Four Ways to Prevent Heating Oil Sludge

Heating oil sludge – a combination of dirt, rust, and oxidized fuel that settles to the bottom of the tank – can cause some real problems if it gets into the supply line of your heating system, where it can rob your equipment of efficiency and even cause it to seize.

The question is, what can you do to prevent it?

Here are four things you can do to avoid the complications heating oil sludge buildup can cause in your tank:

1. Get your equipment serviced every year by a qualified technician. Annual maintenance includes a filter change – a must for your heating oil system.
2. Consider moving your heating oil tank indoors, or enclose to moderate its exposure to temperature swings. Changes in temperature cause condensation build-up in inside your tank; that can cause bacteria to grow, which oxidizes your heating oil and leads to sludge buildup.
3. Consider having your tank drained by a waste oil contractor. Removing years of built up sludge this way can save you money on repairs and help your heating system to perform better. If your tank is more than 20 years old, you can also think about replacing it.
4. Don’t purchase your heating oil from “discount” fuel companies. Stick with reputable dealers like Cherry Energy, which sources its heating oil from quality suppliers. Remember – “you get what you pay for”!

Contact us today to schedule maintenance for your heating oil system – or to learn more about our heating oil equipment and services!