heating oil tank manufacturer's warranty voided by transfer of oil from the old tank?
I am getting quotes for a new indoor heating oil tank. All three quotes indicate that oil in our old tank will be moved to a temporary tank and the usable oil will be pumped back into the new tank.
I was reading the manufacturer's installation instructions to certified installers and they state that the installer or their delegate should be present during the first full filling of the tank. None of the quotes had mentioned that this step would occur, so I contacted the manufacturer and asked what the purpose of this instruction was. Was it that they needed documentation of some kind that the tank had been filled all the way and that everything was working properly? I thought it could be stress testing.
I got an email from the manufacturer's customer service saying that it was to prove that no oil had been transferred from another tank, because doing so would void the warranty.
Did the customer service agent not understand the company's requirement? Or are these tank companies not following the instructions "to the letter" and invalidating the warranty for the customer? Is it that the oil cannot be transferred directly from the old tank without being visually inspected so that only usable oil is pumped into the new tank, on the assumption that any sludge or water will have settled to the bottom of the (clear, see-through) temporary holding tank?
Comments
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Transfer the oil to the temporary tank and connect to the existing oil line to get the burner(s) running.
Install new oil tank with new oil line, filter, OSV, etc. to the burner. Plug the end of the oil line at the burner, and close valves.
Fill the new tank while someone is inside at the tank to observe there are no leaks during delivery.
When the temporary tank runs dry, call the service provider and they'll come to connect to the new tank. Replace the nozzle and strainer. Prime and start. Combustion test. Done.
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The temporary tank is not left with us as part of the install. The way the quotes are written, it's a one-day operation, and we never see the installers again.
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This is always an issue. Customers would prefer to not throw away oil they paid for.
@HVACNUT has the correct answer.
The other alternative is to burn the old tank down to just below 1/4 of a tank and then install the new tank.
On the other hand, how will the tank MFG find out what went in the tank if no one tells them?
The tank MFG are doing a CYA.
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Are they filtering the transfer into the temporary tank? Are they filtering again pumping into the new tank? Even if the pickup tube is 5 inches from the bottom on the pump out (you DO NOT pump out the whole tank. There should be up to 50 gallons of waste oil.), so you think you're not picking up sludge and water. Has everything completely settled to the bottom? No.
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We have only 1/4 tank (of 275) left now and this wouldn't take place until June. The various guys who came to scope out the basement said the old tank's contents would be emptied into a holding tank, and one of them did say something about the pump tube being placed a few inches from the bottom, I don't remember anyone saying 5 inches. One of them said the holding tank was clear so that they could see the oil, and that they would put only the "usable" oil into the new tank. Nobody said anything about filtering the oil. But the nuances of the process are beside the point if any transfer voids the manufacturer's warranty. Since two of the companies also sell oil, I don't see why they couldn't arrange to have a truck arrive to fill the tank, since we're paying a pretty penny for this and they'd also acquire us as a new oil customer.
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I'd rather have a 30-year warranty than 60 gallons of sludgy oil from the bottom of a tank that is probably around 60 years old. If the manufacturer is worried about transfer of water from the bottom of the old tank, that seems a reasonable concern to me. What worries me more than the manufacturer's CYA motivation is that none of the quotes even mentions that the manufacturer requires them to be present for the first full filling, and yet they're promising a 30-year manufacturer's warranty. Do they not know of the requirement? Do they not care about the requirement? They have plenty of language in their own sales agreements saying that in no way are they liable for any sort of remediation costs if there's a failure, even it is the result of improper installation.
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Don’t pump it over. Its waste oil now. It’s right in the instructions. If your contractor wants to ignore it, you need a new contractor.
No amount of filtering will make that oil ok. Only a fuel polishing machine would work.
It’s only about 60 gallons, let them take it to someone who has a waste oil heater. Or like the others said, use it in the existing tank until it gets down to about an 1/8.
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if the installers do this
If the into that
if My wife say yes
There is no way of the manufacture know.
run the tank down and sell the used oil0 -
Your tank is low now you might make it until June only using it for hot water the heating season is over. If the tank gets low before they change it you can dump some diesel fuel in form a gas station.
Then start off with new oil in the tank.
I seriously doubt any tank MFG ever checks the install or the oil fill process or quality.
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NEVER PUT OIL FROM AN OLD TANK INTO A NEW TANK
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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That is as loud as I can type Larry.
But I did type it as slow as I could because I know that you have trouble reading
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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3
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This is one of those things like "you must always install a drop header" or "you must use all boiler supply tapings on a steam boiler" or "don't use Teflon tape on oil lines".
All oil tanks collect water from condensation because basements are usually cooler that the outdoor temp in the summer.
A lot of people transfer oil from old to new tanks. Is it a problem? Who knows.
The MFGs stich their orr in the water to CTA. Just like they do with Teflon tape. We used Teflon for years before that rule changed with no issue.
Something happens down the road with a tank and the MFg anit gonn pay no matter what they are long gone. We all know that. they don't pay when boilers crack either. They can always find an excuse.
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Is it reasonable to ask the installer, if the company also sells oil, to not transfer any oil from the old tank but to coordinate an oil delivery the afternoon of the install, especially if the tank customer agrees to become an oil customer?
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mrblint said:Is it reasonable to ask the installer, if the company also sells oil, to not transfer any oil from the old tank but to coordinate an oil delivery the afternoon of the install, especially if the tank customer agrees to become an oil customer?
I believe that is the best way to go about it. The fuel dealer also makes a profit on the fuel and the installer can do that first delivery inspection that is recommended.
I personally did not own an oil company but worked for several fuel dealers that did not employ their own service personnel. I would often replace a fuel oil tank and wait for the driver to show up for the first delivery. Only one time did I have a problem where a fitting has a pinhole. Stopped the delivery and had to remove the defective fitting. The driver returned after delivering to another customer while I replaced that bad fitting, and we completed the delivery that day. Always a good practice to have 2 people on hand for the first delivery to a basement tank.
I also included a provision to leave a temporary tank or barrel to use up the oil from the old than that was removed. That way there was no need to throw away any old oil. Once a customer owns the oil in their tank, they either have to pay to get rid of hazardous waste or burn it. When oil was close to $5.00 per gallon, no one wanted to pay to have it removed.
I was associated with a tank removal company that would charge you to remove your old oil and donate it to a church. The Church would give him an address of someone that needed help with their fuel costs and pump that old oil into their tank. There were occasions where those deliveries of “Free” oil would cause a clogged filter or nozzle… so much for “Free” oil after paying for a service call to fix the heater.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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Let me know how you make out
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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