Water in the fuel ...

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:39 pm

... though not on the bike

The bloody oil fired heating system. I've been without heating or hot water since last Friday because apparently there's water in my heating oil. The heating guy reckons the tanks knackered, and modern building regs require it to be sited elsewhere so it's going to be three weeks of freezing my butt off ..... they've given me a couple of 2KW fan heaters but in such a big old house they don't do a lot and cost a fortune to run.

Bugger!

ps ... I may be being stupid here but I'm wondering why they can't stick a tarp over the tank to stop further rain ingress, and as oil floats on water disconnect the feed pipe to the boiler until the waters gone then reconnect it? Or am I over simplifying? That in effect was all I've done when various dirt bikes have had water in their tanks in the past.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:57 pm

Steel tank by the sounds of it?

If so - then a lot of the problem is condensation on the inside (the effect is two-fold - increased corrosion from the inside-out, and of course it aglomerates and drops to the bottom of the tank and into the boiler suction pipe)

In the short term, as long as the tank isn't perforated below the oil level - I might be tempted to do as you suggest - pump out the water, bleed through oil to the boiler, and prevent further water entering the tank - at least until the milder weather arrives.

Alternatively - if you live in the countrieside, can you rig up a 200 ltr drum (plastic or steel) as a tempory tank? Two things to consider: Security to prevent it falling over, and the necessary height to provide a positive suction-head to the boiler (older boilers require this).

No - it's not kosher, but if no-one knows......................

Al

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:59 pm

When we had water in the fuel, we did exactly as you suggest, drained off the water, cleaned the filter and housing and were good to go.

We had to change our tank, and if we followed regs it would have been in the middle of a field somewhere in the next county.

I am not entirely clear on the law, but the installers were allowed to replace the tank in the existing location, despite it not meeting regs. Presumably it only needs to comply with the regs in place at the original time of installation.

They also provided a temporary tank while works were completed and the insurance company and environmental agencies were consulted.

Boxadog 2000 · Post by **Boxadog 2000** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:51 pm

Along the lines of Blackal,

Get yourself a secondhand IBC its square polythene in steel mesh cage and hold from memory 600~1000 ltrs. as its square it will not fall over

http://www.bundedtanks-shop.com/PBSCPro ... tAodNmsA0A

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:05 pm

Just to elaborate - in recommending a 200ltr drum - it may be required to elevate this (even on a stack of pallets) to get the required +ve suction head - and whatever tank/drum you use - make sure you tether it securely against wind effect.

Al

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:17 pm

The faulty tank is a plastic one but I'm told it's buggered the heatings guys coming on Saturday to jury rig something so it may well be what you suggest Al