Kingspan Oil Storage Solutions

No one wants to wake-up, freezing cold in the depths of winter and find themselves without heating or power.

But every year, this is the unfortunate reality for many homeowners who rely on oil for their heating or power.  They may be the victims of rural crime, or it may simply be that their oil tank has failed, and all the oil has leaked out. The risk of your oil being stolen rapidly rises as oil prices surge and kerosene becomes a more attractive target for thieves. 

In either example, the homeowner stands to lose thousands of pounds of oil.   Plus, any spillage from their damaged tank that enters the ground will cause local pollution and could require an expensive clean-up operation. 

The owner may not only be liable for the costs of the clean-up, but the lost oil may not be covered by their property insurance.

While there is no fail-safe methodology for protecting against the determined thief, you might want to consider the following:

• Regular maintenance and servicing of both your tank and boiler will ensure their efficient working, lower your bills, and prolong the life of your heating system. 

• Single-skinned and steel tanks are particularly vulnerable to thieves.  Replacing them with a bunded tank (a tank within a tank) helps protect against leaks and can make it harder to access your oil.  Also, if the tank is punctured, the escaping oil will collect in the bund, reducing the amount that leaks out.

• Choose a tank with a secure, lockable lid and consider fitting an oil tank monitor system to alert you to an unusual drop in your oil level. A Watchman Sonic Advance Oil Level Monitor, for example, will detect if your oil levels are dropping at an unusual rate. A receiver in the house will emit a sound indicating a sudden drop in oil which may indicate a leak or possible theft.
  
  Labelling the tank as alarmed could act as a further deterrent.