www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2014 47
for fine-tuned oilburners. It's not easy burning some of these
fuels today.
The house was built in 1989, but one of the interesting
things is that the installer ran the line out of that side outlet
tank in regular non-sleeved copper tubing through a piece of
PVC tubing. One of the first examples of sleeved tubing and
which allowed for the easiest installation of the new sleeved
line that I've ever seen. A great install always pays for itself
down the road!
It would also be careless of me if I didn't mention that the
side outlet tank went illegal in 1995 in Massachusetts, but if
they are existing it's okay. We're hoping to change the tank in
the next two years with an inert design tank. Today's fuels are
just too tough on steel tanks.
I also would like you to take note of the loops on both
ends of the line. That is what a good installer will do to not
only comply with a code but also leave room for service and
better pump operation. The better pump operation is an aid
in helping with tank hum resonance and overall quietness of
pump operation. Both NFPA31 and CMR4.00 state in regards
to burner supply lines that: "Proper allowance shall be made
for expansion, contraction, jarring and vibration." I've been
teaching that includes an expansion loop because, to be honest,
I don't know of any other way to do it and it was what I was
taught a long time ago. If you go through old oilheat install
manuals you will find that they have been considered "good
industry practice" almost from day one. With that said, if you
know of another way I'd love to hear from you.
We went to dual filtration using low-micron "spin-ons"
because the tank bottom is not that bad. Adding a "sludge pot"
for triple-filtration just didn't seem to be necessary. I know this
past winter caused a lot of problems with gelling and such, but
a lot of that is due to fuel quality and the bio issues. I don't
think removing good low-micron filters is the solution as some
are doing. I think the solution to what many think are filter
HVAC/ HydroniCs
Figure 2
