Have you ever been present when your oil tank was being refilled and heard a whistling sound that you had never heard before? That whistling is not a sign that your tank is broken. Rather it shows that the tank is in good working order. When that whistling is going on, it indicates that the tank is not full of oil yet and so the person filling the oil will keep pouring. When the whistling stops, it shows that the tank is now full to capacity. An oil tank vent whistle is important in safe guarding the environment from the dangers of oil spills.
First time home owners may not be aware of this but buying a home where there is an existing oil tank may come with a host of challenges that nobody may have anticipated. Companies that fill up the tanks with oil may refuse to fill the tank if the whistle does not work. This is because oil leaks and spills are very serious, and there are many environmental laws that these companies must comply with. Filling an oil tank without the guidance of that whistle may lead to spills and contamination. Since nobody wants to deal with the expense and inconvenience of a non functional whistle, it is best to make sure that it is in good working order.
Check the whistle on your oil tank
A functional oil tank that is in good condition must have a whistle that sounds when the tank is being filled with oil. This is something that new home owners must check for if they find a pre installed home heating oil tank. The whistle is usually found in the vent pipe just above the tank. As oil is being pumped into the tank, it displaces air. This air comes out of the vent pipe, and this air is what blows the whistle. When the tank is full the whistle stops blowing. This is what helps the person that is filling the tank to put just enough and to avoid overfilling the tank. Oil tank whistle problems can have some serious effects for the tank owner. More often than not oil will run out right when you need the heat the most, in the thick of a very cold winter. Once the person from the oil filling company realises that you have an oil tank whistle not working, they may refuse to put any oil in your tank altogether. You will likely be charged for the effort they have put into coming to your home, but may end up without the oil. This is very inconvenient to say the least. You will need to invest in oil tank whistle repair.
In the event that your oil tank whistle valve is faulty, you may need to clean it. You could try to do it yourself but it may not be so easy. It may be tough for you to even get to the whistle, let alone clean it, depending on where the whistle for your tank is located. In a lot of tanks the whistle is positioned in such a way that you have to move the vent or take it out altogether. In such a scenario you may want to get a new vent, or to try to find an oil tank vent for resale. If you replace the vent on your own you will need to get it checked by professionals to make sure that you have replaced it properly, in a way that does not compromise the quality of your oil tank. You can find whistles, or heating oil tank fill alarms being sold separately in case the whistle is damaged and needs replacement. It could end up being a messy and laborious task. To save yourself from going through all of this trouble though, you may want to just hire a certified professional to come in and sort out the problem of the whistle for you. It will also give you peace of mind in knowing that the job has been done up to code tank calculator.
Another thing to look out for when you find a tank pre installed tank at your new home, or when you buy a second hand oil tank from someone, is that the tank is installed correctly. When installation is done right you will be unlikely to have to deal with faulty parts. The fill and vent lines of the tank must be sloped and must be the right thickness and distance from each other in order to ensure maximum use out of the tank. The vent pipe and cap need to be checked every now and again to make sure that there are no blockages from dust or bugs. Regular maintenance is also necessary so as to nip small problems in the bud before they turn into big problems that require you to replace your tank completely.
With oil spill incidents on the rise, it may be best to spend some money on a new tank where the whistle works as it should now than to have to deal with possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars in cleanup costs after a spill has occurred. If you fail to repair a dysfunctional oil tank whistle you may find yourself fighting a losing battle with insurance companies and oil filling companies. To avoid a very cold winter, get your oil tank whistle repaired. Choosing to clean or repair it yourself is admirable, albeit a little messy. Should you choose to take this route, get someone from a reputable company to come and check to make sure that you have done the job in the right way. This person must be licensed and certified. This will help you to avoid an unforeseen oil spill that may end up costing you thousands to clean up. It is better to be safe than sorry. This sounds so cliché, but ultimately there is wisdom to that old saying.
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