Even though heating oil might not be the most expensive thing in the world, it still costs money and you want to make sure that you are never suddenly without enough of it. Therefore, you will want to take it upon yourself to keep an eye out for leaks within the heating oil tank. Making use of the following tips will help you with that.

Clean Connection Pieces And Hoses With Soapy Water

Every so often, you will want to take a sponge and soak it in some very soapy water. Apply that soapy water over the various external connection pieces and hoses for the heating oil tank. If there is an issue, you may see soap bubbles forming. This is because there is a hole somewhere along the line or within one of the connections. If you do not notice any bubbles, then you do not have any problems there. Simply continue to gently clean those pieces.

Gently Clean The Exterior Of The Tank

Some small holes within the tank can be hard to see, especially if there are any tiny pieces of dirt or other debris over the holes. To expose any possible oils along the top and sides of the tank, you will want to easily clean it off with a wet sponge. As you slowly move the sponge along the exterior of the tank, you will want to keep an eye out for any small cracks or holes.

Place Cardboard Under The Tank

Spotting little holes under the heating oil tank can be a little more difficult without taking an extra step. Grab a flat piece of clean cardboard and slide it under the tank. Make sure that you are holding it in place by setting a rock, brick, or anything else that is heavy along the edges. This will ensure that the cardboard will not blow away in the wind. Leave it there for a few hours, or the entire day if possible. When you return to the cardboard, you will want to carefully inspect it to see if there are any spots of heating oil on it. If there are, then you know that it is time to have your heating oil tank replaced.

By spotting leaks within the heating oil tank as soon as possible, you will be less likely to lose too much fuel. Have your new tank installed by a professional and have it filled with fresh heating oil in case the old oil was contaminated because of the openings in the tank.