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Is it time to replace my outdoor oil tank? (Urgent)

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Comments

  • mcryp123
    mcryp123 Member Posts: 29
    edited May 23

    EBEBRATT-Ed, so now I guess we've figured out why the prior owner chose the outdoor tank option? To get the indoor tank to work properly involves way more artificial systems expected to work 24/7 for the next 30 years, such as 2 Tiger Loops and a priority relay, not to mention the need for 2 oil lines. And these all add up more material and labor costs, as well as more cost of maintenance down the road for these these "systems". Just a side info, my house is located in Long Island, NY and the winter here is normally above zero F. My black Granby outdoor tank never had any oil supply issue into my burner unless I had an empty tank. I hope Roth would do even better than the black Granby if outdoors. I do have service contract for my heating system in case of winter delivery emergencies.

    EdTheHeaterMan After the discussions, I have to say I'd prefer an outdoor Roth that can at least give me a 30 year warranty which should involve 1 oil line, no priority relay and no tiger loops as well as lower installation costs. Am I missing anything else I should also consider?

    But like WMno57 said, my lot does have a slope, in fact my back yard has a small hill. So I would need to ensure the tank company to do proper embankment preventing subsidence before laying the concrete pad .

  • mcryp123
    mcryp123 Member Posts: 29

    I actually replaced this hot water heater I have only 3 years ago so I would not consider replacing it at this point.

  • leonz
    leonz Member Posts: 1,339

    I was referring to the hot water boiler not the hot water heater.

  • mcryp123
    mcryp123 Member Posts: 29

    Yes, my hot water heater (gray body with blue top) was replaced 3 years ago.

  • WMno57
    WMno57 Member Posts: 1,408

    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/state/NY/

    If @Mad Dog_2 or @JohnNY don't install oil tanks, they may be able to recommend someone for Long Island.

    Are homes with an Oil WH and Oil boiler ever set up with a single tank with both top and bottom feed? One feed for the boiler and the other feed for the WH?

  • leonz
    leonz Member Posts: 1,339

    If your hot water boiler which is used for heating the home is over 20 years old perhaps it is time to look at a cast iron boiler with a domestic hot water coil?

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,401
    edited May 23

    Really? you recommend a tankless coil? I try to steer customers away from them. Personal preference: indirect water heater.

    But it appears that something in that picture has been replaced within the last three years, so probably not an option to replace something three years old at this point.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    SuperTech
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,401
    edited May 23

    @@mcryp123 said:

    EdTheHeaterMan After the discussions, I have to say I'd prefer an outdoor Roth that can at least give me a 30 year warranty which should involve 1 oil line, no priority relay and no tiger loops as well as lower installation costs. Am I missing anything else I should also consider?

    I agree with you. If installed properly, the oil line at the bottom of the tank routed up thru the top then down to the ground just before it enters the basement. ( that creates the siphon with no air leak possible) then a fir-o-matic as it enters the basement wall thru a 1/2" PVC sleeve that is sealed with silicone caulk. An oil filter at the wall then an OSV, then is routed across the floor to the oil burner location with a flare tee fitting to feed both fuel pumps. That would work the best.

    Sorry.. I have been commenting on several oil tank / oil line discussions. Does your outdoor oil tank fuel line involve running the fuel lines overhead? (in the first floor's floor joist), or can you run the fuel lines as described above? From the fir-o-matic valve in the basement wall, to the burner area along the basement floor? look below for illustration

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,200

    Why are they so great? It is a matter of choice and or the installation situation.

    Roth tanks have a thirty-year warranty. They are made of polyethylene plastic with no seams, making them corrosion-resistant, and have a galvanized metal outer shell. This makes this tank double-walled for greater protection. They may even offer the outer wall in stainless steel but I'm not sure.

    @mcryp123 situation would be best served to have one of these tanks installed, due to the descriptions he has posted… IMHO.

    EdTheHeaterManChrisJ
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,401

      Any tank installed with gravity feed to the oil burner outside or inside is less likely to have nuisance lock out problems. Even if you have a top of the tank feed line, that turns down to the bottom of the tank, before the first fitting

    The bottom illustration shows a problem fuel line that can be corrected with a pair of tiger loops.  The top illustration shows a better design where a tiger loop is unnecessary.


    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Intplm.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,495

    @mcryp123

    None of the above is a reason not to install an indoor tank. You will be much better off with an indoor tank. I would not install an outdoor tank if I could put one indoors.

    Forget the Roth and forget the Tiger loops. Put in an indoor tank (or tanks). Cut the floor and run one-line gravity feed to feed the boiler and water heater. Forget about the top feed tanks.

    Done finished end of story

    SuperTechyellowdogmcryp123LRCCBJ