What’s the Difference Between Single-Wall and Double-Wall Heating Oil Tanks?

If You’re Thinking About a New Storage Tank, You Should Understand Your Options

As winter (finally) winds down, homeowners are making their spring to-do lists. Along with deep cleaning and bulb-planting, many of our customers make heating oil tank maintenance a priority. After a long winter, now is good time to inspect your tank and see if it’s time for a replacement.

A visual inspection for dents, leaks, or signs of corrosion is probably fine if your tank is pretty new. As your tank approaches the 30-year mark, you should start keeping an eye out for the warning signals that it’s hitting the end of its lifespan—and begin to think about a replacement.

Spring is a great time to replace your heating oil storage tank because it’s usually close to empty—which makes removal easier.

Trouble Signs

Know the telltale signs that your heating oil tank is leaking—or could start soon.

Damp Spots are an early sign your oil tank is leaking. Look for them on the underside of your tank or along the seam at the bottom of the tank. As the leak gets worse, oil will travel up the side of the tank.

Blistering in the paint on the underside of the tank is another sign your tank is compromised.

Condensation on the outside of the tank, even after a delivery, is also a warning sign.

Sticky Drips or black icicle-like deposits will form on the underside of the tank if the leak has gone undetected for a while. You may or may not notice an oil smell.

An oil stain or reddish-black spots will begin to develop on the floor underneath the tank.

Modern Tanks Are Built to Last

The technological advances in heating oil storage tanks like those we install from Granby and Roth may surprise you. They are more than just “big cans” and have features such as leak-detection systems and long-term warranties. Thoughtful design also includes tanks designed for vertical or horizontal installations, depending on space.

Older tanks were generally all steel. Steel tanks are still available today, but they are built to a much higher standard than in the past. Alternative construction materials such as fiberglass and polyethylene for the inner lining of double-walled tanks, combined with weld-free construction, make them virtually leak-proof. They will last 50 years or more.

Single Vs. Double-Walled Tanks

No one wants to have their oil tank leak, but for old or poorly maintained tanks it remains a risk. The Environmental Protection Agency enforces Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure regulations in heating oil tanks to minimize pollution risks from spills. And, homeowners must ensure any leaked heating oil is contained before it impacts the environment. Modern oil tanks—both single and double-walled types—are designed to help.

Single-wall tanks have one metal layer that contains the fuel, plus an epoxy-lined concrete barrier to catch and prevent leaks from spreading.

Double-wall tanks feature an inner layer surrounded by a second, slightly larger containment layer. These tanks catch leaked oil between the inner and outer layer, eliminating the need for additional containment. They have a vacuum gauge that will alert you if oil is leaking into the middle space.

While single-wall tanks are less expensive, double-wall tanks offer more peace of mind. Their components are generally corrosion proof and will last as long as 50 years.

Ready for a New Tank?

If you think it’s time to replace your tank, contact the pros at Bolkema today to learn more about expert oil tank removal and replacement—and reliable heating oil deliveries in Northern New Jersey and lower New York State, too.

For details, contact us today.