Moving an Oil Tank

velvetfoot · Feb 8, 2014

A little off topic, but I have to do this to put in a wood/pellet(?) boiler and somebody here must have run into the same problem.

First: Is it possible to move it with oil in it or do I have to run it way down? I can see making some wood pillow blocks to match the curvature of the boiler and jacking it up like that, but realize that a screw up could be really, really bad.

Second: How far away can the tank be from the oil burner? I'm thinking I might need 40'.

Thanks.

Coal Reaper · Feb 8, 2014

2. Mine is prob almost 40'. Up and accross the ceiling and down to burner.

ewdudley · Feb 8, 2014

If tank is just for backup heat, find a smaller replacement tank, burn oil until leftover oil will fit in smaller tank, pump from old tank to new tank through new pipe, dispose of old tank, keep new tank full with 5-gallon buckets of kero or diesel from the Quick-Stop.

velvetfoot · Feb 8, 2014

Coal Reaper said:
2. Mine is prob almost 40'. Up and accross the ceiling and down to burner.

Thanks. I didn't think about going up on the ceiling. Didn't think it was possible.

velvetfoot · Feb 8, 2014

ewdudley said:
If tank is just for backup heat, find a smaller replacement tank, burn oil until leftover oil will fit in smaller tank, pump from old tank to new tank through new pipe, dispose of old tank, keep new tank full with 5-gallon buckets of kero or diesel from the Quick-Stop.

Now that's a bunch more stuff to think about! How big a tank, and where would you get something like this?

ewdudley · Feb 8, 2014

Near as I can tell in NY there's little or nothing standing in the way of a homeowner using any suitable tank less than 1100 gallons for home heating fuel, all the regs are for 'facilities', which doesn't include households.

Or just get a second conventional tank for the purpose of holding the fuel while you move the old tank, then sell one when you're done. It just seems like moving a partially filled tank would be difficult and prone to things going badly.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/4433.html

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/der25.pdf

If you want a smaller tank or tanks, keep an eye on craigslist and something should come up. 55 gallon drums on a rack even.

http://burlington.craigslist.org/hvd/4299928182.html

I used to have a big outdoor tank for buying heating oil in the summer and the fuel company didn't care if it had whistlers and whatnot as long as they could peek in with a flashlight and see if it was getting full.

Fred61 · Feb 8, 2014

I've used "off road" diesel in mine for the last 6 years. Still have the 275 tank in place for when I depart. Wife will not be burning wood.

Clarkbug · Feb 8, 2014

Velvetfoot, I wouldnt try to move it with it full of oil, especially if its an older tank. Could be a messy day.

You can pump up and over to your boiler as CoalReaper mentioned, you just need to make sure your pump can handle the pull. You may need a check or foot valve to keep the oil from draining back.

Heck, I have an empty 275 gallon tank in my basement that you can have if you help me move it outta there.. Then you put it where you want it and just pump out of your old one into the new one! Problem solved for us both!

simple.serf · Feb 8, 2014

Move it empty, especially if old. If the bottom is starting to be compromised, the whole bottom could bust out. Been there done that.

You know what also works well? A 50 gal truck tank from a truck junkyard. Some are made of aluminum, and are really easy to move and don't have rust out issues.

velvetfoot · Feb 8, 2014

Clarkbug said:
Velvetfoot, I wouldnt try to move it with it full of oil, especially if its an older tank. Could be a messy day.

You can pump up and over to your boiler as CoalReaper mentioned, you just need to make sure your pump can handle the pull. You may need a check or foot valve to keep the oil from draining back.

Heck, I have an empty 275 gallon tank in my basement that you can have if you help me move it outta there.. Then you put it where you want it and just pump out of your old one into the new one! Problem solved for us both!

Thanks. That's something to think about. I still don't know where I'm going to move it though. I might get in touch. Or, just burn oil for the rest of the winter.

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Moving an Oil Tank

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