Those who use heating oil in Conwy and therefore have a fuel tank outside of their home need to be especially aware of the weather, as water can cause a number of issues within your tank if it manages to find its way in.
Water within your tank can reduce the quality of your fuel, therefore affecting its efficiency.
Thankfully, there are a number of ways to detect water in your tank, as well as clearing it out without the need of a costly call-out. If there has been a significant amount of rainfall in your area, the first thing to do is to purchase a water-detecting paste.
This paste is applied to a rod (or stick), and placed into the tank. If the paste has changed colour after being taken out of the tank, it means that water is present within it.
If you do happen to find water in your tank, it will need to be removed as quickly as possible. Many tanks feature a removal valve which allows you to empty out sludge and water without too much trouble. However, if your tank does not have a removal valve, there are still a few methods to remove water.
A water absorbent sponge will lie at the bottom of your tank and will soak up any water present within the fuel. Due to the design of these sponges, they will not absorb any fuel and can be removed from the tank once full.
To prevent water from building up, a heating oil water trap can be installed within your tank, which separates water from fuel before it reaches your system.
With summer on its way, we’re hoping that the rainfall in Wales will come to a halt for the next few months – but it’s always best to be prepared.