Can I bring a 275 gallon oil tank containing kerosene for supplemental heat into an unfinished concrete basement if I use a woodstove for primary heat in said basement? Or will that be a code violation?
Woodstove in basement with kerosene tanks?
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Storing 275 gallons of kerosene in your residence is a fire code and homeowners insurance violation even if you never owned a wood stove.
I should clarify: I wouldn't be "storing" it as such, not like you store 5 gallons of gas for the lawnmower. This is a vacation home so the Monitor runs during the week to keep the place warm, I heat with wood on weekends. I would just be relocating the existing tank into the basement because the present outdoor spot has become undesirable for several reasons.
I gather, though, that the problem arises from having a flammable fuel in the same room as a wood burning appliance. Period.
What about #6 fuel oil? Same issue?
I gather, though, that the problem arises from having a flammable fuel in the same room as a wood burning appliance. Period.
What about #6 fuel oil? Same issue?
Check with a (good) local fuel supplier. I worked for one for years that had nearly 10,000 residential customers. The majority (including me) stored #2 fuel oil inside in one or two 275 gallon tanks. The tanks must be installed according to code and must have fill and vent piped to the outside. There are minimum clearances to sources of ignition.
There are different grades of kerosene. We did not handle white kerosene like that used in portable kerosene heaters. #2 fuel oil is less volatile than white kerosene. We did sell #1 fuel oil which is often call kerosene and I think the Monitor heaters use #1. I do not beleive there would be any problem storing #1 fuel oil in properly installed indoor tanks even with a wood stove in the same basement, provided that there were adequate distance between the two.
There are different grades of kerosene. We did not handle white kerosene like that used in portable kerosene heaters. #2 fuel oil is less volatile than white kerosene. We did sell #1 fuel oil which is often call kerosene and I think the Monitor heaters use #1. I do not beleive there would be any problem storing #1 fuel oil in properly installed indoor tanks even with a wood stove in the same basement, provided that there were adequate distance between the two.
The Monitor uses what the manual refers to as K1 kerosene.
I will check with the local building inspector and my current kerosene company tomorrow. Thanks to all for your responses.
I will check with the local building inspector and my current kerosene company tomorrow. Thanks to all for your responses.
The responses, except sleepy, would indicate that you could never have an indoor fuel tank. I'm sure I've seen indoor fuel tanks in basements. Those fuel tanks surely fed furnaces or boilers in the basement. So you had flames in the same room. I would actually check with the AHJ.
Kerosene is #1 fuel oil, K1 is the nice stuff that you use in lanterns and has minimal combustion smell, #2 fuel oil is diesel is HHO is too thick for a device designed for kerosene. I like kerosene heaters but the fuel is super expensive for what it is. I've stood atop brush piles that were on fire at the bottom and poured diesel from the 5 gallon can into the fire below. It's not gasoline.
Kerosene is #1 fuel oil, K1 is the nice stuff that you use in lanterns and has minimal combustion smell, #2 fuel oil is diesel is HHO is too thick for a device designed for kerosene. I like kerosene heaters but the fuel is super expensive for what it is. I've stood atop brush piles that were on fire at the bottom and poured diesel from the 5 gallon can into the fire below. It's not gasoline.
I have a 275 gallon #2 Fuel Oil tank in my basement that feeds my oil fired Bock Hot Water heater and my Thermo Pride Low boy oil burner furnace. They are all in the same room in basement My stove is an insert upstairs in the fireplace. They actually prefer indoor tanks in my town to underground tanks, thats where we relocated the tank from.
Well, I spoke to the town building inspector this morning. He said there is no problem with a 275 gallon kerosene tank in the basement as long as it is properly vented outside and is at least 10 feet from the woodstove. No permit is needed to move the tank and I needn't have any spill containment system as long as the capacity is less than 550 gallons.
Yes, he understood that I was talking about kerosene in the same sentence with "small metal box containing a raging fire."
Yes, he understood that I was talking about kerosene in the same sentence with "small metal box containing a raging fire."
The key is proper piping. Both fill and vent piping need to go outside. This piping must be steel-no plastic. You should have a vent alarm (whistle) on the vent so the driver does not over fill the tank.
That's exactly what the fuel company guy said they do. Looks like I have to clean the basement after all. :gulp:
raising the stove up off the floor is still a good idea, 18" like a garage?
never had to deal with these questions out here on the west coast
never had to deal with these questions out here on the west coast
We have plenty of homes heated with fuel oil out west. Plenty of basements with tanks in them too but more often we have outside tanks since it doesn't get cold enough to gel the diesel.
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