tiny droplet leak from the oil tank firomatic shut off valve.
Ever seen anything like this? What are my options? I put a drip pan for now. Should I run the tank empty and replace it? Or will that create other issues? Is that firomatic valve easily available? Standard size?
Comments
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Yes it is a 1/2" firomatic valve . Most residential is 3/8 but 1/2 is common.
Your going to have to drain the tank. The other way is to use an industrial vacuum cleaner to pull a vacuum on the tank but that has some risks.
How old is the tank and what is its condition?
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Tank is old. Rounded shape. Tank is currently at 1/2. Using oil for hot water in summer.
How does draining work? Is draining the last 1/4 or so a big operation. Siphon into 50 gallon container in the driveway?? Or let it run dry?
PS: How can you tell 1/2 vs 3/8 just from a photo???
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the 1/2x3/8 reducer is a big clue
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Normally you can't but oil filters are always 3/8" pipe in residential and the reducer goes up to 1/2"
If you measure the 1/2" nipple outside diameter it will be about 7/8"
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Plug the vent, hook up your soot vac to to the fill, and do it on the fly.
Is everything looks wet, or is that just the pic? How old is the tank? What's all the speckles on it?
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I think that is what remains of the paint…
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First check to make sure that fire-o-matic is fully open , if not the valve will weep. The valve is a double seat valve. Fully open to seal…
Hope this helps
There was an error rendering this rich post.
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I don't see any oil stain on the concrete floor just below the valve or the oil filter. This looks pretty normal to me. that coating of shiny fuel glaze on the pipes, fittings, and oil filter seem to be normal from my experience. If there were dripping fuel, that would be a different story. I would expect to see a darker stain on the concrete floor all around that tank leg like this:
But if you have a constant drip… drip… drip and the only place on the concrete that is showing the oil stain is that small spot, then the black rim must be a sump pump pit that is cemented into the basement floor. If all the dripping oil is ending up in the pit and pumped away to the pump's discharge termination, wherever that is, then you have a real problem.
If that is the case, you need to solve this sooner than later.
Good practice for replacing oil tanks
- Do not put any oil from the old tank into the new tank.
- If you are going to use a contractor that is including putting your old iol back in the new tank, then get another contractor.
- With 1/2 tank of oil, you will need three 55 gallon drums to remove all the old oil in order to remove the old tank
- If you can install the replacement tank in a different location, then you can avoid pumping old oil from the old tank. leave the old tank in place with that drip pan for collecting the dripping oil while you burn off the oil.
- With all the old oil removed from the tank and the new tank in place (or the new tank in a different place) you can have new fuel delivered from a delivery truck while the tank installer is on location. It is always good practice to have two people for the first delivery in case there is a problem with the install, the person on the inside can alert the delivery driver to stop the delivery so the problem can be fixed before it becomes a bigger problem.
- Have the 55 gallon drums remain on site with a temporary fuel supply from the drums to the oil burner until you run out of old oil.
- If that is not an option and you can not install the new tank so the old tank can be the temporary storage, then donate your oil to a local church or pay to have it disposed of. While your fuel oil is on your property it is either a usable fuel or a hazardous waste, you get to decide.
- DO NO PUT ANY FUEL FROM THE OLD FUEL TANK INTO YOUR NEW TANK, no matter how good of a filter your contractor says he has.
Finally I have told this story before: read the EDIT: Case History here
Did you happen to read that I don't recommend old oil be placed 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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I think it's fully open. I turned it CCW and it didn't move.
But, I did not twist that hard b/c this thing scares me.
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@EdTheHeaterMan Thanks for your wisdom. There is a small drip that lands on that dark spot. I now have a cookie tin over that spot, held down with a rock for counterbalance.
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Can this valve be repacked like a steam radiator supply valve? The drip is at the very end of the protruding screw
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Yes. the valve can be replaced with the same size. FIROMATIC 12830
Or you can purchase a tank valve that will accommodate the 1/2" tank opening and the 3/8" oil filter. FOROMATIC 12640
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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A few drips of oil are not dangerous. Its something that should be fixed and not be ignored but I wouldn't panic about it. I would run the tank low and have it fixed. If the tank is old it may be time to change it.
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