An oil tank in good condition, properly vented and piped should result in risk-free deliveries and a safe environment. At Lamprey Brothers, we take your oil tank’s safety seriously and are devoted more than ever to ensure your tank passes all inspections. Our technicians and oil truck drivers are National Oilheat Research Alliance trained and certified to perform oil tank inspections so we can give you the highest quality of information and service.

Fill & Vent Pipe:

Two of the most important parts of your oil tank are the fill and vent pipes. The fill pipe is where the driver places the nozzle to pump oil into your tank, and the vent pipe provides a vehicle for the air in the tank to be expelled, as it is being replaced with oil.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code 31 section 7.5.11.2 states, "The vent pipe shall be at least as large as the largest fill or withdrawal connection to the tank, but in no case shall it be less than 1-1/4" nominal inside diameter."

The reason this code is being enforced is that oil delivery is being pumped into your tank at 70-80 gallons per minute vs. 30 gallons per minute years ago. This higher pressure puts more stress on the piping and fittings of the oil tank. For example, if the fill pipe is 2" inches in diameter and the vent pipe is 1", then air cannot escape fast enough, putting more pressure on the tank and fittings. The key is to vent the excess air as quickly as the tank is being filled.

In addition, some tanks have copper or plastic (including PVC) pipes, which can burn easily. They can also become weak and crack in cold weather creating an opportunity for rupture during the oil fill. Pipes should be made of black iron to ensure the safest delivery possible.

Crossover Pipes:

The NFPA code requires that when two tanks are installed and piped together, that the crossover pipes must be a minimum of 2" in diameter. While having crossover pipes may be up to code, people in the oil clean-up business are adamant that the crossover fill and vent pipes are high risk and crossovers smaller than 2" are very high risk. One of the reasons crossover fill and vent pipes are so risky is because when your tank was installed the speed of delivering oil into your tank was about 30 gallons per minute. Today's trucks pump at 70-80 gallons per minute creating significant pressure on the tank. Any weakness in the tank could result in a tank rupture. For these reasons, Lamprey Brothers does not install crossover pipes.

No or faint whistle:

It is essential that all tanks have a clear sounding whistle. As air moves through the vent pipe, a whistle or a vent alarm sounds to let the driver know that air is being pumped out of the oil tank making room for the oil delivery. As the whistle slows down and stops, it alerts the driver to stop filling the tank as there is no longer air to be replaced by oil, signaling that the tank is full.

If your whistle is broken or faint, there is no indicator to stop pumping oil into your tank. A working whistle will help prevent an accidental over pumping of oil into a full tank, causing an oil spill. A faint or broken whistle could result in over pumping of oil into your tank, which could rupture the seams, causing environmental damage that can cost anywhere from a thousand dollars in clean up, to hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean up costs. A working whistle is required by state fire codes for all installations.

Underground Tanks:

Underground oil tanks can be an environmental hazard because it is difficult to determine the age of your tank. The average life expectancy for an underground tank is around 15 to 20 years. It is also hard to determine if your tank is leaking, and if so the source. To complete a tank inspection on an underground tank, takes about 2-3 days and your system needs to be shut down during that time, making the most convenient time of year for an inspection during the summer.

Note: If you plan on putting your home on the market, the bank and/or your insurance company may require the underground tank be removed from the property.

Oil Line:

By keeping your oil line protected for its entire length, whether or not it is in your basement floor, you are preventing possible leaks that could damage the environment of your home and cost you clean-up fees. Because of the corrosive nature of concrete, holes can be created in your oil line which could lead to oil leakage into the soil below your basement floor without your knowledge and may eventually surface in your basements sump pump or even worse, into the land around your home.

Additional Things to Know About Your Oil Tank:

• By replacing an underground oil tank that is more than 20 years old or the age is unknown, you can protect the environment of your home.
• Oil tanks typically corrode from the inside out. Corrosion is caused by water mixing with the oil creating sludge overtime, which eats away at the tank.
• If you have an outside tank, make sure that your tank is protected from falling snow and ice and paint it a light color to reduce condensation which can also cause corrosion.
• Routinely check your tank, pipes and fittings for leaks.

If you suspect there is a potential problem, or wish to have a courtesy Tank Inspection
simply click here.

A Message From The State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

To learn about the best practices for installing or upgrading heating oil tanks in New Hampshire, view this document.