Frequently asked questions

The Tank Alarm is a dedicated theft detection system for outdoor oil tanks. It uses a fuel level sensor that monitors your tank continuously. The moment oil begins to drop unexpectedly — which is what happens the instant theft begins — the alarm triggers immediately. It sounds a loud external siren and simultaneously sends an alert to your key fob. The alarm continues until it's disarmed with your fob.

The external siren is rated at 110dB — comparable to a chainsaw at close range. At night in a rural area, it will be heard clearly across several hundred metres. In most cases, the siren alone is enough to send thieves running before they can remove significant fuel.

No — the sensor detects unexpected drops in fuel level, not general vibration, motion, or minor fluctuations. Routine activities like walking past the tank or mowing the lawn won't trigger it. The alarm responds to the kind of rapid level drop that only happens during an active theft, or a tamper event (someone trying to remove or bypass the sensor).

Yes — and they don't need to do anything special. The Tank Alarm system is designed to detect unexpected oil LOSS, not addition. When your driver fills your tank, the rising fuel level is recognised as a delivery, not a theft. The alarm stays armed throughout, gives no false alarm, and no action is needed from the driver.

Yes. The Tank Alarm is designed and tested for continuous outdoor exposure in the UK climate. The sensor housing is weatherproof, and the external siren is sealed to IP65 standard. The solar panel continues to trickle-charge the battery even on overcast days.

Most installations take between 1.5 and 2.5 hours from arrival to completion. This includes time for routing cables neatly, installing the sensor, fitting the external siren in the optimal position, mounting the solar panel, and running through the system with you before we leave.

Our engineer installs the fuel level sensor in your tank using the most suitable method for your setup (see below), runs cabling in conduit to the control unit and external siren, and mounts the solar panel for optimal year-round charge. No mains electricity connection is required. The system is commissioned, tested, and handed over with a full demonstration.

We offer three sensor installation options depending on your tank type. Option 1: a 32mm hole is drilled in the tank top (not the tank wall) and the sensor probe is fitted — our most common method. Option 2: where your tank already has a spare access port, we use that with no additional drilling. Option 3: a no-drill radar sensor mounts externally and reads the level through the tank wall, ideal where drilling isn't preferred. We never drill into the tank wall or modify the outlet.

We need clear access to the tank on the day of installation. If the tank is locked behind a gate, please ensure it's accessible. No mains electricity supply is required — the system is fully solar powered with battery backup.

We've installed in every type of location — underground service bays, low-clearance outbuildings, tanks behind locked gates, and tanks partially obscured by vegetation. We'll assess your setup on arrival and adapt accordingly. If there's anything unusual about your situation, let us know when booking and we can advise.

We cover Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and North Essex. This includes all major towns in these counties and the surrounding rural areas. If you're unsure whether we cover your postcode, email us at [email protected] — we'll confirm within a few hours.

No travel charge is applied within our standard service area. All quoted prices are inclusive of travel for properties within Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and North Essex.

For founder-pricing customers (first 20 installations), we're aiming for within 2–3 weeks of your deposit. As demand grows, lead times may extend. Booking early secures both the reduced price and the faster slot.

Everything: the Tank Alarm unit itself, all fixings and conduit, the external siren, the disarm fob, the solar panel, cable routing, commissioning, testing, and a full handover demonstration. There are no hidden extras.

A £50 deposit is taken to confirm your installation slot. The deposit is applied against the full price — so you pay the balance on the day of installation, once you've seen the work completed and are satisfied. We accept card payments on-site.

Yes. If you need to cancel, we ask for at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations with 48+ hours' notice receive a full deposit refund. We understand that rural property owners have busy and unpredictable schedules.

The current founder pricing is the active discount — reserved for our first 20 customers. Prices vary by county: Suffolk and North Essex from £499 (standard £599), Norfolk from £549 (standard £649), Cambridgeshire from £599 (standard £699). We also offer consideration for neighbouring properties booked on the same day.

We accept bank transfer, card payment (Visa, Mastercard), and cash. A card payment option is also available in advance for the full balance if preferred.

All installations come with a 12-month parts and labour warranty. If any component of the installed system fails — sensor, siren, wiring — within 12 months of installation, we'll return to repair or replace it at no cost.

Damage caused by deliberate interference or vandalism, fire, flood, or other acts of God is not covered under the warranty. Consumables (batteries in the fob) are also excluded. The tamper-resistant housing significantly reduces the risk of vandalism affecting the core electronics.

After 12 months, call-out support is available at our standard labour rate. We'll always try to respond to a fault report within 48 hours. Given the industrial-grade components used, system failures beyond the first year are rare.

The LiFePO4 battery provides weeks of operation without any solar input — and months under normal UK conditions where the solar panel is charging during daylight hours. You will never need to think about charging it. The solar panel keeps the battery topped up year-round from ambient daylight, including overcast UK skies.

No. The solar panel charges from ambient daylight, including overcast UK skies. It won't charge as quickly on cloudy days, but maintains battery levels throughout the year. We position it for maximum year-round output during installation.

No. The Tank Alarm is entirely solar powered with LiFePO4 battery backup. No mains socket or electrical connection is required — which means it can be installed anywhere on your property, regardless of how far the tank is from the house.

Yes. The fuel level sensor works on both single-skin and bunded tanks. The outer bund doesn't affect the installation — the sensor is fitted in the tank top and monitors the oil level in the inner tank, exactly as it would on a single-skin tank.

The Tank Alarm is a standalone system that doesn't require integration with your home alarm. That said, if you have an existing monitored alarm system and want to explore connectivity, contact us and we can discuss options on a case-by-case basis.

No. The key fob operates on a dedicated radio frequency — it doesn't use Wi-Fi or mobile data. This means the alarm works even in areas with poor mobile signal, which is important for many rural East Anglian properties.

The sensor includes tamper detection. If anyone attempts to remove or bypass it, the alarm triggers immediately — the same response as an oil theft attempt. This makes disabling the system as risky as attempting the theft itself.