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Used Roth Oil Tank Installation

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LDR
LDR Member Posts: 17
in Oil Heating

So a question I have about the Roth Oil Tank. I found a Roth Oil Tank from the year 2008 for sale. I would like to purchase this Roth Oil Tank. It has the leak indicator but I do not know how to read the indicator. How will I know if the Leak Indicator is indicating a Leak ? Will it say "Leak" or whatever ? I do not want to purchase a used Roth Oil Tank if it has experienced a leak and I just do not know how to read it. I wish I had a picture of the Leak Indicator ; but I do not. If I remember correctly the leak indicator was green or a dark color. How do I read the Leak Indicator ?

Further, I am guessing that since the Roth Oil Tank is from the year 2008 it probably has an accumulation of sludge laying on the bottom. I have pictures of the tank I am interested in purchasing. I will post the pictures. Question : I would like to raise the intake or supply pipe up further off the bottom of the tank(so it doesn't suck sludge and clog filters and nozzle). Will I be able to accomplish lifting the fuel line off the bottom? How would I do it ? Apparently the tank was being used as a one pipe system. I actually have a 2 pipe system presently.

Thank you Men for your help !

[url=https://postimg.cc/QBfT7Jyp][img]https://i.postimg.cc/QBfT7Jyp/IMG-3907.jpg[/img][/url]

Comments

  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17

    Apparently my pictures did not come out properly. So I will try again.

    [url=https://postimg.cc/QBfT7Jyp][img]https://i.postimg.cc/QBfT7Jyp/IMG-3907.jpg[/img][/url]

    [url=https://postimg.cc/mhL8HmpX][img]https://i.postimg.cc/mhL8HmpX/IMG-3908.jpg[/img][/url]

    [url=https://postimg.cc/2qHgt36b][img]https://i.postimg.cc/2qHgt36b/IMG-3909.jpg[/img][/url]

    [url=https://postimg.cc/p9dL8b8m][img]https://i.postimg.cc/p9dL8b8m/IMG-3911-Copy.jpg[/img][/url]

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 253

    Your links are all wrong.
    If you buy the tank you're on your own. I wouldn't take it if it was given to me for free. You really can't pressure test it and you'll only know if the inner tank will leak (probably not) when you fill it.
    If it has crap at the bottom it will potentially get stirred up when you move the tank and when it gets filled. This will cause you nothing but problems, and may end up costing more in service calls than just putting in a new tank.

    pecmsg
  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17

    HydronicMike

    I appreciate what you are saying ! Whenever I get a delivery I would turn off the Oil Burner off anticipating that the sludge would get stirred up. I wanted to go with the used because the used Roth Oil tank would only be temporary. Thinking of going to gas. Tired of cleaning my Oil Burner. I am not a young Guy anymore. Almost 63 years old and my back hurts when I am cleaning my Oil Burner.

  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17
    IMG_3907.JPG

    I was finally able to post a picture of the used Roth Oil Tank.

    How would I adjust the height of the fuel line that goes to the fuel filter at my Oil Burner ? I do not want to suck up sludge. I could guess. But I would prefer help from the Professionals. Thank you !

  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17
    IMG_3911 - Copy.JPG
  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17
    IMG_3909.JPG

    Gauge difficult to read. Approximately 1/8 of a tank. Could be Sludge or a mix of sludge and oil.

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 253

    The gauge isn’t that accurate. You can empty the tank, remove the plastic front and move the dial to 'E' or full and move the dial to 'F'.

    For your pickup I’d get rid of that fitting and get a simple 2” duplex fitting, a plug for one of the holes and a 1/2” male X (whatever size your copper fill line is) compression fitting. Pick your depth and tighten the compression fitting to hold into place.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,244
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1878296#Comment_1878296

    That's the old Roth floating pickup tube. You're asking for trouble with that. If you've got 2 pipe, then Roth offers a double tap bushing for your application. Its not DIY, though.

    With the setup that's there, your 2 pipe setup will not work. Its a lot of work to make it work.

    Why is another oil tank needed if you're converting to gas?

  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17

    Thank you everyone .

    My present steel tank sprung a pin hole leak. Need to get another tank temporarily.

    I guess I should look for a used Roth Tank with a 2 pipe setup already. Or could I use the Roth Oil Tank in the pictures that I posted if I purchase from Roth the Double Tap Bushing - 2 Pipe Bushing ?

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,642
    edited December 21

    If your tank has a pin hole put a magnet with some gasket material over it.

    And if the tank is temp. why do you want to fool with a Roth?

    RTWLDR
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,787

    Why not a New 275 Gal steel tank?

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,244
    Screenshot_20251221_115914_Samsung Internet.jpg

    Its just temporary. You absolutely cannot get fuel delivered with the patch.

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 253

    the probable reality is that this tank may go in and be there for a couple years

  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17

    This HeatingHelp.com platform or website is the absolute best because of all of your generosity/comments ! Thank you Hydronicmike - Hvacnut- Pecmsg, and of course EBEBRATT-Ed

    In reference to the Pinhole Leak in my tank, luckily I have a habit or routine that I have been doing forever. That is, whenever I get a delivery of oil I go into my basement where the oil tank is and check everything out. Just kind of look around. I enjoy looking at the fuel gauge how full the tank is, and appreciate that I will have hot water and heat for the future or time being. So that is when I noticed a pin hole leak down near the floor.The belly of the Steel 275 gallon oil tank. It was very small. I didn't know what to do at first to stop the leak. Thank God, I stopped the pin hole leak using a product that I already had on hand. The product is called "Oatey Fix it Stick". It comes in a Tube. It is an epoxy you mix in your hands. I stopped the leak using the Oatey Fix it Stick. Everyone in my opinion should always have Oatey Fix it Stick at their house for emergencies. One other thing I noticed on the bottom of the tank or the belly of the tank is that the tank is weeping or droplets of oil hanging on the belly of the tank. I am catching those droplets with an old aluminum pan. The droplets are barely dripping in the aluminum pan. I have a paper towel in the aluminum pan and almost nothing is dripping.

    HydronicMike and HvacNut : great information ! I will get rid of that "pick up" you mentioned. And because of Ed the Heater Man(I had an earlier post awhile ago) I can order the parts from Roth. Ed the Heater Man sent me the parts list from Roth ! So now I can order the Duplex Bushing from Roth and do what Hydronic Mike and HvacNut said and get rid of the according to HvacNut called a "floating Pick up Tube". You Guys are a Godsend ! EBEBRATT-Ed to answer your question the reason I am fooling with the used Roth Oil Tank is because a Buddy from work recommended it . He said some people are converting to gas and looking to get rid of their Roth Oil Tanks and this same Buddy sent me all of these people selling or wanting to sell their Roth tanks. Honestly, that is the reason why I am fooling with the Roth. I actually was just following his suggestion. I don't know. To answer Pecmsg a brand new steel tank I believe would be more expensive. That is why I was thinking of the used Roth Oil Tank that I can buy from a homeowner for $250.00. Further, thinking of switching over to natural gas. So the oil tank is temporary. As you can see in the pictures the used Roth Oil Tank that I am thinking of buying is still sitting in place and connected to the 2 inch piping. HvacNut to answer your question as to why a tank is needed if I may in the future switch over to gas. The answer is that I do not know how long it will take to have NJ Natural Gas come over and install the line from the street. I have to have some continuity. I need hot water and heat while the gas company(NJ Natural Gas) is planning and doing the install. I would tend to agree with HydronicMike that maybe the Roth tank will be in the basement for sometime before we switch over to gas. For multiple reasons. Not absolutely sure or convinced about switching over to gas. During Hurricane Sandy all those houses down the NJ Shore caught on fire - they all had Natural Gas ! Further, I do want to do some work in the basement also.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,787
    edited December 21

    jut get a new tank and do it right.
    it’s December you’re not going to change the boiler or do a conversion to gas this time of year

    LDRWaher
  • LDR
    LDR Member Posts: 17

    pecmsg : I will talk to the Wife. Let her read all of this.

    Thank you !

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