attention to the pipework valves and seams of the tank. This is generally where gradual leaks can occur that may not be immediately obvious.

All oil tanks have a vent to allow vapour to escape when being refilled and air to be drawn in. It is important to check the vent is cleared of any debris or leaves that may be blocking it. You can also check for water in your tank using a tank sock or water finding paste. The presence of water could potentially cause damage to the heating system.

When it comes to checking your tank’s content gauge and alarm are working correctly, it’s a good idea to get yourself clued up on how to use them so you can test them and spot any issues. And, if you have a digital gauge, remember to check the battery power.

Before carrying out any checks, make sure you know how to isolate the tank’s oil supply in case of an emergency. You can normally find an isolation valve near the tank’s outlet.

2. Keep your tank secure

It might not be the first thing you think about when it comes to preparing for the winter, but when heating prices are high, fuel tanks can be vulnerable to theft.

Take steps to protect your tank and fuel supply by keeping a constant eye on your fuel levels. You could install a lock and place the tank in a secure location primarily accessible by you and your fuel provider. Using a tank alarm and motion-activated security lights might also help protect your valuable fuel supply.

If you won’t be at home to receive your next delivery and have left your tank access points unlocked for your fuel provider, remember to lock them back up after the delivery has taken place.

3. Plan ahead

When you’re not using your heating oil regularly, it’s easy to forget about topping up your tank. But leave filling up to the last minute and you could find yourself without heating when you need it most.

Topping up before the winter arrives also means that you’ll be able to go into the colder months prepared with a full tank, instead of having to wait for an emergency delivery. This can be more expensive and may not arrive in time.

4. Get your boiler serviced

Boilers lose their efficiency as they age, so it’s important get your boiler serviced once a year by an OFTEC engineer and make sure it’s in good working condition. Remember, you can find a local engineer through the OFTEC website. By keeping on top of your boiler servicing schedule, you’ll be preserving its life and saving money by keeping it efficient too.

 

Order your winter heating oil supply with Direct Oil via our hassle-free online system and be ready for the cold months well in advance. And, if you need it in a hurry, you can always opt for express delivery to get your heating oil even quicker. Get an instant quote.