Dorset residents who heat their homes with oil are being urged to check their insurance policies.

With the recent extreme temperature changes and stormy weather, the 18,000 homeowners on oil heating in Dorset are being advised to check to see if their oil tanks are covered by their home insurance policies.

It comes as many homes across the country have been subject to storm damage and a recent report has revealed that storm damage was one of the top three home insurance claims for 2023.

OFTEC, a registration body for off-gas grid heating technicians, is encouraging households in Dorset to check with their insurers what level of cover they have for any damage to their oil tank.

Each year in the UK, around 3,000 oil spill pollution incidents occur which are reported to the environmental regulators, which can result in a clean-up bill of more than £20,000. Costs can quickly escalate if surface or groundwater is affected.

While most home insurance policies will cover the costs of replacing the lost oil and any damage caused following an oil spill from a domestic oil heating system, insurers may not cover for an environmental investigation and clean-up costs if a residents land, or the surface or groundwater within it, is polluted.

Additionally, if the oil spill pollutes neighbouring land, water or property, the third-party liability cover provided by a home insurance policy often contains restrictions.

Malcolm Farrow, from OFTEC, said: “Household budgets are understandably tight in the current cost of living crisis but, when it comes to home insurance, ensuring you’ve got the right level of protection on your policy could save you thousands in the unlikely event of damage to your oil tank.

“Many of these incidents could be prevented by taking simple steps, such as ensuring that oil tank systems are installed according to regulations and checked regularly by an OFTEC registered technician to ensure that any defects or faulty equipment is dealt with promptly.”

OFTEC is a not for profit trade organisation for the heating and cooking industries in the UK.

They work closely with national and local governments, international and regional standards organisations, heating industry colleagues, training providers and certification bodies, and operate a UKAS accredited registration schemes for heating businesses.  

To find a local registered heating technician of for more information visit www.oftec.org or www.gassaferegister.co.uk