Oil Tank

[Glock27]

I have a house that is heated with fuel oil, the tank is in the basement. The Realtor has called for this to be removed to meet FHA requirements. I don't know if they have to do this or not. First time I've ran across oil tank as they are rare in our area.
Thanks
Tony

 

[Barbara Decker-Spence]

We have lots of oil tanks, and there is no FHA requirement of which I'm aware to remove them. Don't think we even have to get them removed from underground, unless evidence that they are malfunctioning. Then I'm not sure what happens - you just report that and HUD and underwriter take over from there.

 

[slapstep]

Fuel •Enter type of fuel used: coal, gas, oil, propane, electric, etc.

From the new & improved 4150.2 appendix D page 24
http://www.hudclips.org/sub_nonhud/cgi/pdfforms/41502xd.doc

I give the tank a visual inspection including a peek underneath to see if there may be a drip pan catching the leaking fuel oil. (Usually not). I had one that was leaking a few years ago and noted it under 11g... subject to repair/replace

 

[Glock27]

Thanks for your help and info.
Tony

 

[Joker]

I've got one in my basement. Any ideas how to remove it? I was gonna use the cuttin torch but the wife won't let me.

 

[Richard Carlsen]

Fuel oil tanks in the basement are common, especially up here where it is very cold. Fuel oil, like kerosene like diesel fuel tends to gel at very low temps and does not flow well. You either put the tank in the basement or in the ground. In the ground, you are just sitting around waiting for it to leak.


Doug;

I've got one in my basement. Any ideas how to remove it? I was gonna use the cutting torch but the wife won't let me.

Call your old fuel oil supplier and they will usually take it out for you. If you have any fuel inside, they will most likely buy it back. I had two tanks in the basement of my farm house in Kalamazoo. They sat there for 10 years after I switched to gas. The fuel oil company came out, pumped out the tanks, disassembled the two tanks, removed them and wrote me a check for $35.

 

[Dave Fitch]

Doug,
I was in the salvage oil business years ago, and we would pump-out tanks and occasionally remove them. Dipstick to see how much oil is left in the tank. Measure to see what the width of the tank is (usually 27" wide). And if it will go out the door. Pump or drain as much oil out as possible, use old plastic milk jugs to drain the oil out using the line valve like a faucet. There will be some crud left behind. Disconnect and remove the fill and vent pipes with a large pipe wrench. Lay the tank on its side and remove the legs. Build a ramp by nailing scrap plywood and preferrably large sheets of cardboard on your basement steps (the cardboard makes it slick and will catch the oil drips). Tie a very heavy and strong rope onto the tank. Have two people (one upstairs pulling the tank up the steps, and the other below pushing the tank out of the house. You may need to remove a door or storm door. Once you have the tank outside on the ground in a safe place, you can cut it up with a Sawzall. You will need a few sharp metal blades. Cut it into quarters or eights, or whatever is easy to dispose of. Will take about 10 or 15 minutes of cutting. Be aware that you will probably drain some fuel oil onto the ground, and it will kill the vegetation for a while. Dispose of the scrap metal. It will cost you less than $10 in saw blades, and people charge hundreds of dollars to do this same job. It is a dirty, smelly job though. Hope this helps.
Dave

 

[Joker]

You've helped a lot, Dave except I'm gonna have to cut it up in the basement. There's no way that bad boy will get out of here in one piece. It's still in use now but when the furnace goes, so does the tank. It's way too much of a problem to keep using it.

 

[Dave Fitch]

Doug,
You might need to use a "cheater" to undo the old pipe connections. This is nothing more than a 2 or 3 foot long piece of heavy pipe, that you slide over the handle of your pipe wrench to extend the length of the handle for more leverage. Those old pipe connections will probably be rusted tight and will need some serious persuasion. The "cheater" makes it easy to really put your weight to the wrench.
Dave

 

[Dave Fitch]

Doug,
You can cut it up in the basement, but it is more risky. Don't use a cutting torch!!! Use the Sawzall. The heat from the friction of the blade might cause the oil to smoke, but hopefully not flame. I would have a fire extinguisher handy if you are determined to cut it up in the basement. It is a whole lot safer cutting it outside of the house. Why can't it go out in one piece?
Dave