If you’re looking to purchase a new oil tank or are starting out in heating oil, you might’ve noticed there are options for double-wall tanks. These tanks are gaining popularity and proving to be very useful. The term double-wall means that inside the tank, there is an additional “tank”. This ensures that if the walls of the interior tank were to fail, the oil would be caught by the exterior walls of the other tank. I wrote an article that goes in depth about comparing a Roth Double Wall with a Granby Steel tank. I recommend checking it out if you want a more in-depth analysis. You can find it here.
How Does it Work?
While they’re more popular in Europe, they’re starting to get an increase in popularity here in the states. Roth tanks in particular, come with an interior plastic tank where the oil is stored. Like I mentioned above, if that tank were to fail, the exterior steel part of the tank would catch the oil, preventing a spill. Think of the steel exterior like a suit of armor!
Recently, Granby has started making double-wall tanks similar to Roth tanks. If you have a Granby tank and are concerned that your Smart Oil Gauge can’t work on it, don’t worry, you’ll just need to purchase the Roth Adapter for your respective model of gauge, and you’ll be able to use it!
The Benefits
There are many benefits to having a double wall oil tank. I’ve compiled a list of all of them below for you:
- Leak Protection: This is considered to be the biggest advantage of these tanks. The interior plastic tank offers another layer of protection in case the interior is damaged or fails. While the interior tank failing is not very common at all, it’s nice to have an extra peace of mind.
- Compact: Another nice thing about these tanks is that they are taller than Granby tanks. So they don’t take up as much space as Granby tanks do! This means that you can put Roth tank in your garage or basement and it will take up less space!
- No Corrosion: The interior tank is made of plastic. Plastic doesn’t corrode like steel, which means that not only is there no chance of corrosion, but the double wall tank will also have a longer lifespan when compared to steel tanks.
- Decrease in Sludge Build Up: With the interior plastic tank, there is much less sludge that builds up. The interior plastic tank will not rust over, so this significantly decreases Sludge build-up.
- Much Better Warranty: Most steel tanks will only have a warranty of 10 years. However, with Double Wall Tanks, you’ll see that they have a 30 year warranty! This is much better and much longer lasting.
The Disadvantages
Now Double-Wall Tanks are not without their disadvantages. All tanks have them, so it’s good to know what they are and what to keep a look out for!
- Expensive Cost: The biggest downside to these tanks are their price. They tend to be more expensive than standard steel tanks. This is often because of their reliability, but their construction process is also a little bit more complicated.
- Not An Exact Replacement: These tanks have a different footprint than your standard Granby steel tanks. Double-wall tanks have a more square base/footprint compared to the lengthy base and four legs of the standard steel tank.
- Complex Installation: If you’re installing more than one of these tanks in one location, the installation can be complex. This is because the piping that will connect these tanks together is very specific and must be put together correctly for the system to work properly.
Are Double Wall Tanks Worth It?
Double-wall tanks are absolutely worth it! These tanks are not only durable, but they’re also reliable. They’re compact which means that they don’t take up as much room. The plastic interior also gives you another layer of protection from the tank leaking! The longer warranty also helps you have the peace of mind that if the tank fails, it’s covered!
But that being said, don’t be hasty and make this decision on a whim. You should continue to do your research before buying. You can even ask your local dealer to see what they suggest! Feedback from them will be very valuable!
Happy Heating,
Hunter
