Oil tank question.

[Thislilfishy]

Well after all the hard work of installing a new wood stove we were forced to sell our house. Not a big deal but onward and upward as it were.

Not sure this is a the right forum but thought it might be a good place to ask at any rate.

The house we are buying is oil heated, and our insurance company wants some info on the tank for our rate adjustment. They are wanting to know what gauge of metal it is. The current owner had the heating system inspected and serviced (filters/nozzles replaced) when we asked about it and sent us the reports. In the report it lists the tank as a Parrsboro 2006 ULC storage tank. Does anyone know how I go about determining the gauge or type of tank this is. I just cannot find any info anywhere and don't want to pay to have the heating guy come back to find out.

Ian

 

[jdp1152]

That should be sufficient info for your insurance company, at least based on previous experience in MA

 

[Thislilfishy]

Ontario is a different gambit. They want to know if it's 12 or 14 gauge steel. The difference makes a difference in the cost of our policy. In fact, it's all kind of silly as we will have to replace the tank next year as they wont insure a tank more then 10 years old. Around here the insurance companies control the government and do as they please.

Ian

 

[dougstove]

I was very happy to get rid of my oil tank years ago. It was one of our main motivations in moving to wood heat.
A house nearby is at ~$500,000 and counting in remediation costs after less than a tank of oil leaked.
The two affected houses could have been purchased for ~$400,000 total.

 

[velvetfoot]

Maybe there is a plaque on it somewhere with more info? I think mine is on the side next to the wall. But, I doubt it has the gauge on it.

 

[velvetfoot]

For laughs I looked at my tank. Although I am in the US, it is a Granby tank made in CAN. I think Parrsboro has a connection with Granby. Anyway, the plaque is on the tank on the wall side but I was able to take a pic of most of the engraving that seems to be directly on the tank. It has the gauge on it, plus other stuff. I bet if you take a picture of that, it would be good enough. I will try to post a pic, but I couldn't get the entire thing because it was so close to the wall.

 

[Thislilfishy]

Thanks guys..we are doing the home inspection on Monday. I'll double check it then.

Yeah Doug, we are debating replacing the heating system with natural gas when it come time to replace the tank. Enbridge will bring it to the house for free if you activate the account within 6 months. Figure if I go with a mid efficiency furnace the increase in property value and the savings in replacing the tank will make it all even. Although he furnace in there is a 2007 and the hot water tank was installed 2011...so not 100% sure what way we will go.

Ian

 

[velvetfoot]

My niece is getting natural gas at her house, and she is thinking of converting her not-old oil boiler. Seems like not a bad idea to me. Not sure if you can do that with an oil furnace.

 

[Thislilfishy]

I don't think so, but it might be worth looking into. I am really not a fan of the newest latest greatest furnaces. I mean seriously, why does a furnace need a computer to start a fire and turn a fan on? I remember my buddy with his super high end Lennox furnace needed a new $700 control module almost every year...it made him nuts.

Ian

 

[maple1]

Granby bought Kerr. Or at least Kerr is now branded Granby. I'm a half hour from where those are made.

There should be a tag on it like velvetfoot posted, that states date it was made & thickness.

We got rid of all our oil stuff too, when I made the boiler switch 3 years ago. We would have had to replace our tank in the next couple of years so said the insurance company - even though it was in as-new condition. Part of the decision to get rid of the oil.

BTW if it's a 14ga. tank, don't be surprised if they tell you to replace it now. But I think a 2006 tank should be 12 - the tag will tell the tale. Although, there might be a chance it's stamped in mm's - in which case if it turns out to be thinner than 12ga in equivalence they might also make you replace it now. My parents ran into that one a couple years ago, had to change a 6 year old tank because of a math/rounding thing - think it was stamped at 2.5mm, which is a bit thinner than 12ga. Even though it was almost certainly 12ga. metal. Pure sillyness. I don't think they had a Kerr/Granby tank though.

 

[Thislilfishy]

Granby bought Kerr. Or at least Kerr is now branded Granby. I'm a half hour from where those are made.

There should be a tag on it like velvetfoot posted, that states date it was made & thickness.

We got rid of all our oil stuff too, when I made the boiler switch 3 years ago. We would have had to replace our tank in the next couple of years so said the insurance company - even though it was in as-new condition. Part of the decision to get rid of the oil.

BTW if it's a 14ga. tank, don't be surprised if they tell you to replace it now. But I think a 2006 tank should be 12 - the tag will tell the tale. Although, there might be a chance it's stamped in mm's - in which case if it turns out to be thinner than 12ga in equivalence they might also make you replace it now. My parents ran into that one a couple years ago, had to change a 6 year old tank because of a math/rounding thing - think it was stamped at 2.5mm, which is a bit thinner than 12ga. Even though it was almost certainly 12ga. metal. Pure sillyness. I don't think they had a Kerr/Granby tank though.

Yeah, our insurance company said either thickness is fine, but there is an increased rate for tanks under 12guage. It's certainly something we will address before next winter. We are going to see how much this heating season costs and then determine what is the better option long term. I really want to add a wood stove, but it's such a small house it'll have to be something very small, then it becomes a cost/benefit issue. That is, if the bloody mortgage ever gets approved, now that's a whole different cluster.

Ian

 

[moey]

If it does not have a tag on it be concerned. I suspect they are required by law to have one.

 

[Thislilfishy]

Yay the mortgage finally got fixed and approved. The oil tank does have a tag, that's how I determined it's age. Just never thought to take a pic of it. I'll find out Monday.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Convert to NG if you get the opportunity. I'm only on oil because I'm out in the sticks.

 

[Thislilfishy]

2.0mm (14G) tank. Go figure! Hah, ah well the insurance company said that's fine but we will need to replace it next year. Which I figured, what I wasn't expecting is that the chimney needs a liner and some brick repair above the roof. Trying to negotiate a few bucks off, but the rest of the house is crazy solid...so we aren't going to press the issue.

We have a new plan. Convert to NG, then repair the chimney, and install a wood stove there! Best of both worlds. Actually the inspector came up with the idea, he says a new liner and some brick work and it would be a perfect fit.

Ian

 

[maple1]

How is the DHW heated?

With NG, getting rid of everything oil related is the way to go,I think.

 

[Thislilfishy]

It's oil as well. Turns out it's a 2006 heater.

Ian

 

[maple1]

Getting rid of our oil tank all together is one of the best things we ever did - no more oil leak risk. We heat our DHW now with an ordinary electric tank heater during the summer, wood does it in the winter.