Frequently asked questions

OFTEC is an independent body that accesses and certifies engineers as competent to work within the oil-fired heating and cooking sector. The body oversees the training and registration of technicians engaged in commissioning, servicing, installation and plant operation using oil-fired equipment.
Business owners and homeowners can feel confident that all approved engineers will carry out installations to the correct standards and conform to the latest legislation. If you consider new or replacement oil-fired boilers, pipework or tanks, you should ensure that your engineers are OFTEC approved.
Find out more about OFTEC.
OFTEC also publish downloadable guides for oil tanks and feed pipes.

Metal oil tanks can cause problems for homeowners and businesses because even if it is regularly painted, hidden condensation on the inside can cause corrosion which can eventually cause leaks. These can be costly to clear up.

At Oil Tank Change, we offer a wide choice of polyethene tanks at competitive prices. A new polyethene tank can provide complete peace of mind as it is virtually maintenance-free and will provide many years of trouble-free service.

Many customers decide to relocate their oil tanks to utilise space more effectively. New polyethene tanks are available in an attractive green colour that helps them blend into garden areas.

We can store oil whilst the relocation is underway or simply transfer the fuel from one tank to another using our specialist storage vehicle. We also filter it to ensure only clean oil goes back into the tank.

There are a few factors to consider before choosing the location of your oil tank.

Access – it needs to be easy for tankers to refill the tank.

Location – all tank installations are covered by safety legislation and building regulations that affect your tank’s location. You need to consider proximity to boundaries and buildings (fire protection) and the size of the tank. Please contact us so we can advise you on the latest safety legislation.

Environment Agency urges people to check their oil tanks to protect the environment and reduce the risk of financial losses.

Leaking oil can result in drains leading to rivers, streams and lakes.

If you find that your oil tank is leaking, we urge you to get this fixed as soon as possible.

We offer 24-hour emergency help, just call our emergency hotline on 07468694627 to talk to one of our engineers.

There are lots of different sorts and sizes of tanks available. Our experienced team can help you choose the right sort for your home or business. We may need to do a full survey before offering advice, and in some instances, a risk assessment from a third party body may be required.

Our tanks are made in high-quality steel or rigid polyethene plastic to provide many years of trouble-free use.

Residential situations, where an oil tank serves a single property (not multiple occupancy units such as flats), commonly use single skin tanks (non-bunded) made from moulded or fabricated containers. There may be a need to use a bunded system to protect the surrounding area from any potential leak hazards in certain circumstances, such as environmentally protected locations. We would advise a risk assessment in this situation.

Bunded tanks have two layers, one to hold the oil the other to protect the oil from leaking outside the tank. In a major leak or complete failure. Many commercial installations require a bunded tank, so we usually advise a risk assessment.

Our engineers will install the correct sized based to meet OFTEC and the manufacturer’s requirements. The base needs to be larger than the oil tank, extending at least 300mm around the perimeter. It also needs to be completely fireproof – at least 50mm thick if using paving slabs or 100mm thick if using concrete.

Absolutely. Our complete service includes registering your products to guarantee the manufacturer’s warranty.

OFTEC recommends that you place your oil tank 760mm away from a non-fire rated boundary such as a wooden fence and at least 1.8m away from a building.

Our in-house team of specialist engineers have the experience, training and knowledge to remove oil tanks in a timely and efficient manner, keeping you informed throughout the process from start to finish. We pride ourselves on ensuring that your property is left in a brilliant condition once we’ve completed the work, and we are fully insured to dispose of the oil tank in an environmentally and safe manner. 

Please make sure that the route to the location of the tank is clear and hazard-free. We’ll also need you to turn your boiler off when we arrive.

Yes, we absolutely can. We have a specialist vehicle that enables us to extract, filter and store any existing oil and pump it back into a new oil tank, all on-site. 

Fitting most standard oil tanks, the Apollo Ultrasonic Oil Level Monitor measures the level of usable oil in 10 graduations of the tank height. By setting the depth of your tank on the receiver, the device will transmit the oil level back to your monitor inside your property, alerting you when your tank oil levels are getting low. 

Depending on the type of tank you choose, guarantees range from 2-10 years, and we guarantee our workmanship for one year.

We highly recommend maintaining your oil tank with an annual inspection. Our engineers can spot a problem before they cause any safety issues or oil spillages. Carried out by one of our OFTEC engineers, they’ll be able to tell you whether you need any repairs or whether your oil tank is due for a replacement. Our annual inspection will ensure your tank is performing at optimum levels.