Our charity has run an oil club for over 10 years now to offer support to those homes in Berkshire that have to heat their homes by oil and do not have a local club to join.

This project has always fit well with our commitment to support rural communities.

The cost of heating buildings to a satisfactory standard is becoming more and more expensive. You only have to watch, listen or read the news to realise how we will ALL be paying more for our energy this winter. In rural areas, there are many off-gas communities. These are leaving residents with more expensive choices for heating fuel – such as oil.

We want to help rural communities cut the cost of heating where they can. The CCB Oil Club can cut the cost of heating to rural communities and it has other benefits. For more information about our club please click here.

Our club administrator, Marion suggests that those that can still try to fill their tanks as soon as possible, even with the high prices;

“This year has been marked by some of the highest fuel prices ever seen and heating oil has been affected like all others.  Buying heating oil when demand is greatest (ie during the coldest months) historically meant paying more so it is always good advice to fill up through the summer and early autumn when suppliers are quieter.  This summer has also seen a slight reduction in the price of crude oil which has, thankfully, seen heating oil prices dropping from the February/March peak.”

Marion Lathar, OFPS

Please find below some other summer top tips for those heating their homes by oil * (source: CPS Fuels)

Fill up your tank in the summer
Leaving tanks partly full in hot weather may see the pocket of air left will form condensation which can damage the internal casing of your tank. The condensed water can oxidise and then rust the casing.

Another issue with a partially empty tank is that bacteria will form on the top of the water and when this bacteria dies, it falls to the bottom of the tank. This creates a buildup of sludgy sediment, potentially leading to a system breakdown.

Secure your tank
Heating oil tanks and the fuel oil itself are expensive and, unfortunately, they are vulnerable to fuel theft. Therefore, it’s a good idea to secure and protect your tank using a variety of security solutions, for example, tank locks, security alarms and lights. If you have a large domestic tank, you could also consider installing a CCTV system.

Regularly inspect your tank
It’s good practice to ensure your heating oil tank is in good condition throughout the entire year, and whilst it’s not in use during the summer, this offers up the perfect opportunity to give it the once over. In fact, you should carry out an inspection every few weeks throughout the summer. You should visually inspect the whole tank for any visible damage and keep your eyes open for leaks and spills. Also, make sure the pipe fittings are secure and not leaking oil.

Get your tank serviced
As you won’t be using your heating oil tank during the summer, this is a good time to call your local heating oil expert to carry out a scheduled maintenance check. Firstly, they’re more likely to be available at a time that suits you, as there is less demand for engineers during the warmer months. Secondly, it will ensure that your home heating system is in tip-top condition for the winter.

This infographic from Citizens Advice also contains some useful advice for those rural households that are off gas in Berkshire: