InspectAPedia TM

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice
InspectAPedia
Home
| Air
Conditioning
| Electrical | Environment | Exteriors | Heating | Home
Inspection
| Insulate
Ventilate
| Interiors | Mold
Inspect/Test
| Plumbing
Water
Septic
| Roofing | Structure | Contact Us
New Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building New


OIL TANK HOME
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED TANKS, FIND
FLOATING UP TANKS
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
SLUDGE IN OIL TANKS
TANK ABANDONING
TANK FAILURE CAUSES
TANK FAILURE RATES
TANK LEGAL ISSUES
TANK LEAK ADVICE
TANK LIFE
TANK REMOVAL COs
TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
TANK REGULATIONS
TANK INSPECTION REPORTS
TANK SLUDGE
TANK STANDARDS
TANK TESTING
TANK TESTING COs
WATER in OIL TANKS
 OIL TANK DEFECTS
 OIL PIPING DEFECTS
   OIL LINE EXPOSED
   SINGLE HIGH OIL LINE
   OIL LINE LEAKS
   SINGLE LINE BURIED TANK
   DUAL LINE 2 VALVES
   HEAT TAPE HAZARD
   CAULK PIPE ENTRANCES
   NO OIL TANK VENT PIPE
   OIL FILL PIPE EXPOSED
   OIL FILTER - NONE
   FIRE SAFETY VALVE
More Information

InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure
Accuracy & Bias Pledge
Contact Us





LARGER IMAGE

Home Inspection Report Language Library: How to Report Defects in Heating Oil Piping
OilTankAPedia ©

Google
 
  • Home inspection report language for oil storage tanks
  • Oil line piping defects
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at inspect-ny.com/appointment.htm.

This document describes and provides home inspection report language for defects in heating oil tank piping, and related oil tank installation defects that can be found by visual inspection. Beyond the costly problem of leaky heating oil tanks, this particular page lists other important safety or oil-fired equipment operational defects in home and light commercial heating oil storage and piping systems.

This sample home inspection report language may assist home owners or home buyers in understanding risks associated with both buried and above ground oil or other fuel storage tanks at their property. The oil tank and oil piping inspection report language explains the need for action and indicates where more information can be obtained. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

Also see text and oil tank defect photographs at Visual Inspection of Oil Storage Tanks. NOTICE: while example report language is provided here, reproduction of this or any of our web pages or their contents online at other websites or in printed documents for sale is prohibited. Readers are welcome to use the text directly in home inspection reports, with citation of the website source. Also see Gas Piping Defects. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

OIL PIPING DEFECTS - Reporting Oil Piping Defects by Visual Inspection

OIL LINE EXPOSED - Oil Line Exposed to Damage

OIL LINE line is exposed atop the floor in some locations - it can be damaged, causing loss of heat or dangerous leaks. The line should be protected by means approved by your heating service professional. This should be an inexpensive

SINGLE HIGH OIL LINE - Oil Line Problem: single line routed high may lose prime

SERVICE NOTE: it appears that the oil burner's fuel unit is served by a single line from the oil tank, and that the oil line is routed from the oil tank up high beneath the ceiling and back down to the oil burner. In some circumstances this installation may tend to lose prime, become air locked, or These events can lead to loss of heat and possible damage to the building from frozen pipes. You should review this installation detail with your service person.

OIL LINE LEAKS - Oil Line leaks found

Caution: we saw a possible oil line leak:
... wet oily sections of piping at
... oil stains on the floor at
...
Oil leaks may be hazardous and also, as air may be drawn into the oil line when the fuel unit is pumping, they can lead to improper system operation and even loss of heat in the building. This item should be checked/corrected by your service person promptly.


OIL TANK HOME
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED TANKS, FIND
FLOATING UP TANKS
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
SLUDGE IN OIL TANKS
TANK ABANDONING
TANK FAILURE CAUSES
TANK FAILURE RATES
TANK LEGAL ISSUES
TANK LEAK ADVICE
TANK LIFE
TANK REMOVAL COs
TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
TANK REGULATIONS
TANK INSPECTION REPORTS
TANK SLUDGE
TANK STANDARDS
TANK TESTING
TANK TESTING COs
WATER in OIL TANKS
 OIL TANK DEFECTS
 OIL PIPING DEFECTS
   OIL LINE EXPOSED
   SINGLE HIGH OIL LINE
   OIL LINE LEAKS
   SINGLE LINE BURIED TANK
   DUAL LINE 2 VALVES
   HEAT TAPE HAZARD
   CAULK PIPE ENTRANCES
   NO OIL TANK VENT PIPE
   OIL FILL PIPE EXPOSED
   OIL FILTER - NONE
   FIRE SAFETY VALVE
More Information

InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Environment
Heating
Contact Us

SINGLE LINE BURIED TANK - Single oil line on buried oil tank risks lost prime, no heat

A single oil line was found coming from tank to oil burner. Recommended practice is use of two pipes, for several reasons: avoiding loss of prime, providing alternate pipe if supply pipe clogs, and reducing the lift load on the pump.

Note: some experts recommend that the fire-safety valve for these systems be installed ONLY on the supply line, with only a simple check valve on the return line. This procedure reduces the risk of burst gasket at the oil pump and spray of heating oil into an existing fire should a valve on the return line close before the valve on the supply line during a fire.

DUAL LINE 2 VALVES - Oil Line-dual line, remove fire-o-matic on return side & add check valve

Safety: Remove the firematic or fusible oil supply line valve on return oil-line side - in case of fire if this one closes first the pump continues to run, blows its seal, and sprays oil all over the fire. Proper installation is to have a fusible link valve only on the supply side, and to install a check valve on the return line to prevent back-siphonage from the tank.[per Dave Ferris - M&S Environmental Systems - HVAC expert. - personal comm. to DJF 1987]

HEAT TAPE HAZARD - Heat Tapes on heating oil lines are a Fire Hazard

Safety Recommendation:do not use electric heat tapes to keep fuel oil lines from plugging during cold weather. Such measures are an obvious fire hazard.

CAULK PIPE ENTRANCES - Oil Tank - Caulk pipe entrances

You should caulk the opening where tank supply and vent pipes penetrate the house wall, to prevent pest or water entry at this point. This is an inexpensive item. This repair/maintenance item may be deferred.


OIL TANK HOME
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED TANKS, FIND
FLOATING UP TANKS
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
SLUDGE IN OIL TANKS
TANK ABANDONING
TANK FAILURE CAUSES
TANK FAILURE RATES
TANK LEGAL ISSUES
TANK LEAK ADVICE
TANK LIFE
TANK REMOVAL COs
TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
TANK REGULATIONS
TANK INSPECTION REPORTS
TANK SLUDGE
TANK STANDARDS
TANK TESTING
TANK TESTING COs
WATER in OIL TANKS
 OIL TANK DEFECTS
 OIL PIPING DEFECTS
   OIL LINE EXPOSED
   SINGLE HIGH OIL LINE
   OIL LINE LEAKS
   SINGLE LINE BURIED TANK
   DUAL LINE 2 VALVES
   HEAT TAPE HAZARD
   CAULK PIPE ENTRANCES
   NO OIL TANK VENT PIPE
   OIL FILL PIPE EXPOSED
   OIL FILTER - NONE
   FIRE SAFETY VALVE
More Information

InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Environment
Heating
Contact Us

NO OIL TANK VENT PIPE - Oil Tank - No Vent Pipe

We did not find a proper vent pipe on this tank. The tank should be vented to outside to avoid dumping noxious and possibly combustible or obnoxious fumes into the living area.

OIL FILL PIPE EXPOSED - Oil Tank - Fill Pipe Exposed to Roof Drainage

The oil tank fill pipe is in a location where roof drainage may fall directly on or into it. Water in an oil tank can lead to loss of heat and costly related damage from that condition or it can accelerate rust and corrosion from inside the oil tank, leading to oil leaks and a costly environmental cleanup. The tank should be tested for the amount of water in it and if in question, it should be tested for leaks. And protect the fill pipe and vent from water entry.

OIL FILTER - NONE - No Oil Filter Installed on Oil Fired Equipment

We did not find a heating oil filter installed on the system. Unless you find or the owner can point out a filter already in place, we recommend installation of one - to be located at or very near the burner and "downstream" of a fire-o-matic safety shutoff valve to permit easy service. Failure to provide adequate filtering may lead to loss of heat and subsequent damage to the building.

FIRE SAFETY VALVE - Add Fire Safety Valve at the Oil Burner (Fire o matic Fire-o matic oil shutoff safety valve)

SAFETY IMPROVEMENT: When the service is performed we recommend installation of a "Fire-o-matic" safety valve on the oil line at the burner. This valve controls flow of fuel oil to the burner, and has a lead core which melts and shuts the valve, stopping the flow of oil in event of a fire in the building. Even when one of these valves is installed at the oil tank the proper place for this protection is right at the burner as well.


Oil Tank & Piping Defects
OIL TANK DEFECTS
OIL PIPING DEFECTS

OIL TANK HOME
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED TANKS, FIND
FLOATING UP TANKS
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
SLUDGE IN OIL TANKS
TANK ABANDONING
TANK FAILURE CAUSES
TANK FAILURE RATES
TANK LEGAL ISSUES
TANK LEAK ADVICE
TANK LIFE
TANK REMOVAL COs
TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
TANK REGULATIONS
TANK INSPECTION REPORTS
TANK SLUDGE
TANK STANDARDS
TANK TESTING
TANK TESTING COs
WATER in OIL TANKS
More Information

Accuracy & Bias Pledge
Air Conditioning
InspectAPedia Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure
InspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map
Contact Us

More Information on Oil Tanks, Oil Piping, & Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

goto InspectAPedia.com - authoritative, in-depth Building Diagnostic and Repair Information for building buyers, owners, inspectorsInspectAPedia TM Home & Site Map - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - Research Website

GO TO the MOLD and INDOOR ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION CENTER for in-depth advice on avoiding testing for or cleaning up mold and other indoor environmental hazards, odors, gases, contaminantsThe Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

GO TO our PRE PURCHASE BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES: Authoritative information for home buyers and home owners is included with your inspection.Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

GO TO MOLD TEST KITS: This expert-recommended mold test kit is cheap and yet top performing *IF* you use a competent analysis laboratory!Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

GO TO IAQ/MOLD-TEST LAB SERVICES: Mold, Pollen, indoor air quality, field and laboratory services by an expert.Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigationContact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

Google
 

05/10/2008 - 01/15/1995 www.inspect-ny.com/oiltanks/oiltinsp2.htm - © 2006 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved