Heating Oil Tank Legs

TomH in PA · Mar 1, 2015

Last fall the furnace service guy suggested I replace the legs on the two oil tanks in the basement because at least one leg looked kind of rusty.

Tanks are finally close to empty so I jacked them up yesterday to see what I had - Yipes!

Seven of the legs were still solid with just a little surface rust, but this one just crumbled away. I hate to think what could have happened when the tank had 250 gallons of oil in it last fall.

Sean Feeney · Mar 1, 2015

If that's the leg i would be shopping for a tank my
.02

TomH in PA · Mar 1, 2015

Yea, giving that some thought. The tanks and other legs don't look bad, just that one was standing in a damp spot (since fixed). Might be due for replacement anyway though.

John,PA · Mar 1, 2015

The outside of a NEW tank is usually only primed, so, we always include several coats of a good oil paint in what ever color the HOMEOWNER chooses. BARN RED We always choose.

Never had to replace a tank in over 50 years.

It is always the leg brackets that I personally I inspect, annually.

jeffcat · Mar 2, 2015

Have seen something like this also where you might have electrolysis. It will slowly break down the metal's structure and fail. You could have a low voltage floating ground but it could just be the dampness. Another thing is crap pipe from china. Have seen and heard all kinds of bad news stories.

showcrop · Mar 2, 2015

I replaced my boiler this last Sept myself. As part of the job I checked out my tank and found that it was leaning slightly away from the tap end. The floor was dirt when we bought the place and, two of the concrete blocks that supported it ha settled a bit. I got the low end up and drained and flushed the tank, but found no water in it thankfully. A tank on a rusty leg is no more likely to have a problem than one on perfect legs. The problem is condensation on the INSIDE, just like the tanks and housings on our old tractors. I have made it a practice to put a half a bottle of power service fuel treatment in my tank every year, just in case I get condensation, and apparently it worked in my case or there would have been water in the bottom.

hd6gtom · Mar 2, 2015

In the 15 years I was in the business I never found any water in a fuel oil tank that was in the basement. I have found Lots of black sludge from tanks that were installed in the 1940's

Heating Oil Tank Legs

TomH in PA

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Sean Feeney

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TomH in PA

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John,PA

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jeffcat

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showcrop

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hd6gtom

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