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Best Practice to unclog fuel lines

AlexMinolfo
AlexMinolfo Member Posts: 3
edited August 2019 in Gas Heating
Hi All,

I am currently researching the standard method to unclogging fuel lines connecting heating tanks to furnaces.

Is there a best practice manual or standard for how to remove the clog?

If not, what is the typical industry solution?

Thanks,
Alex Minolfo

EDIT: See comment for clarification

Comments

  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,612
    Are you referring to the gas line to the equipment? You need to be more specific in describing exactly what you are talking about.
    AlexMinolfo
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,168
    like to start with -- are we talking oil, natural gas, LP?
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • AlexMinolfo
    AlexMinolfo Member Posts: 3
    Hi Jamie and Tim,

    I am specifically talking about the fuel pipe connecting an above ground storage tank containing #2 fuel oil to a residential heating furnace.

    I apologize for the ambiguity this is my first time posting on here.

    Thanks,
    Alex
  • Jellis
    Jellis Member Posts: 228
    I use the Co2 Blowout tool for this. remove the fuel line from the tank and the fuel pump. blow the crud into a waste container (carefully) and then flush the line out with clean fuel.
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    NORA strongly recommends against the use of CO2 cartridges, they can develop pressures in excess of 800 PSI and can rupture copper oil lines. A hand push/pull pump is the preferred method
    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
    STEVEusaPAHVACNUTAlexMinolfo
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
    Agree totally with @Robert O'Brien
    If you can’t unclog it with a push pull, replace it.
    Also important to determine why it clogged, or even if it’s clogged. Could be pinhole in supply tube in tank.
    -Bad fuel
    -Dirty tank
    Both would require draining/cleaning tank and/or additives.
    -Filter not at tank
    -Collapsed/pinched fuel line.
    steve
    Robert O'BrienHVACNUTAlexMinolfo
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,804
    And no offense, but if you're researching you need to call a Pro. That is not DIY. You dont wants an "oops" with a tank full of fuel oil.
  • AlexMinolfo
    AlexMinolfo Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2019
    @HVATNUT , None taken. I won't be performing any of this myself. I am simply gathering information to find a
    cite-able source (i.e. manual, standard) for a report I am writing.