We just installed a 2 in 1 oil tank to replace our inground tank that our insurance company is hasling us to remove. Anyhow, I will be running the new feed line to the furnace today if all the supplies actually show up. I have been considering a "OIL DE-AERATOR". The details of it seem like a plus, But I'm not sure if there are negatives with the Oil De-Aerator?? Wondering if anyone here has any experience with these Oil De-Aerators ?? Good or bad?? I was considering running 2 lines to the new tank as the inground has both a feed and a return. I had to remove the return and also the bypass within the pump to get the inground tank to suck most of the oil out as the burner would shutoff with 10 inches left in the tank. So I can either run just one line to the burner and be done or replace the bypass in the pump to run a second line or the Oil De-Aerator. I like the thought of the second line(return) to the tank as it would eliminate having to prime the pump if I run low on oil. Fill the tank, reset and go is too simple.
The place I work at uses these heaters for enclosed construction spaces in the winter. t They get bounced around in the back of trucks from site to site and constantly run out of fuel. We were constantly running around all winter fiddling with them to keep them going. Installed Tiger Loop systems on them and it dramatically cut down on issues. I also have one on my oil boiler(was there when we bought) and haven’t had any issues with it tho I’m not completely sure why it was originally installed.
Ordered the Mitco unit today. Hope to see it mid next week. I went with the Mitco over the Beckett or Westwood Tigerloop because I could get it local from a mom and pops hardware store. This mom and pops was great helping me get my tank sorted(mainly the fittings) and the correct coated copper oil line. They were even cheaper than the 2 big box stores near me. About the same travel so it was a no brainer to support a local small business. HD was supposed to deliver all the fittings the next day. Only a few fittings came in and I hated to start then stop so I went off to find local. I was going to reuse my old oil line, But the guy told me because I was going to have to get it inspected that I had to have the copper with the orange plastic coating or risk a failed inspection. He gave me the line at a supper discount(25% off).
Installed the de aerator middle of last week, All went rather well. Took a bit to get it to prime but after a few cycles it took off. Only thing is we are getting a slight oil smell in the shack. Looks like I need to vent the de aerator back out to the tank. Something we didn't think about and had to read into it a bit to figure out why. Was sure we had a line leak, But everything was dry. Ordered all the tubing to follow the oil line back to the tank.
Is there any chance of the line freezing?? now with tank above ground. If so you might want to plan ahead for a fitting for a CO2 cartridge which will blow out the frozen plug, better than having to figure it out in the freezing weather.
Going to add a heat strip to the line and activate by thermostat. I hope that eliminates line from freezing?
50 years ago when we lived in a mobile home, we used fuel oil for heat. The tank was outside, and this was in Wisconsin where -30 was common during the winter. We had to use #1 fuel oil. The cold did not bother that at all. The fuel oil tank I now have is inside and we use #2 fuel oil.
Is it possible to tip the tank slightly so the outlet is higher than lowest corner/side of the tank? That way any water in the tank will collect away from the outlet. Then you can drain that in the off season. I also read that if you keep the tank full it will have less room for humid air. Then during large temp swings less moisture can collect the the tank. I have a big ugly black tank outside that I did that to. That ended the waking up before work and the furnace fan blowing around cold air with no fire going. Those were such fun days.....
My tank runs one line but filter is at bottom of outside of tank before fill line so that stops aeration outside tanks here run #1 fuel aka kerosene Inside tanks low sulfur diesel fuel dyed red heating oil. can’t be much of a problem in Connecticut
With the double wall tanks they recommend to keep the pick up 1" from the bottom to avoid water pickup. Tank is recommended to be level so thats how I set it up. I didn't think about cold until I was with my oil guy at fill up. He recommended the heat strip with a thermostat that only activates at below 30ºF. He also said that because we are in a cold climate that they do put some additives to help with freezing. He also recommends adding a freeze guard in the fuel at fill up. But if I install the heat strip it won't be necessary to add that. I'll go the heat strip route as it was the best preventative. Thanks for all the suggestions!
