How Do You Get Rid of Heating Oil Sludge?
Keep sludge away with a full tank of fuel from W.H. Riley & Son
Heating oil sludge is a substance that can form on the bottom of your heating oil tank. It is made up of dirt, rust, oxidized fuel and water. An accumulation of this sludge puts your heating oil system at risk.
This sludge can grow microorganisms that can lead to tank corrosion. A corroded tank is more susceptible to leaks. Additionally, it can clog fuel lines and negatively impact the quality of the fuel that is in your tank. This will ultimately affect how your heating system is able to function and perform.
Sounds like something that is best to be avoided and done away with, right? Here at W.H. Riley & Son we certainly think so. That is why we have put together the below tips and tricks for getting rid of heating oil sludge.
How to know if there is sludge in your heating oil tank
Before you go about getting rid of heating oil sludge, you will have to determine if there actually is sludge in your tank. If you are hearing any gurgling, sputtering or other unusual noises, are constantly needing to change your oil filter or your heating system is suddenly not working as well as it was, you may be dealing with a heating oil sludge issue.
Getting rid of heating oil sludge
Seeing as removing heating oil sludge from a tank entails draining the fuel that is inside this tank, it is best to leave this job in the hands of a professional. That way the tank can be properly drained, scrubbed and cleaned.
Preventing heating oil sludge
Dealing with heating oil sludge is certainly less than ideal. The good news is that there are certain things a homeowner can do to avoid it entirely. This includes:
- Using sludge emulsifiers: Adding emulsifiers to your fuel helps decompose any heating oil sludge that is beginning to form.
- Keeping your tank full: It is easy for condensation to form and build up in an empty or near empty oil tank. Therefore, it is best to keep a sufficient amount of fuel in your tank.
- Opting for high quality heating oil: Here at W.H. Riley & Son we deliver Bioheat Plus® fuel. This is cleaner than traditional heating oil, which helps a heating system last longer and need fewer repairs. Our Bioheat fuel is also treated with our HEATDOC™ proprietary fuel conditioner. This helps prevent sediment from building up in tanks, pipes, fuel lines and filters.
- Booking those annual maintenance appointments: Professional maintenance is the best way to catch a sludge issue before it has the chance to do serious damage to your heating system. This is something the technicians here at W.H. Riley & Son can help you with!
You can count on W.H. Riley & Son
If you are looking for reliable heating oil services for your southeastern Massachusetts home, look no further than W.H. Riley & Son. We offer high quality heating oil at a fair and competitive price. When you enroll in our Automatic Delivery program we can even monitor your heating oil usage and schedule fuel deliveries for you.
Contact W.H. Riley & Son today to start receiving heating oil services you can count on.