Dented Oil Tank
There is almost nothing else in the basement, the owner is very old and doesn't go down there, and the tank has "been there since the house was built" which the owner says is 58 years old.
You can see from the pictures that the side against the wall is deeply dented, more-so than the side facing the room.
How could the tank have been dented like this? The vent has a good whistle so its not blocked. Should this tank continue to be filled? Unfortunately my ultrasonic tester wasn't cooperating with me so I couldn't get any readings from it.
Comments
-
Looks to me like it's leaking on the top at the fitting. Can't really see the dent. Maybe it was like that when installed. Maybe the vent is full of crud and the tank sucks in while the burner is running, then when you fill, it blows the crud out and appears fine.
Is it sucked in after fueling?
I'd say to the h/o the tank is near the end of its life and will fail eventually. Why take a chance and have a spill?There was an error rendering this rich post.
1 -
Cost of new tank plus cost of labor to remove old and install new.STEVEusaPA said:Looks to me like it's leaking on the top at the fitting. Can't really see the dent. Maybe it was like that when installed. Maybe the vent is full of crud and the tank sucks in while the burner is running, then when you fill, it blows the crud out and appears fine.
Is it sucked in after fueling?
I'd say to the h/o the tank is near the end of its life and will fail eventually. Why take a chance and have a spill?
Many don't have the money, especially if the current tank is sound. Inspecting the vent and repairing the leak on top is very easy.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
0 -
@Steve: I told the customer when I was there that the tank needed to be replaced. I cited the same reasons you did. She's elderly, doesn't have a lot of money, and wanted to check with a family member.
I know the pictures aren't the best. If I had planned on posting here I would have taken more.
The main reason I ask is that my dispatcher asked me if we should be filling this tank. As far as the dents go, I'm at a loss for what caused it, I and I can't force the customer to replace it. Structurally it may be OK. My hope is that someone here had seen something like this before and could offer some advice.
On the subject of the tank being damp: It seems like a majority of old tanks I see are damp on top like this one is. Is this just a product of old age or improper installation?0 -
It was installed like that, think about it, whether it got dented prior to or during installation they put the dented end so you couldn't see it, sweet, they're lucky a weld wasn't compromised.
The spot that bugs me is first pic center of tank near center weld seam, seems to be seepage on edge but hard to tell from pic.0 -
@ChrisJ I agree, I (all of us) always hear how no one has the money to fix anything.
@776v63 Yeah hear it all the time...what exactly does she want to check? Tell her to have the family member talk to you. Some people just don't want to spend any money (I found numerous times where older people, no money, have lots of money). Plus if you get the family member on your side, then maybe she will agree.
The real problem will come down to liability should you have a leak. You now informed her it should be replaced. If a fill blows out the tank (I doubt it, but you never know) is the insurance company going to blame you because you mentioned the problem to her, and still filled the tank?
The sad reality is if you don't fill it, someone else will. It may last another 20 years.
As far as damp on top, I think during a fill, even just vapors leaking out will collect and settle there. Then dust sticks to it. But you seem to have a lot more then just some escaping vapors. The stain looks like it covers more then half of the top of the tank-but then again you could've wiped a small stain and now the 'stain' is actually the clean spot.There was an error rendering this rich post.
0 -
Dispatcher has it on hold for now. After discussing it with her I told her we shouldn't fill it if the customer wants to leave it, although I'm going to go back and take a closer look at it.
I don't want the blame landing on me if it starts leaking. Some other company can fill it.
I wonder if the lack of swing joints could be to blame for the dampness.0 -
Most oil tank piping joints leak/seep after a while, 2" fill with 60-?? gpm going through it.
The only stuff I saw hold was the GRIP black stuff like tar, never used it on anything but tank fittings, sticks to and stains everything but works.0 -
Once I worked at a place and we got new trucks that did @ 100gpm, salesman said you get more stops done ( I never delivered), not long after we backed them down, spills and split a tank.0
-
Maybe that tank had a problem with it's output pipe and someone used a vacuum to hold the oil from spilling out while they changed a fitting. If you keep it under a vacuum for too long it is possible for the tank to dish in because of all the surface area.
http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/155620/using-and-pulling-a-vacuum-on-oil-tank-to-allow-oil-line-repair
BobSmith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
3PSI gauge0 -
Steve,STEVEusaPA said:@ChrisJ I agree, I (all of us) always hear how no one has the money to fix anything.
@776v63 Yeah hear it all the time...what exactly does she want to check? Tell her to have the family member talk to you. Some people just don't want to spend any money (I found numerous times where older people, no money, have lots of money). Plus if you get the family member on your side, then maybe she will agree.
The real problem will come down to liability should you have a leak. You now informed her it should be replaced. If a fill blows out the tank (I doubt it, but you never know) is the insurance company going to blame you because you mentioned the problem to her, and still filled the tank?
The sad reality is if you don't fill it, someone else will. It may last another 20 years.
As far as damp on top, I think during a fill, even just vapors leaking out will collect and settle there. Then dust sticks to it. But you seem to have a lot more then just some escaping vapors. The stain looks like it covers more then half of the top of the tank-but then again you could've wiped a small stain and now the 'stain' is actually the clean spot.
Oh, no, I know that story too, but they have a new BMW in the driveway. I've seen people repeatedly build new, million dollar mansions and then put a bottom of the line HVAC system in from the lowest bidder because "they didn't have enough money". Bleh.
No, I meant some people actually don't have the money, literally.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
0 -
@green: Serious question in reply to your comment about leakage over time. It seems like there would be a lot of re-pipping/fitting tanks. Are you guys doing a lot of this? Honestly I've seen so many tanks like this it just seems normal for oil tanks.
@bob: vacuum changing a valve is possible. It has a (relatively) newer style firomatic tank valve .0 -
Does she have tank insurance?0
-
No0
-
Is that vent smaller than the fill?0
-
looks like 1 1/4", that's gone round n round, where did it end up?, CT changed it 2 -3 times, must be 2", can be 1 1/4",???, make up your minds, bottom line is they aren't built to be pressure vessels, like I said when the company I worked for went to high flow trucks to get more deliveries a day BLAM, split welds and back'em down.
Even at 60 gpm you're pressurizing them.
1 -
1 1/4 vent is acceptable in my area. Most are set up this way.0
-
When they damaged customer's tanks that were in otherwise good shape, who had to pay to replace the tank and clean up the disaster?GreenGene said:looks like 1 1/4", that's gone round n round, where did it end up?, CT changed it 2 -3 times, must be 2", can be 1 1/4",???, make up your minds, bottom line is they aren't built to be pressure vessels, like I said when the company I worked for went to high flow trucks to get more deliveries a day BLAM, split welds and back'em down.
Even at 60 gpm you're pressurizing them.
Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.
0 -
Update:
Replaced this customers tank today. Removed all cast iron fittings and utilized swing joints which weren't in place before.
This was the first tank install I did on my own without the senior tech. It went well.1 -
Looks nice. That would not pass here though ( MA.). The fill should not be larger in diameter than the vent. Did you use the existing pipes coming through the foundation? That would be why I am guessing0
Categories
- All Categories
- 86.3K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.1K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 53 Biomass
- 422 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 90 Chimneys & Flues
- 2K Domestic Hot Water
- 5.4K Gas Heating
- 100 Geothermal
- 156 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.4K Oil Heating
- 64 Pipe Deterioration
- 917 Plumbing
- 6.1K Radiant Heating
- 381 Solar
- 14.9K Strictly Steam
- 3.3K Thermostats and Controls
- 54 Water Quality
- 41 Industry Classes
- 47 Job Opportunities
- 17 Recall Announcements