Re: Keeping outside oil tanks flowing well.
Jim, I am an oil heat tech,there are lots of things you can do. As you found out #2 fuel can/will jell and freeze. You can simply add (STUFF) to thin your fuel,they sell lots of fancy names like HEAT and MELT but the underlying ingredient is usually alcohol.If you let the oil company put it in you will pay a lot but they will also be responsible if you jell up and need service. you can simply add Kero to your tank,easy to get and keep a couple of jugs of it around,you need to add it BEFORE it gets really cold.From the hardware store denatured alcohol from the painting dept.I know people who add 2 couple of gallons of GAS to a 275gal tank and swear by it but I would not recommend it.If you thin it too much you can damage your fuel pump.<br />If your tank does not have a bottom tapping you have condensation and sluge built up and can plug your side outlet.You can use a top tapping on your tank and pick up your oil 3-4 inches off the bottom of the tank, out of the way of water or sludge.If you want to replace your tank it is best to use a new tank with a bottom tappig and make 1 set of tank legs 2-3 inches longer than the other to make the tank pitch toward the outlet,this will prevent any thing from accumulating in the tank and it will be caught in the filter,run a full size line,the size of the tapping to the burner. As far as the filter,if it is at the tank it will keep junk out of the line but can freeze and plug, if you can keep it inside you can get at it easily and if you have to you can blow your line out from inside the house if necessary.Other things,roof heating cables can be wraped around the outside oil line,filter,I have even seen people wrap and insulate the whole tank with those cables as they can be very long.We service a lot of trailor parks and during the coldest 3 months we only deliver straight Kero #1 fuel, it cost more for that time but it never jells,only trouble is from side tapping tanks with water in them. Any questions I am glad to help. Paul