Oil Tank

confused home owner

Hi, i have oil heat but the thermostat wont regulate the heat it just runs constatly i have changed the thermosstat twice got an electrician to check the wires and still it does not work.

Jim_109

Oil Tank

How often, if ever should one have the inside of a heating oil storage tank cleaned? I have a 250 gallon tank, in my basement about 8 years old, bottom feed. It is my only tank I use year round. It is not pitched correctly towards, instead it is level.

What trade would do this type of work?

Norm Harvey

I've never seen this done, though you could use a shop vac to suck out any sluge maybe, but then your dealing disposal of hazmat. I wouldnt recommend it.

What is often done is the tank is treated with chemicals that can break up and pass the sludge to be burned in your oil burner.

You can have a heating contractor pitch and repipe your tank if your so inclined.

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Bob Bona_4

it's

something some oil companies offer-tank cleaning thru Hamco's equipment. Usually see this done on 25-30 year old tanks. An 8 year old tank seems like a little premature.

Having said that, it not a common thing to do, and usually is a last ditch effort to try to prevent post delivery sludge ups. Can be a real liabilty when a tank might have a bottom paper thin from corrosion.

I personally don't advocate it. It is impossible to guarantee the tank has been "cleaned" everywhere due to access issues/cleaning operator subjectiveness. Kind of a waste of $ IMO.

I would try to jack up the end of the tank slightly after insuring there is clearance on the fill and vent and oil line. Slip some 4x4 electrical blank plates under. Then, I would install the largest filter you can at the tank. My favorite is a General 2A710. Don't worry about the tank cleaning. When it gets about 25-30 years old, change the tank. Hope this helps.

chris_86

Be careful with the newer tanks,...

What you mean jack them up means different things to different people...some of the newer ones the legs are very unstable when on three of the legs! never mind two legs and with the new tanks if you didn't adaquitly distribute the load you will simply dent the tank and risk pulling at the seam. The new plastic tanks shoulden't be touched period. This is one that I wouldn't touch. Considering most everything will find its way to the lowest point anyways and if a rust spot develops even pitch wont move the water spot out to the filter. The above advice by Bob is worth repeating -steel tanks should be replaced on a regular basis- they are relativly inexpensive compared to an unnoticed leak. And far too many people have regular leaks because all looks well on the outside!

Tim P._2

I think it would be better in the long run to find an oil supplier that puts an additive in their fuel oil.

I've had the sludge problem and it prompted me to switch suppliers. I found a great owner-operated business who explained about additives and gave me literature on what he adds to his tank.

At least this way the sludge and moisture is constantly being worked on, rather than having years of sludge run into your boiler until you finally have the tank cleaned.

Tim

Guy Woollard

Additives

A decent additive in correct dosage will eventually clear out any accumulated debris. Keep in mind that you want this to happen gradually, so that the filter can handle what it is capturing. In a situation like this, I would be tempted to put a standard type filter (wool wound) at the tank, and a spin on (micron) filter at the burner.




Guy Woollard
N.E. Regional Sales Mgr
Triangle Tube Corp.

Jim_122

Oil Tank...

Take a look at Roth Double Containment Oil Tanks...

www.roth-usa.com

Sludge will not be a problem...

Take a look....

lee_7

start a new thread for better response to your question. Why the electrician? and not a heating pro who knows what the controls do?

joeoilman

try www.beckettadditives.com