Some homeowners may find it strange that their oil tanks can rust from the inside out. After all, moisture is what causes this kind of corrosion, and the tank itself is full of oil, not water. Understanding why oil tanks tend to rust inside the tank can help you avoid this problem and extend the life of your home's oil tank.
Why do oil tanks rust from the inside out?
Oil tanks accumulate moisture inside as moist air enters the through the tank's air vent. This moist air can cause condensation to form when the walls of the tank are a different temperature from the air inside the tank. When condensation starts to form inside the tank, this causes rust. This effect is worsened when the water drips down the walls of the tank and forms a layer of water over the top of the oil.
How can you get water out of your tank?
The best way to get moisture out of your tank is to have a service professional bleed the tank of all oil, remove the water, then replace the oil.
What can be done to prevent this problem from occurring?
There are many ways to prevent or at least minimize the problem of condensation inside the tank. Painting the tank silver can help reflect sunlight and heat way from the surface of the tank. Doing this will help maintain a relatively equal temperature between the walls of the tank and the air inside.
Keeping the tank filled with oil can help as well, because it minimizes the amount of moist air that could possibly exist inside the tank at one time. Finally, use oil that has been treated with an additive to displace the water and sludge in the tank. This will prevent the layer of water from forming on top of the oil.
How can you tell if there's water inside your oil tank?
Have your oil tank tested on an annual basis by an HVAC repair person. He or she can do this during your normal HVAC tune-up and service. If you start noticing patches of rust on the outside of your tank, talk to your HVAC professional. He or she can tell you if the rust patches are coming from moisture inside the tank, or from another source.
Following these steps, you can help protect your oil tank from rust and moisture, which can extend the life of the tank and prevent necessary oil repair due to rust.
Share17 October 2015
I know it can be difficult to make yourself think about getting your furnace running when the skies are sunny and the temperatures are hovering around 90, but it is the best time for you to think about your heating system. Getting ahead of the winter preparation game will help to save on the cost of the repairs because the need for furnace maintenance is usually at a low during the fall season. This blog will show you what you can do to prepare your furnace for winter and when you should hire a professional HVAC technician to take care of it for you.