You probably don’t think about your heating oil tank very often – until it’s time to replace it. When that time comes, one of the factors you’ll need to consider is size or capacity. So just how big a heating oil storage tank do you need? Let’s take a look.
Before you consider a new heating oil tank, it’s helpful to know the size of the tank you currently own. When it comes to sizing a heating oil tank, two numbers matter:
Capacity is often listed on the tank’s nameplate; you’ll need a tape measure to work out dimensions (be sure to write them down; you’ll need them later).
One thing to keep in mind is that your tank will never be able to hold its nameplate capacity, because space must be left for air or debris in the tank. A typical 275-gallon tank (see below), for example, will only hold about 225 gallons.
Aboveground home heating oil tanks usually come in set sizes, the most common of which is 275 gallons. Other common sizes for above-ground tanks include 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675, and 1000 gallons (underground tanks can be substantially larger).
A somewhat useful rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes typically need a 275-gallon heating oil tank, while three- to four-bedroom homes usually need a 300 to 500-gallon tank. This is a little bit of an oversimplification, but it’s a good starting point for a discussion.
Of course there are other considerations to buying a heating oil tank – warranties and construction materials, for example. That’s why it when it comes time to shop for a heating oil tank in eastern Long Island, it pays to call the pros at Burt’s Reliable.
Contact Burt’s today to get a FREE no obligation estimate on heating oil tank installations in the North Fork and East End of Long Island! We’ll install your Granby Ecoguard or Roth oil tank quickly and neatly in compliance with all environmental and building codes.