Tank access for assessment

As the fine weather continues and the gardens are getting their annual spruce up, shrubs being planted, fences mended etc., we just wanted to highlight how a decision you make this year may be an issue in the future. 

Some people don't realise that during an oil boiler service we inspect the oil tank too and some tanks prove slightly challenging to access. 

We would suggest that if you are going to erect a trellis around your tank perhaps leave some space between the tank and the trellis to be able to walk around it and put a hinge on one section so it can be opened for access. 

If planting shrubbery perhaps add an extra meter or two to the suggested planting area to allow the shrub to mature away from the oil tank.

For ivy and creeping plants, perhaps erect a trellis around the tank for the plants to grow on allowing the tank to be camouflaged but remain accessible. 

A tank that cannot be seen by yourself, the oil delivery driver or the boiler technician is at risk of cracking or splitting and not being noticed. It would only be when the ground around it would become so contaminated that the plants and grass would die that you would notice there was an issue. This is too late to save the oil or the costly clean up charges.