OT - heating oil sludge problem

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

William Duffield

Dump in a bunch of VOC relatively low molecular weight solvent, slosh it around with a stick, let it out the bottom, collect and dispose of it.

You probably won't need a pig and a pig trap, like they use for oil pipelines.

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

Don Stephan

When I took care of a residential estate with two aboveground 275 tanks and large in-ground tanks I purchased somewhere an indicator paste I would slather on a long stick and insert to the bottoms of the tanks once a year. The paste would turn green if water condensation had accumulated in the bottom of a tank. Don't know if there is a way to test for "sludge" in the bottom of a tank or what would cause it, other than delivery of same.

Pages and pages of info on a Google search

Dick Coers

I had no idea either, never heard of that except for watching them clean tanks on This Old House. A wide range of techniques with everything from cleaning companies that clean out the tank, filter it all, and send clean filtered fuel oil back in. To using TSP and hot water.

Re: Pages and pages of info on a Google search

Jay Lombardo

When I worked for an underground storage tank contractor we removed hundreds of tanks both above and below ground. When we had to clean out #6 heating oil ( stuff was like tar and had to be heated just to get it to move in the pipe) residual fuel from the bottom of the tank we used diesel fuel to cut it. throw some diesel in and slosh it around until its fluid enough to suck out. Then you have to dispose of it legally, not easy. Sometimes you can find garages that use used oil to heat their shops and they will take it. This is a job better hired out.

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

Walter Ahlgrim

I wonder is the money you would spend on cleaning would not be better spent on a replacement.

How old is the tank?

Is part of the sludge rust from the tank?

Is the tank buried?

Where are you located and what are your regulations like?

How will you feel is the tank starts leaking after you clean it?

Walta

excellent input Walta

tank corrosion

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I worked on a bazillion dollar claim chemical spill once. The best theory of what happened was that oil previously stored in the tank sludged out on the bottom. Under the sludge bugs grow and they make corrosive products. Given enough time portions of the tank bottom became layers of rust instead of steel and the tank ruptured later in its life.

Moral of this story is don't let sludge build up on the bottom of oil tanks.

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

Barry Irby

Walta has raised a number of important points.

Locally there are several companies that deal with tank removal and disposal. I would find them in your area and question them about cleaning the tank and removing it. If it is an underground tank I would check into the LUST Fund. (Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund) Check with you local version of the DEQ, (Department of Environmental Quality) Actually, I might do all of the above and more from a borrowed phone and under an assumed name for fear of calling down the wrath of the Gods on myself.

Also, you should know that the intake on your take is supposed to set a few inches above the bottom of the tank to leave a "sump" for water and sludge to accumulate it harmlessly. One possibility might be to raise the level of the intake to create a bigger sump and leave the existing sludge alone.

Find an old line company with a couple of guys older than dirt who actually know what they are doing and like oil fired equipment and get their advice. There is one of those locally and fifty others who are HVAC contractors that are Duct Pounders. Might look for a boiler company.

If it's an above ground tank replacing it might be the ticket.

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

Barry Irby

I don't know the life expectancy of an indoor tank.

Above ground out door tanks usually fail by rusting out from the inside. The owner should keep the tank as full as possible and at the end of the season have it filled to reduce condensation on the interior. As condensation occurs the water drools down to the bottom and the oil floats on top. Hence the purpose of the sump. The water stays below the level of the pickup and does not get blown into the burn where it fails to ignite. It also corrodes the tank, but since it is below the oil level it has a limited amount of oxygen and it probably takes a very long time to corrode through the tank. Unless new water is introduced regularly. Underground tanks often rust out form the inside just as above, but may fail if the soil and ground water are corrosive.

There are companies around that will cut up your tank with a torch or reciprocating saw and remove it. There is expertise involved to prevent fire or explosion. The ones I dealt with put dry ice in the tank to eliminate the oxygen. Nobody died.

As far as I know tanks are still made of steel, but Plastic ones may be out there.

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

Lee Buck

For what it's worth. After years of being offered fuel tank insurance by my fuel supplier I purchased it last year. Don't remember the price. My reasoning was that they, two 275 gal tanks in the basement, were among the few things not yet replaced in my 65 year old home. An inspector came in and in a few days the company offered to replace the tanks with one 275 gal. steel tank. They said replacing the tank was cheaper for them than paying for the damage when it leaked. There was no exterior rust but the camera showed some inside. Cost me a $100. deductible. As I have a new tank I did not renew the insurance.

Re: OT - heating oil sludge problem

Walter Ahlgrim

My guess is the old tank will come out in bits and pieces. The new one would go in on its side and the legs get installed after it is in. So it would be 6 feet tall 30 inches wide and 4 feet long should get in without much trouble.

You are unlikely to get a plastic tank as steel is the norm.

At 65 years old I say replace it.

Walta