ok...so I'm a new homeowner...and I just realized that my oil tank is basically empty. I called and I got a more coming today, but what happens if it goes completely emprty before then? Besides having no heat (duh) Is it bad for the tank? Condensation? Or the furnace? HELP?!
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Oil tank
- Thread starter BLESS
- Start date
dmc
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Could be sludge in the furnace...
Better have someone check it out...
Better have someone check it out...
drjeff
Well-known member
Just get yourself on a plan with a local oil company, they'll show up periodically and fill your tank, so no worries about things running out. Plus, they often have service plans where yearly they'll inspect both your tank and furnace. Just one less thing as a homeowner that you'll have to worry about.
Beetlenut
New member
If it goes empty, they'll have to prime the lines to get the air out, and probably change the filter due to the sludge/gook at the bottom of the tank. Get on a service plan, and all of that will be taken care of.
ckofer
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You should establish credit and get on automatic fill with a reasonable local oil company. Hopefully most of the sludge in your tank is held back by the filter on the tank. I would buy a new filter while the oil person is there if he or she has one. The filters are fairly inexpensive and a clogged one will provide poor fuel flow to your furnace.
from_the_NEK
Active member
Are you the owner of a brand new house that has a brand new oil tank. If this is the first season of use you may be able to get away with running it dry this one time (there probably hasn't been enough oil run through it to build up a layer of sludge).
As recommended by others, I would get on a periodic fill up plan if you're not diligent about checking the fuel level.
As recommended by others, I would get on a periodic fill up plan if you're not diligent about checking the fuel level.
well the furnace is a really good one...brand new in 04. I still dont think its gonna go empty....as oils coming today and its just above the "e" line and then after that theres another quarter inch space, if not more under that...on the meter. Im assuming its like a car where even wehen it says your on empty you still have a gallon or so? I never let it get this low but with xmas & whatnot i forgot about it. It wont happen again.
Beetlenut
New member
I'd avoid going with Petro. Would look for someone more local. my 2cents...
Marc
New member
Set the stats back to 50 til the oil man cometh.
When the oil first goes in let it settle for a while so you dont suck the sludge in. There is still oil in the tank. They pull it from about three inches off the bottom so you dont pull sludge into the furnace. If it fires up and heats the house you are all set. If it get clogged change the filter.
Speaking from experience, a service contract is money well spent. I don't know how much we pay for ours offhand, but it seems that it always pays for itself. I'd imagine one call on a Sunday evening would probably wipe out any "savings" by not springing for the contract. A lot of the contract will cover parts too. So not only are you off the hook for getting the tech the there, you don't have to pay for the $80 part he just soldered in.
