So, just how often should you get your oil tank inspected? As a general rule, your tank should be visually checked by a professional at the same time as your annual boiler service, with your own visual checks done regularly in between, especially after storms or spells of extreme weather. If your tank is older, sited somewhere exposed, or you’ve just moved into a property and don’t know its history, it’s worth arranging a fuller inspection sooner rather than later.
In this guide, we’ll cover why regular inspection matters, what OFTEC recommends, what actually gets checked, and the warning signs that mean you shouldn’t wait for your next scheduled visit.
Why oil tank inspections matter more than you might think
It’s easy to think of an oil tank as something that just sits there quietly doing its job, but tanks do wear over time, and the consequences of a leak are more serious than most people realise. If your tank fails and oil leaks into the ground, the clean up costs and any resulting environmental damage are generally your responsibility as the property owner, not your oil supplier’s. Clean up can run into thousands of pounds, and your home insurance may have limitations or exclusions around fuel spills, so it’s worth checking your policy rather than assuming you’re covered.
There’s also a more everyday reason to stay on top of it. Fuel distributors will sometimes refuse to deliver to a tank that looks visibly damaged or unsafe, which can leave you without heating at exactly the wrong moment.
How often should you get your oil tank inspected?
OFTEC, the trade body for oil heating engineers, recommends that your tank is visually checked by a competent person at the time of your annual boiler service. On top of that, OFTEC advises carrying out your own visual check regularly between service visits, particularly after storms or spells of extreme weather, since this puts extra strain on the tank, base and pipework.
If you’ve recently moved into a property with an oil tank already installed, it’s worth arranging an inspection sooner rather than waiting for the next scheduled service. You have no way of knowing how well, or how poorly, the previous owner kept up with maintenance.
What does a proper oil tank inspection check?
A thorough inspection covers more than just the tank itself.
Here’s what your engineer should be looking at:
- General site condition, keeping the area clear of leaves, foliage and standing water
- The tank casing, checking for cracks, splits, bulging or discolouration on plastic tanks, and rust or corrosion on metal ones
- The base and support structure the tank sits on
- Oil lines and fittings, checking for wear or leaks
- The fire valve and vent pipe
- The bund or secondary containment, if fitted
Signs your oil tank needs checking sooner than scheduled
Don’t wait for your annual service if you notice any of the following. These are worth calling an engineer about straight away:
- Visible cracks, splits or bulging in the tank casing
- Rust, corrosion or discolouration
- A strong smell of oil around the tank or nearby ground
- Staining or damp patches on or beneath the tank
- The tank shifting, tilting or looking unstable on its base
- Sludge or debris in your oil line, which can affect how your boiler fires (our guide on why your oil boiler won’t fire covers this in more detail)
Looking to find out more, then check out our oil tank replacement page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should an oil tank be inspected?
As a general rule, once a year by a professional, done at the same time as your annual boiler service. On top of that, it’s worth carrying out your own visual check regularly in between visits, especially after storms or spells of extreme weather.
What does an oil tank inspection check?
A proper inspection looks at the tank casing for cracks or corrosion, the base and support structure, the oil lines and fittings, the fire valve and vent pipe, the bund if one is fitted, and the general condition of the site around the tank.
Who is responsible if my oil tank leaks?
As the property owner, you’re generally responsible for any clean up costs and environmental damage caused by a leak, not your oil supplier. It’s worth checking your home insurance policy, since cover for fuel spills can be limited or excluded.
Can I inspect my own oil tank?
You can and should carry out regular visual checks yourself between services, looking for obvious damage or leaks. A full inspection by an OFTEC registered engineer goes further though, checking things like the fire valve and pipework that aren’t always straightforward to assess yourself.
Signs That Hard Water May Already Be Affecting Your Boiler
Because the limescale build-up happens inside the system where you can’t see it, many homeowners don’t realise there’s a problem until something goes wrong. Here are the warning signs worth keeping an eye out for:
- A rumbling, banging, or bubbling noise from the boiler — this is kettling, and it’s one of the clearest signs that limescale has built up around the heat exchanger.
- Radiators taking longer to warm up than they used to — scale and sludge in the system restricts water flow, which means it takes more time and energy to bring the house up to temperature.
- Cold spots on radiators — often caused by a build-up of debris and deposits that prevent water circulating evenly through the radiator.
- Rising energy bills without any change in usage — if your heating costs are creeping up and nothing obvious has changed, a loss of efficiency caused by scale is one of the likely culprits.
- The boiler cutting out more frequently — a boiler that keeps shutting itself down can be reacting to overheating caused by poor heat transfer through scaled-up components.
- Visible limescale on taps, shower screens, and around the kettle — if you can see it on surfaces, it’s almost certainly present inside your heating system too.
If you’re seeing more than one of these signs, it’s worth getting a heating engineer to take a look before the problem gets worse.
Book an oil tank inspection
If it’s been a while since your oil tank was properly checked, or you’re not sure of its history, we’d rather you ask than assume everything’s fine. As an OFTEC registered engineer, we inspect oil tanks as part of every oil boiler service, and can carry out a standalone inspection if you just want peace of mind. Give us a call on 07545 198220, or take a look at our oil boiler services for more on what we cover.
