Oil Leak?

Steamhead (in transit)

should run, not walk, to the Find a Professional page of this site and hire someone to check that thing out. If the landlord has not maintained it, it could be in an unsafe condition. Not sure what the landlord/tenant laws are in your area, but if the system is unsafe it may give the tenant some legal options.

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CPyne

Oil Leak?

Hi,

Someone I know has been living in a rented house for the past year that uses an unbelievable amount of oil in the winter. (about $1600 per month during cold months!!!). I'm guessing the house is about 100 years old and is around 2500SF. They keep the temperature set around 65 and don't leave their windows open or anything crazy like that. The landlord refuses to get the furnace checked out and actually is looking to raise their rent. Needless to say, they are looking for a new place, but they are wondering if they have any leverage with the landlord that could force him to refund some of their oil expenses. My friend believes that maybe the oil is leaking below the slab. I told him that the landlord is SCREWED if this much oil is leaking, but I don't know if a leak this big is even possible. Any other things that could cause a furnace could be so inefficient? Is it even possible that an oil tank could be leaking this badly?? Who would he call if he wants to report the situation to the proper environmental department? What would need to be done to clean up a mess like this assuming that this is the problem?

Thanks!
Charlie

Gene_3

Ya

und don't forget to calls ze local building inspector or fires marrrrshall. Zey will puts ze screws to ze owner.

{sorry sometimes I think I am funny}

Some people need a slap, unfortunately someone { probably a politician needing several slaps } made this illegal.

It is quite possible it is leaking under the floor, you may also be able to get the oil company to look at the history of deliveries there in gallons for each year, don't go by price, go by how many gallons they burned in the past.

Robert O'Brien

Let's see

you rent a 100 year old house and then are unhappy with the cost of heating it so you want to rat the landlord to the Gov't because he won't reimburse you for utilities you agreed to pay for? Disclaimer: I am not a landlord but have had much experience with people who want to renegotiate after the fact.BTW the heating season has been over for months,why is this an issue now?

Anna Conda

Well, if they're not heating and they're still losing a lot of oil (and paying for it), that'd be a good indicator of a possible leak, I should think. But what do I know...

Gene_3

As I said

the best place to start is with the oil companie or the one that supplied there for years and look at how many gallons are burned on average, if for say it looks like this

2001-- 1,209gal
2002-- 1,304gal
2003-- 1,497gal
2004-- 1,248gal
2005-- 1,345gal
2006-- 1,450gal

all is well, the price went up is what changed, oil was $1.12 in 2000 it is now $3, that is why you have to go by gallons burned for the year, however if it says...

2006-- 2,987gal, something is wrong, it is either leaking or has gotten very very inefficient for a reason to be determined by a tech checking it out

CPyne

It's called a 1 year lease!

It's called a 1 year lease! Maybe you've heard of one? This means you can't just walk away when you get hit with a ridiculous bill. The landlord never disclosed the minor detail that the heating system spills as much oil as it burns. I'm pretty sure my friend never would have signed the thing if he new about this. The lease is up 9/1/06.

CPyne

Thanks to everyone else...

Thanks to everyone else for the advice. I'll have my friend check usage now that it's summer and the burner shouldn't be running.

Charlie