Definitions of Types of Oil Piping Controls & Valves

DEFINITIONS: OIL PIPING CONTROLS - what are the types, names & functions of various heating oil piping valves & controls
OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES - separate article
FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS - separate article
OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES - separate article
Questions & Answers about the definitions & functions of different valves & controls used on oil piping systems & at oil burners.
References

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Oil Line Safety Valve (OSV) control types & definitions: this article illustrates & defines the different types of controls & valves used on heating oil piping systems, including check valve, fusible link valve, fire-o-matic type valve, vacuum operated valves, quickstop valves, solenoid valves, and oil delay valves. We include links to details about the proper installation, use, & troubleshooting for each of these devices as well as manufacturers, brands, product sources.

Definitions of Types of Heating Oil Line Control Valves

Question: What is the difference among all these different kinds of valves used on oil piping and at the oil burner or oil tank

What is the difference among all these different kinds of valves used on oil piping and at the oil burner or oil tank: check valve, fusible link valve, fire-o-matic type valve, vacuum operated valves, quickstop valves, solenoid valves, and oil delay valves. It's really confusing. - Anon 1/13/2012

Reply:

We agree that there are enough valves and enough similarity in their names that the controls used at oil tanks, on oil piping, and at the oil burner to manage the flow of oil can be confusing. Worse, valves that do different things and have different purposes may all be called "oil safety valves" in marketing and technical literature.

Don't confuse the built-in check valve in the fuel unit with external check valves, fusible link oil safety valves, solenoid operated quick-stop oil valves, and their sisters, solenoid operated oil delay valves.

Here is a list of the different types of controls & valves used on heating oil piping, oil burners, and at oil tanks in order to assure proper and safe flow of heating oil to oil-fired heating equipment such as boilers, furnaces & water heaters. Oil line valves, check valves, oil safety valves or fusible link valves (OSVs), and de-aerators or air removing devices are all defined. We include links to individual articles giving details for the installation, operation, and troubleshooting of each of these oil line controls.

Check Valves on Oil Lines

Oil line check valve (C) Daniel Friedman

A check valve is a simple one-way valve installed on an oil line to prevent backflow or leakage. We often place a check valve on the return line to the oil tank in two-pipe oil system.

Details are at Check Valves on Heating Oil Lines

De-Aerators or Air Removing Devices for Heating Oil Piping & LInes

Tigerloop oil line foam and air remover (C) Tigerloop

De-aerators or prime protection fittings are special devices are available to protect heating oil piping and oil burners from loss of prime. These devices operate by automatically removing un-wanted air from the oil piping system. Air in the oil piping is likely to cause improper oil burner operation and can lead to loss of heat and also to dangerous OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

Details are at Tigerloop™ or similar oil line de-aerator/prime-protection devices

Fusible Link Oil Line Safety Valves - OSVs

Fusible link oil line valve (C) Daniel Friedman

Fusible link oil safety valves (OSVs) are installed in the oil piping to stop the flow of oil in event of a fire. They are also a convenience for heating oil service technicians, allowing the service tech to turn off oil flow to change an oil filter or service the oil burner without creating an oil spill and a mess.

Details about OSVs are at OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES and valve operation details are at OIL LINE SAFETY VALVE TURN DIRECTION to OPEN or SHUT

Quick Stop & Oil Delay Valves

Quick-stop valves and oil delay valves improve oil burner operation by eliminating the delivery of oil to the oil burner nozzle at low pressures.

Details are at OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES

Vacuum Operated Check Valves, OSVs, or PRV Valves Prevent Oil Flow When the Oil Burner is Not Running

Webster vacuum operated oil safety valve installation - Webster

A PRV valve, such as Suntech Industries Inc.'s Model PRV-38 is an oil safety valve that prevents oil from flowing out of an oil tank by gravity, or by siphoning action, when flow is not desired.

At the inlet side of the PRV valve, oil can be supplied under pressure or under a vacuum (depending on whether or not the oil burner fuel unit is running). But the PRV will not open to allow oil to flow unless it senses a vacuum.

This means that oil will not flow past this valve unless the oil burner and its fuel unit are operating. The effect is that this valve prevents oil from flowing out of an oil tank under any other conditions.

Details are at Vacuum-Activated Oil Safety Valves, OSVs & PRVs

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the definitions & functions of different valves & controls used on oil piping systems & at oil burners

Question: Freeing up a stuck oil line control valve?

I think I have a valve that doesn't seem to turn off when fully turned counter clockwise. Any idea why? - P.C.

Reply:

If you have a fusible link valve that doesn't seem to turn off you might try tapping the exposed end of the valve stem. I have found a stuck, or slow to close OSV on a few rare occasions. A gentle tap, not hard enough to damage threads, loosens it after which I open and close the valve a few times to convince myself it now moves freely. A burr on the brass interior or more likely internal sludge or debris could be the culprit.

Because at the oil burner the OSV is likely to be used at least once a year during service, that's a good opportunity to discover if the valve is not closing fully.

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] Audels Oil Burner Guide, Installing, Servicing, Repairing, Frank D. Graham, Theo. Audel & Co., New York 1946, 1947, 1955 (out of print, copies occasionally available from antique book dealers and on EBay)
[2] Beckett Model SR Oil Burner Instruction Manual, R.W. Beckett Corporation, PO Box 1289, Elyria OH 44036 and R.W. Beckett Canada, Ltd., 430 Laird St., Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 3x7
[3] Thanks to Bottini Fuel service tecnician Bob for discussing the buzzing aquastat relay problem, 4/18/2012. Bottini Fuel is a residential and commercial heating oil distributor and oil heat service company in Wappingers Falls, NY and with offices in other New York locations. Bottini Fuel, 2785 W Main St, Wappingers Falls NY, 12590-1576 (845) 297-5580 more contact information for Bottini Fuel
[4] Beckett Model SF Oil Burner Instruction Manual, op.cit.
[5] Sunstrand Corporation - Sunstrand Fuel Units, 4949 Harrison Avenue P.O. Box 7003 Rockford, Illinois 61125-7003 U.S.A. Telephone: (815) 226-6000 Fax: (815) 226-5399 http://www.sundstrand.com
[6] Sunstrand Transmission Service Manual, May 1974, web search 08/19/2011, original source: http://www.cushmantrackster.com/pay-pdfs/sundstrand.pdf - Sunstrand Series 15 hydrostatic transmissions
[7] Webster Fuel Pumps & Valves, Capitol City Tool, Inc., http://www.websterfuelpumps.com/
[8] Suntec Model A-7400 Fuel Unit Solenoid Dumping Pump,
Suntec Industries Inc., 60 Aberdeen Drive - PO Box 5000 Glasgow, KY 42142-5000 - USA Tel : 270 651 7116 - Fax : 270 651 9276 e-Mail : info@suntecpumps.com and
Suntec Industries France, 1 Rue Lavoisier - B.P. 102 F-21603 LONGVIC Cedex - FRANCE Tel : +33 (0)3 80 70 60 70 - Fax : +33 (0)3 80 70 61 11 e-Mail : information@suntec.fr, [copy on file as /heating/Oil pumps fuel units/Sunted_Solenoid_DumpingPPump.pdf] ,
Also /Suntech_Solonoid_Safety_Valves.pdf (brochure)
web search 4/19/12, original source: http://www.suntecpumps.com/Suntecus/PDFs/Form%202740%20
-%20Solenoid%20Dumping%20Pump.pdf
[9] Suntec Model PRV-38 Oil Safety Valve Installation Information, untec Industries Inc., 60 Aberdeen Drive - PO Box 5000 Glasgow, KY 42142-5000 - USA Tel : 270 651 7116 - Fax : 270 651 9276 e-Mail : info@suntecpumps.com and
Suntec Industries France, 1 Rue Lavoisier - B.P. 102 F-21603 LONGVIC Cedex - FRANCE Tel : +33 (0)3 80 70 60 70 - Fax : +33 (0)3 80 70 61 11 e-Mail : information@suntec.fr, [copy on file as /heating/Oil pumps fuel units/Form 2155 - PRV-38 Installation.pdf]. You can download this file from Suntec's website. ,
[10] Firomatic Globe Type Oil Line Valves & Lever Type Fusible Link Control Valves: ISP Automation, Inc., 1035 Old Georges Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902, Phone: 866-383-3481, FAX 866-383-3482, Email: support@ispautomation.com
[11] Fusible link oil line control valves for commercial equipment: ASCO products by Emerson Industrial Automation, P.O.Box 160, 17 Airport Road Brantford, Ontario Canada N3T 5M8 Tel: (519) 758-2700 Fax: (519) 758-5540
[12] Fuel oil safety valves, Webster Fuel Pumps & Valves, 219 Hahn Road Frankfort, Ky. 40601, Tel: (800) 766-1233 Email: czahalka@cctoolinc.com (Curtis Zahalka Sales Mgr/Mkt /Cust Service/Tech Support/Webmaster ) web search 10/12/2011 original source http://www.websterfuelpumps.com/pdffiles/osv1.pdf
[13] Webster Service Technicians' Handbook, Webster Fuel Pumps & Valves, 219 Hahn Road Frankfort, Ky. 40601, Tel: (800) 766-1233
[14] "The Oil Safety Valve (Service)", Charles Bursey, Sr., Fuel Oil News, February 2006 (Still trying to get the full article - October 2008 - DF) Charles W. Bursey Sr. can be reached at F.W. Webb Co. www.fwwebb.com/
[15] "Installation Information for Suntec A-2000, A-7000 Single Stage and B-8000 two stage fuel units"Suntec Industries, 60 Aberdeen Drive, Glasgow KY 42141, 270-651-7116 (1725 rpm black label, 3450 rpm white label)
[16] Tigerloop: oil line de-aerator devices, Westwood Products Inc., 330 William St., PO Box 610, South River, NJ 08882-0610 - (732) 651-7700
[19] Thanks to reader Bernie Daraz for suggesting the need for clear photographs illustrating the OSV or oil line safety valve in the open and closed positions. Personal correspondence 2/15/2013.
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
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Dave Ferris - M&S Environmental Systems, Dutchess County, New York. Mr. Ferris was an HVAC expert. Personal communication to DJF 1987. Remove the firematic or fusible oil supply line valve on return oil-line side - in case of fire if this one closes first the pump continues to run, blows its seal, and sprays oil all over the fire. Proper installation is to have a fusible link valve only on the supply side, and to install a check valve on the return line to prevent back-siphonage from the tank.
Thanks to Rick Johnston for pointing out that the more likely cause of a fire safety valve in the return oil line is a burst seal on the fuel unit 4/6/2009
Thanks to reader T.R. for suggesting clarity on where oil safety valves should or should not be installed and for discussing the proper hook-up location for the Tigerloop and similar oil line prime protection & air removal devices. April 2011.

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Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
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Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
Abandon a Buried Oil Tank, How To - Abandoning Commercial Underground Tanks, Russ Brauksieck, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, P. 40-41 [Reprint]
Primer on Petroleum Bulk Storage Tanks & Petroleum Contamination of Property Paul H. Ciminello, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, p 35-39
Petroleum Bulk Storage J. Sibblies, NY State DEC, Advice to Home Owners and Home Inspectors about Oil Storage Tanks - summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
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Definitions of Types of Heating Oil Line Control Valves

Question: What is the difference among all these different kinds of valves used on oil piping and at the oil burner or oil tank

Reply:

Check Valves on Oil Lines

De-Aerators or Air Removing Devices for Heating Oil Piping & LInes

Fusible Link Oil Line Safety Valves - OSVs

Quick Stop & Oil Delay Valves

Vacuum Operated Check Valves, OSVs, or PRV Valves Prevent Oil Flow When the Oil Burner is Not Running

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the definitions & functions of different valves & controls used on oil piping systems & at oil burners

Question: Freeing up a stuck oil line control valve?

Reply:

Questions or comments about this article

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Definitions of Types of Oil Piping Controls & Valves