8 January 2025

Preparing your tank for winter: a complete guide for every type

Maintenance of water, fuel and AdBlue tanks becomes even more essential in winter. In fact, cold is one of the main causes of structural damage to tanks, due to freezing of water or thickening of fuels, as well as clogging of valves, filters and dispensing systems.

For this reason, in addition to good general maintenance practices, in this period it is advisable to follow the indications of experts such as Di Camillo, for over sixty years the point of reference in Italy for all needs related to tanks and liquid storage, to keep your tanks in good condition.

 

Water Tanks

Polyethylene Water Tanks

Polyethylene tanks are inexpensive and versatile, but require special care in the winter, as frozen water can expand and damage the walls of the container. To avoid this, some precautions include:

• placing the tank in a sheltered area, so as to protect it from frost and prevent freezing. This can be a utility room, or an area less exposed to cold winds, but a valid alternative is to use underground tanks. If the tank is outdoors, however, it must be made or treated with specific insulating materials to prevent frost from reaching the internal walls.
• Insulating tanks, especially in areas where temperatures frequently drop below zero. There are insulating coatings, such as thermal blankets or foam panels, which wrap the tank and maintain a more stable internal temperature. Alternatively, you can use special electric resistances for tanks that keep the water at a temperature above freezing point.
• In the case of water tanks, it is also advisable to reduce the quantity stored to prevent structural damage. The additional space helps to manage any expansion due to possible freezing.

Stainless Steel Water Tanks

Stainless steel is one of the most durable materials for storing drinking water, especially in cold weather. While a stainless steel tank is a great solution for areas that often reach sub-zero temperatures, it is always necessary to check the cleanliness of the tank before winter arrives, and make sure that valves and gaskets, especially in the case of stainless steel tanks intended for human water, are intact and have not suffered infiltrations or leaks due to frosts in previous years. An extra insulating coating can still help maintain a stable temperature inside the tank, preventing possible fluctuations that could affect the quality of the water.

Galvanized water tanks

Galvanized tanks are an intermediate solution between the first two. Therefore, if they have a higher resistance than those in polyethylene, they can still benefit from some precautions to resist frost and the coldest temperatures:

• if positioned outside, the galvanized tank can benefit from an additional protective anti-corrosion coating. Galvanization protects against rust, but it is still useful to apply protective coatings that increase its duration in difficult climatic conditions.
• It is also necessary to check the welds and critical points of the tank, since these areas are more exposed to corrosion. Even in this case, good anti-corrosion treatment is generally sufficient to prevent damage related to rain and snow, especially if you are careful to install the galvanized tanks for drinking water in drained areas, far from constant accumulations of snow or stagnant water.

 

Approved diesel tanks

Diesel fuel, at very low temperatures, tends to thicken and cause operational problems; therefore, to avoid inconveniences, some specific precautions must be taken to preserve the integrity of approved tanks:

• in areas subject to more rigid climates, it is common to use anti-freeze additives, specific products that prevent the crystallization of diesel fuel. These additives keep the fuel fluid and ready for use even at low temperatures, improving operational efficiency.
• Filters tend to clog more quickly in winter due to the thickening of diesel fuel. Before the cold season, checking and cleaning filters and valves and, if necessary, replacing them prevents flow problems.
• In extremely cold conditions, the use of heaters can be an effective solution to keep the fuel at the ideal temperature. Tank heaters are often programmable and keep diesel fluid even in the most difficult climatic and atmospheric conditions.

Even in the case of approved diesel tanks, there is the solution of underground tanks. Just like those for water, these are also installed below ground level, taking up less space and proving to be less subject to risks related to very low temperatures. Di Camillo underground diesel tanks are available in capacities from 1000 to 50,000 liters, and are equipped as standard with a leak detection system that guarantees optimal operation and allows a reduction in the risk of breakages, spills and soil contamination.

 

AdBlue Tanks

AdBlue, a fundamental additive for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in diesel vehicles, is however a solution that is very sensitive to the cold, tending to crystallize at around -11°C. Correct insulation of AdBlue tanks is therefore essential in the winter months to prevent the additive from freezing: it is best to store the tanks in closed or heated environments, and at stable temperatures to keep the liquid in optimal conditions, avoiding damage to both the tanks and the dispensing systems. If the tank cannot be moved, it is possible to use heating bands or integrated heating systems to keep the solution liquid and ready for use.

With AdBlue tanks, however, it is important to also protect the pumps and dispensers from the cold, because freezing can also block the pumping lines, causing blockages, breakdowns and malfunctions in general.

Maintenance of water, fuel and AdBlue tanks becomes even more essential in winter. In fact, cold is one of the main causes of structural damage to tanks, due to freezing of water or thickening of fuels, as well as clogging of valves, filters and dispensing systems.

For this reason, in addition to good general maintenance practices, in this period it is advisable to follow the indications of experts such as Di Camillo, for over sixty years the point of reference in Italy for all needs related to tanks and liquid storage, to keep your tanks in good condition.

 

Good general winter maintenance and checkup practices

Regardless of the type of tank and its contents, therefore, a general check of the tanks is essential to face the winter safely. These checks should concern:

• Seals and caps, which must be inspected to verify that there are no rigidities or breaks, which would be worsened by the cold, facilitating infiltrations and leaks.
• Internal cleaning of the tanks, to remove sediments, biofilm or residues that could contaminate the stored liquid or clutter valves and dispensing systems.
• Inspection of the supports and load-bearing structures, because especially in climates subject to snowfall or intense frost, these structures could weaken, with obvious safety risks for the tanks.

Preparing the tanks for the winter is therefore essential to preserve the quality of the stored liquids and extend the life of the tanks themselves. Whether they are polyethylene, stainless steel, galvanized, for diesel or AdBlue, taking the right winter precautions translates into efficiency, safety and long-term savings.

For technical assistance for your tanks in any season you can turn to Di Camillo: not only have we been manufacturing and reselling tanks and cisterns for water, fuel and diesel for over 60 years for the needs of any sector, domestic and industrial. We also offer our customers qualified technical assistance throughout Italy to ensure maintenance of underground and large tanks at client companies.

Contact us for more information, and find the most suitable tank to get through the winter period!