Sometimes it can difficult to judge exactly when you need a new oil tank. Do you invest now or just carry on using the old tank you have until there is a really obvious problem?

This is especially the case if you’ve moved into a new dwelling and taken on the existing tank. Without knowing the history of the tank, or even sometimes its age, it can be impossible to make a reliable assessment using a visual inspection alone.

The last thing you need is a tank failure. As well as causing your heating system to stop working, it has the potential to cause a catastrophic leak of oil into the environment. This is dangerous to humans, animals and plant life and can be extremely costly when it comes to cleaning up. If the Environment Agency becomes involved, the bills are likely to be huge!

What Causes Oil Tank Problems?

Tank problems can be caused by trapped moisture or sediment build up, which can mean decreased fuel efficiency and damage to lines and furnaces.

Older or faulty steel tanks can split due to the pressure caused by the oil inside them. This often occurs after a fill-up so can be incredibly expensive in terms of lost fuel. If you have a plastic tank, the harmful rays in sunlight can cause splits if the material they’re made from doesn’t contain the correct UV stabiliser.

Even if a complete tank failure is avoided, repairs are costly, heating downtime is inconvenient and decreased fuel efficiency means bigger household bills.

How Long Does an Oil Tank Last?

Oil tanks generally last around 15 – 20 years. But, this doesn’t mean that a younger tank can’t have problems. Different types of oil tanks have different life expectancies, so always check with the manufacturer of your OFTEC registered professional.

Inspection and Servicing

Many oil tank problems start from the inside and gradually make their way to the exterior of the tank. This means that it may be too late to rectify problems once the issue becomes visually evident and a new oil tank installation will be the only solution. Many homes have a tank installed against an exterior wall, this makes even a comprehensive visual inspection difficult with the untrained eye.

Regular inspection and servicing by an OFTEC registered professional can nip many faulty oil tank problems in the bud.

If you’ve moved into a new property, it’s important to have the tank inspected even if it appears to be in good condition.

Possible Signs that a New Oil Tank is Needed:

• Dents and rust spots
• Damp or wet patches, either on the walls or underside of the tank
• Instability or uneven placement (check with a spirit level)
• Evidence of oil leaks on the ground around or underneath the tank
• Evidence of oil around gauges
• Split or damaged rubber seals around the oil lines
• Using oil faster than expected

The Benefits of Installing a New Oil Tank

If you’ve inherited an oil tank and aren’t sure of its history, a new oil tank will provide peace of mind. If you’re familiar with the tank, older tanks should be replaced to avoid future problems even if there are no current signs of any faults. This helps to prevent accidents and heating system downtime.

Even a newer oil tank can have significant problems that warrant a replacement. A full inspection is needed to assess any issues.

Installing a new oil tank means:

• There is no build up of sediment or sludge than can damage oil lines and furnaces
• There is much less chance of a tank failure caused by the deterioration of any internal problems
• Protecting property and the environment from the danger posed by oil spills
• Improved safety
• More efficient use of heating oil, saving energy and reducing bills.

The Take Away

Professional annual servicing is vital to maintaining the efficiency, safety and fault-free operation of all oil tanks. Problems you might be unaware of can prove costly. It may be that these faults can be rectified but, if a new tank is needed, Atlantis Tanks has a full range of domestic and commercial oil tanks available to choose from and we deliver in industry-leading times.

We also offer bespoke oil tank design and production to cater for unique dimension or setup requirements.

Do you have a Faulty Oil Tank? Our Installers are Ready to Help…

If your tank needs to be serviced, inspected or possibly replaced, an Atlantis Tanks oil tank installation expert can help. Our tank installers have access to a huge range of plastic and steel oil tanks and accessories and we can get your tank installed quickly. Fill in this form and one of our local experts will be in touch.

Climbing Fuel Prices Cripple UK Industries: How you can minimise the impact on your business

Fuel has always been a valuable resource, and one that accounts for a big portion of industry costs.

With prices reaching record highs, it’s now even more valuable. While we can’t change the world events that are causing these price hikes or persuade the government to reduce fuel taxes, we’ve still got some suggestions to help lessen the impact on your business.

1 Buy in Bulk

Like many other things we buy, the individual cost per unit of fuel is often less if you buy in bulk. You’ll also save money on delivery charges by condensing your fuel requirements into a larger, single delivery.

These savings are good for your bottom line, but you could also pass them on to your customers. In times when we’re all being hit by multiple prices rises, customers are shopping around for cheaper deals or may look for a new supplier if you increase your prices.

Buying in bulk undoubtedly saves you money, but remember that it also saves you the time of having to oversee multiple deliveries or source your own fuel from various suppliers. Making regular bulk orders gives you peace of mind that fuel tanks aren’t going to run dry and leave you with the headache of unforeseen downtime.

Buying fuel in bigger quantities means a rethink of how you store your fuel. If you’re going to need bigger storage tanks, now is the perfect time to invest. Take a look at our range of fuel storage tanks. Our standard range capacity goes up to 20,000 litres, if you want to go even bigger, we can provide bespoke tanks up to a capacity of 100,000 litres.

2 Look after your Fuel

Failing to look after the fuel you buy can be as wasteful as pouring money down the drain. Fuel needs to be stored correctly and in optimum conditions to avoid contamination. It’s also vital to make sure that your storage tanks aren’t vulnerable to fuel thieves.

Eliminate Fuel Contamination – Stamp Out Diesel Bug

‘Diesel bug’ is the collective name for contaminants such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and types of yeast that can grow in your fuel storage tank when water is able to enter and form a layer on top of your fuel. This is more common in very high or very low temperatures, but can be a year-round problem in poor-quality tanks.

Contaminated diesel damages tanks further and can cause engine problems and even complete mechanical failures. If fuel is contaminated, it must be filtered and cleaned. Badly contaminated fuel may need to be disposed of – precious money down the drain!

You can prevent the build up of diesel bugs by using high-quality fuel storage tanks such as those in our StoraFUEL and PortaFUEL range. These tanks seal tightly to prevent water and microbial organisms from getting into your diesel.

We supply fuel recirculation units to keep fuel from becoming stagnant, especially in tanks where fuel may be left in storage for some time due to lower usage. You can also use a fuel tank water absorber to help ‘mop up’ water caused by condensation in your fuel storage tanks before diesel bugs can start to grow.

Read more about diesel bugs here

Stop Fuel Theft

Fuel theft is on the increase across the UK, in part due to rising costs and changes to the laws around rebated fuel. The cost of fuel lost to theft can be devastating to businesses, that’s why it’s so important to run a security audit on your fuel storage tanks from time to time. By identifying potential risks, you can take simple steps to ramp up security and discourage thieves.

Is your tank sited where it’s visible overnight, or is it hidden away in the shadows? CCTV may be worth considering, along with security lights, to put off opportunist thieves looking to steal your fuel by cover of darkness!

Also consider accessories like lockable tank lids. They’re a small investment that could save you the price of a full tank of fuel.

But, fuel theft isn’t always carried out by criminals outside of your business. Sadly, fuel is sometimes lost to employee theft. To prevent this kind of loss, consider a fuel management system to monitor who is using your fuel and what they are using it for:

3 Install a Fuel Management System

Inefficient fuel usage is costly and there are always savings to be made… but manually identifying where these savings may be is time-consuming and complicated.

By closely monitoring your fuel usage, down to individual vehicles or employees, you can make changes and implement robust strategies to maximise fuel efficiency across your business. Whether fuel wastage is caused by ineffective use or employee theft, a fuel management system can pinpoint the problem and save you money.

Full systems can be retro-fitted to your existing tanks and pumps, giving you immediate access to real-time data about fuel usage and stock levels across multiple sites and users.

Browse our range of fuel management systems or find out more in this blog.

If you’d like to talk to a member of the Atlantis Tanks team about any of the products or ideas we’ve mentioned, just give us a call. We’re always happy to help. Remember, we don’t just sell tanks – we provide solutions!

Many of our customers are affected by the changes in the law governing the use of red diesel and other rebated fuels. If you’re unsure how the changes affect you or your customers, take a look at these FAQs:

1. What fuels are affected by the new legislation?

• rebated diesel
• rebated Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)
• rebated biodiesel and bioblend
• kerosene taxed at the rebated diesel rate
• fuel substitutes

2. What fuels can I use instead of rebated fuels?

You’ll have to use white diesel or biofuel that the full duty applies to.

3. Can I still use fully-rebated kerosene for heating purposes?

Fully-rebated kerosene can still be used for all heating applications.

4. How do the changes affect other fuels used for heating purposes?

Biodiesel, bioblend and fuel substitutes may or may not be affected by the changes when they’re used for heating purposes. This depends on the status of the heated property as shown below:

• non-commercial purposes — the rebated rate of fuel duty will apply
• commercial purposes — the full rate of fuel duty applies

5. What industries can still use red diesel and other rebated fuels?

You can still use rebated fuel in certain vehicles, machines and appliances for the specified uses if you’re in any of these industries:

• agriculture
• horticulture
• fish farming
• forestry

6. What vehicles, machines and appliances can the exempt industries use red diesel/rebated fuel in?

Each industry is subject to different exemptions as follows:

Agriculture

Vehicles the exemptions apply to:

• tractors
• single-seat, light vehicles (less than 1,000 kilograms), designed and constructed mainly for off-road use
• vehicles licensed only for use between different parts of land for purposes relating to:
  • agriculture
  • horticulture
  • forestry
• vehicles constructed and adapted, with built-in or permanently attached handling and processing equipment, to be used for purposes relating to agriculture, horticulture, fish farming or forestry

Tasks that the specified agricultural vehicles may be used for:

• agricultural activities, horticulture, fish farming and forestry
• cutting trees, verges and hedges that border public roads
• clearing or otherwise dealing with frost, ice, snow (this includes gritting), or flooding
• by a club registered as a community amateur sports club
• on golf courses and driving ranges

Special vehicles

Special vehicles include:

• digging machines
• mobile cranes
• mobile pumping vehicles
• work trucks
• road rollers

Tasks that the specified vehicles may be used for:

• agriculture, horticulture, fish farming and forestry
• by community amateur sports clubs that are registered with HMRC and on golf courses and driving ranges

Unlicensed vehicles

Vehicles the exemptions apply to:
Unlicensed vehicles are vehicles for which you have registered a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) with the DVLA if required to do so for that type of vehicle.

What the special vehicles may be used for:

• agriculture, horticulture, fish farming and forestry
• by community amateur sports clubs that are registered with HMRC and on golf courses and driving ranges
• by travelling fairs and circuses
• any other circumstances providing the vehicle is using fuel gas for fuel

What other vehicles and activities can still use rebated fuels?
There are certain other specialist vehicles that may still use red diesel or other rebated fuels. These vehicles include mowing machines, appliances that are not a vehicle or vessel, leisure vessels in Northern Ireland, vehicles used on railways and non-road machinery. To find out more about the exemptions that apply to these vehicles, please visit the government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-rebated-fuels-entitlement-from-1-april-2022/check-when-rebated-fuel-can-be-used

7. How can I save money if I have to pay the full duty on fuel?

• Increase your organisation’s fuel efficiency by installing a fuel management system
• Buy fuel in bulk by using larger storage tanks. Browse our range of storage tanks. We can also make bespoke fuel storage tanks with a capacity of up to 100,000 litres
• Maintain existing fuel storage tanks to reduce the risk of contamination, spills and leaks

April fools is past and gone, but how about we carry on?

We’re not fooling on our diesel tanks, Whatever the situation, we have the perfect fuel storage tank for your needs.

Whether it’s a portable or static fuel tank you require, our wide range of uniquely designed tanks come with the best quality pumps and systems at competitive prices to ensure we have the best possible solution for you.

• Wide range of portable and static products
• High stock levels
• Unique designs paired with the best quality pumps and systems
• Direct-to-site delivery with HIAB offload or small vehicle options
• Cost saving solutions
• Bespoke tank solutions with quick turnaround

View our Diesel tanks

Introducing the B.SMART Fuel Management System – A Complete, Customisable Solution

Fuel prices are through the roof. And, with the withdrawal of the tax subsidy on red diesel that’s going to affect many industries from April 1st 2022, controlling your stock and optimising fuel efficiency has never been more important for UK businesses.

Losing money on fuel can be a financial headache. If you have fuel losses that are unaccounted for – you have a problem. Inefficient use, errors in recording fuel consumption and theft are the three biggest causes of fuel loss that you can’t account for.

And if that’s not enough, the consequences of poor fuel usage or loss could mean more than money down the drain. Running out of fuel for plant or fleet vehicles causes expensive downtime for your business, not to mention the potential for damaging your reputation with current and future customers.

Controlling and maximising the efficiency of fuel used by your employees is time-consuming. The B.SMART Fuel Management System provides a solution that’s cost-effective, time-saving and scalable. Interested in finding out more? Read on…

The B.SMART Solution

After researching the fuel management systems available on the market today, we’re now pleased to offer our customers the Piusi Cube B.SMART, which we consider to be the best out there.

The B.SMART is a cloud-based fuel management system, designed to make monitoring and controlling fuel use quick and easy. It eliminates inevitable human errors and saves hours of work. This frees up your time to focus on what you do best while the B.SMART looks after your fuel.

What the B.SMART Can Do for Your Business

• The B.SMART can be retrofitted to existing fuel pumping systems
• Enjoy instant access to data on individual drivers and vehicle usage
• Optional recording of vehicle mileage on each filling session
• Pre-set dispensing volumes or set to fill up, pump-by-pump across multiple sites
• Control using a simple online portal and monitor real-time fuel use
• Pay no ongoing hosting fees to use the industry-leading software
• Comes with 10 driver app licenses, upscale when necessary to meet the growing needs of your business
• Export reports into .pdf or .xlsx files
• Use for diesel, gasoil or AdBlue®
• Plenty of options and accessories to customise the system to suit your exact needs.

The B.SMART makes fuel management easy – helping you cut the costs of waste and fuel theft.

Talk to us today to find out more or take a look at the B.SMART Fuel Management System on our website.

What is World Water Day?

World Water Day has been held on the 22nd of March every year since 1993. Every World Water Day has a specific theme chosen to highlight a particular aspect of the planet’s freshwater resources. This theme also becomes the focus of the annual World Water Development Report.

Proposed themes are submitted by UN Water members two to three years in advance and then the winning theme is chosen by vote. At a recent meeting in Rome, attended by over fifty delegates, UN Water voted that ‘Groundwater: making the invisible visible’ should be the theme for World Water Day 2022.

What is groundwater?

Groundwater is the term used to refer to water that is stored in the ground beneath our feet. It’s found in cracks and spaces between rock, sand and soil. It can remain underground for centuries, moving slowly through geological structures called aquifers.

Groundwater is a source of drinking water for millions of people around the world and is one of our most precious resources. Just like oxygen, without water there can be no life.

“Out of sight, under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives.” – International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC)

Why do we Need Groundwater?

• Groundwater supplies drinking water for millions of households in the UK
• Groundwater is used to irrigate our crops, helping farmers to grow the food we need
• Groundwater is a vital component in many industrial processes
• Groundwater feeds our lakes, rivers, wetlands and other natural waterways.

But, Groundwater is Under Threat…

Today, groundwater resources are facing more threats than ever before. The growing population of the world demands more and more water while polluting water courses and natural supplies with wastewater.

Some locations around the world are facing their biggest droughts in centuries. Climate change is wreaking havoc with weather patterns, including rainfall. In the UK, we are seeing more rainfall. But, rather than being a blessing, it causes problems for our sewage systems. When a sewage system becomes overwhelmed, wastewater can enter natural waterways causing pollution which can affect groundwater.

As the population continues to grow and climate change gets worse, preserving groundwater and preventing it from becoming polluted will become even more critical. We all need to take action now to ensure our children have the water they need to live.

What can you do?

It’s clear that we all need to take responsibility and do something about this problem, but what can we do? Thankfully, there are some simple things you can do to save water and make a real difference.

Here’s ten simple ways to save water:

1. Check pipework and appliances for leaks
2. Take shorter showers or shallow baths
3. Install water saving shower heads or flow restrictors
4. Don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth or shave
5. Use your dishwasher or washing machine for full loads only
6. Rinse vegetables in a bowl of water rather than under a running tap
7. Water your garden during cooler times of the day
8. Use your bath water to water plants or clean the car
9. Use mulch in the garden to keep soil damper for longer
10. Top Tip: Harvest rainwater from your roof and store it to be used in your home or garden

It seems almost implausible that we’re talking about ways to save water in the UK when we seem to spend quite a lot of time complaining that it rains too much!

But it’s not that simple. As mentioned above, our increasing rainfall is putting extra pressure on an already failing sewerage system. When these systems become overloaded, wastewater enters natural waterways causing pollution.

If we collect and make use of rainwater we’re killing two birds with one stone. By harvesting rainwater we reduce the pressure on the sewerage system and we also reduce our consumption from the mains supply

Harvesting rainwater is simple and cost-effective. Full systems enable water to be collected from roofs and transferred to a storage tank. The water can then be kept and used for either non-potable purposes (non-drinking water) or, with further treatment, as potable water (drinking water). If you’re using this water, you’re reducing the amount you’re taking from the mains – that means savings if you’ve got a water meter.

If you’d like to see how to harvest this valuable resource, protect our reserves of groundwater and save money on your water bill, take a look at the range of rainwater harvesting equipment on our website. And, if you’d like to talk to an expert, give our team a call.