Guide to Heating Oil Burner Fire Safety Valves: fusible link oil safety valves & vacuum-operated OSVs
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What is an Inline fusible-link fire-safety valve, and how are they used on oil fired heating equipment: boilers, furnaces, and water heaters?
Where should oil line fire safety valves and check valves be located?
Is it OK to install more than one Fireomatic™ type oil line valve?
Which way do I turn the Fireomatic fusible link oil line valve to open or close the line?
What are Webster vacuum-activated oil safety valves (OSVs) and how are they used?
Definitions of all of the kinds of valves used on heating oil delivery systems, from tank to oil burner.
Questions & answers about heating oil control valves and fusible link safety valves

This document describes check valves and fusible link oil safety valves used on oil piping at heating appliances as both a fire safety device and to assist in oil burner servicing. We describe and explain the differences in function and use among fusible link fire safety valves (OSVs), vacuum operated OSVs and PRVs, oil line check valves, Tiger Loop and other oil system air removing devices, and oil delay valves or quick-stop valves that are also referred to as oil safety valves. We explain where each valve is installed and what it does. We include oil safety valve and check valve troubleshooting advice, and we describe defects in heating oil piping & control valves.

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How & Where do We Install a Fusible-Link Firematic™ Type Oil Safety Valve?

This article series explains the installation & use of Fusible Link Oil Safety Valves (immediately below), Vacuum-Activated Oil Safety Valves, OSVs & PRVs, Check Valves on Heating Oil Lines, and Tigerloop™ or similar oil line de-aerator/prime-protection devices. Oil delay valves, also called quick-stop valves and also referred to as oil safety valves, are discussed separately at OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES.

Guide to Fusible-Link Oil Safety Valves (OSVs)

Fusible link oil line valve (C) Daniel Friedman The Firematic fusible-link automatic oil line shutoff valve (photo at left) should only be present on the oil supply line. This is a manual or automatic valve that will stop the flow of oil in the oil line.

This valve controls flow of fuel oil to the oil burner of heating boilers, furnaces, and water heaters.

Inline Fusible link Oil Valve: Oil line safety valves have a lead or other soft metal core that melts and closes the valve so that the system won't keep feeding oil to the heating equipment if the area is on fire. See our photo at below left for an example of a Firematic™ safety valve right at the oil burner. Synonyms: Fire-o-Matic valve, Fusible link valve, oil line shutoff valve, oil safety valve, and Fireamatic valve.

The standard oil safety valve used at the oil burner and often found also at the oil tank is the Firematic™ fusible link safety valve. The Firematic™ oil line valve can be installed in ANY position - (vertical, horizontal, upside down) at least that's what we were taught and what we have seen - the valve is spring loaded. In a fire a lead core melts at 165 degF and a spring in the valve assembly snaps the valve shut to assure that the heating system does not feed oil to a building fire. It has to work in any orientation.

At least three companies produce fusible-link inline oil safety valves (OSVs): ISP Automation (Firematic) [1], Asco Products (Emerson Industrial) [2], and a vacuum-activated OSV from Webster Fuel Pumps & Valves [3].

Watch out: A simple oil line shutoff valve may not be a fusible-link safety valve. The simple shutoff valve might be any plumbing valve that can manually stop oil flow in the line, but it is not a safety device.

Make sure you've installed a fusible-link safety valve at each location where it's most needed - at each oil burner. Even when one of these valves is installed at the oil tank the proper place for this protection is on the fuel oil supply line right at the burner as well. Why?

In the event of a fire, if the return oil line valve closes before the supply line oil valve your oil burner pump may burst the oil line or it may cause a fuel pump gasket or seal to fail, leading to uncontrolled oil flow and perhaps worse, spray heating oil everywhere, possibly feeding the building fire. Thanks to Dave Ferris for this fire safety tip and thanks to reader Rick Johnston for adding clarification. (Note that not oil burners use both an oil supply and oil return line between the oil tank and oil burner.)

Suntec points out in their installation literature for fuel units (oil pumps for oil burners) that pressures over 10 psi on an oil inlet line (normally running at a vacuum) may damage the shaft seal on the pump - i.e., leak heating oil.

SAFETY warning: If the oil line fire safety valves are missing or are not at the right location, we recommend immediate installation of a Fire-o-matic™ type oil line safety valve on the oil line at the burner.

Oil burner oil line switch (C) Daniel Friedman

Oil tank drain valve leak (C) Daniel Friedman

Recommended (red arrow, photo above left): an automatic oil line shutoff valve on the oil supply line right at each and every individual oil burner: (a type that will shut off oil supply to the heating equipment in the event of a fire, such as a Fire-o-Matic™ valve) is shown in our photo at left.

By every oil burner, we mean for example that if your heating system and also your hot water heater each has its own oil burner then each burner should have an oil safety valve. (As in our photo above left).
Oil-Tank-Only Valves are Not Recommended: A common but poor practice is to install an oil valve just at the oil tank or perhaps installing a single oil safety valve at the oil burner for the heating boiler but omitting the oil safety valve for the oil fired water heater in the same building.
A second oil line shutoff valve on the oil supply line at the oil tank (photo above right) is ok as long as you 've also provided the first oil safety valve at the oil burner(s). Some service techs install a second oil safety valve at the oil tank or at another remote location away from the oil burner, such as at the building wall where an outdoor oil tank line enters the building, or right at the oil tank (photo at above right - this oil tank valve is leaking).

This second valve is helpful if it becomes necessary to replace the oil line between oil tank and oil burner. Although our photo above shows a fusible link oil valve at the oil tank, the oil line shutoff valve at the oil tank or at a location remote from the oil burner or other more likely fire sources can be a normal plumbing stop valve.

Fire Safety for Two-Line Oil Piping Systems

Watch out: If two oil lines are used to supply an oil burner, Do NOT install an automatic oil line shutoff on the return oil line between the oil burner and the oil tank.

Use a check valve instead. The automatic oil line shutoff valve should only be present on the oil supply line. Further explanation is below.

Our photo (left, red arrow) illustrates this hazard: you will see fusible link safety valves on both the oil feeder line (blue arrow, left side of photo before the oil filter canister) and the oil return line (red arrow, right side of the photograph).

SAFETY WARNING: If oil line valves are missing or are not at the right location there is risk of system malfunction, oil leaks, and fire damage.

We recommend installation of a Firematic™ fusible link (Fire-o-matic)™ type oil line safety valve on the oil line at the burner. This valve controls flow of fuel oil to the burner, and has a lead core which melts and shuts the valve, stopping the flow of oil in event of a fire in the building.

Even when a fusible link oil line valve is installed at the oil tank, the proper place for this protection is right at the burner as well. A valve in that location also makes servicing the heating equipment easier, faster, and cleaner.

Guide to Vacuum-Activated Oil Safety Valves, OSVs & PRVs

How are vacuum type OSVs different from fusible link OSVs?

Most residential heating equipment is supplied by oil piping that moves to from oil tank to oil burner by gravity (above ground oil storage tanks) and that is under negative pressure (a vacuum) when the oil burner is running: the oil burner fuel unit is pulling oil from the tank to the burner. Typically a spring-loaded fusible-link oil safety valve such as the Fireomatic type is used on those systems.

Vacuum-activated Webster OSV valves provide protection for pressurized oil line piping systems that may be found on central heating oil supply systems for multiple mobile homes, on commercial heating systems and at other installations in which a stand-alone heating oil supply pump is delivering oil to the equipment. Webster provides instructions for OSV use on both conventional gravity-fed oil fired heating equipment and pump-fed oil fired heating equipment.

Vacuum Operated Oil Safety Valves Protect Against Oil Spills

Webster's vacuum-activated OSVs provide protection against oil spills by preventing oil siphoning out of the oil tank should there be a break or leak in the oil piping between the oil tank and the oil burner(s). These valves are used with oil supply pump or booster pump systems and they also protect against excessive oil pressure at the oil burner inlet. Quoting Webster [4],

The OSV® valve will not open during fuel unit operation if there is any air leak in the the system between OSV® and burner that prevents development of the operational vacuum required.

Where to Install Vacuum Operated Oil Safety Valves OSVs

For vacuum-operated OSVs, unlike fusible link OSVs, an OSV device is installed not at the oil burner (since this is not a heat-activated fusible link device) but rather close to the oil tank, and an individual OSV and oil feed line is provided from the tank to each heating appliance. [Webster's sketch, above-left.] In the illustration shown above left (courtesy Webster Fuel Pumps & Valves [3].) the OSVs are at the oil tank and additional service shut-off valves are at the individual oil burners.

Watch out: Webster's instructions for OSVs include this warning:

Do not mount the oil safety valve more than three feet above the lowest point in the fuel pump inlet [in most residential cases this means the oil burner fuel unit], nor more than three feet above the lowest point in the fuel line connecting the OSV to the burner fuel pump. In-line mounting with the burner fuel pump inlet is recommended.

Failure to observe the above caution may result in siphoning action in the event of failure of the fuel line between the burner fuel pump and the OSV. [3]

Suntech's PRV Valves are OSVs that Prevent Oil Flow or Leaks When the Oil Burner is Not Running

The following description is adapted, parapthrased, and expanded from Suntec Industries information.[9]

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.

Why is a PRV valve installed? Suppose you have a large, above-ground oil storage tank at a facility, and that a leak occurs in the oil piping between the tank and the oil burner. Even if the oil line was cut entirely, the PRV valve will keep oil in the tank. In essence, the PRV valve is an oil leak and spill preventer.

PRV Installation & Use Recommendations

PRV Valves are installed as close to the oil tank as possible. And no, we don't usually find a PRV valve installed on residential heating systems. The PRV is mounted with its cap "down" if it's in an area exposed to moisture, to keep moisture out of the valve body. But it will work just fine in any orientation. Suntec's installation instructions for PRVs recommend that the valve be protected by a system filter.

If the PRV is used in a centralized oil supply system that is supplying fuel to multiple heating appliances, or if you are installilng the valve on a system that uses oil flow booster pumps, each oil burner should have its own PRV valve, as Suntec explains, to insure against high system pressures.

When installing a PRV or other valves and controls on oil fired heating equipment, do not use teflon tape. The worry is that a fragment of tape enters the system where it can clog a check valve or injure a device. Instead use a non-hardening pipe dope. We use a non-hardening version of blue LeakLok that works very well on oil fired equipment.

When you are priming an oil fired heating appliance, that is, bleeding air out of the lines, you can speed the process by pressing down on an exposed stem to hold the valve in an open position. We need this feature because the fuel unit does not pull such a strong vacuum on the oil line if the line is full of air (such as at a new installation).

PRV valves and No-Heat Calls

If there is an air leak in the piping system anywhere between the PRV valve and the oil burner, and if the air leak is big enough to prevent the burner from pulling enough vacuum to open the PRV, the PRV will remain shut, no oil will flow, and the burner will of course not operate.

You can test for this condition by pressing the prime button described above and checking for oil flow. A pressure gauge installed on the system can also be used to monitor for leaks (can the system hold a vacuum when the fuel unit shuts off?). We discuss pressure testing oil lines in the article above where we discuss Oil Safety Valves. You can also pressure test the oil lines under positive pressure.

Where do we Put the Check Valve on a Heating Oil Line?

If two oil lines are used to supply an oil burner, install a fusible link oil line shutoff valve only on the oil supply line at the oil pump on the oil burner. Do NOT install an automatic oil line shutoff on the return oil line between the oil burner and the oil tank.

Use a check valve instead. Check valves like this one permit oil to flow just in one direction. They do not close down in event of a fire. Installed on the oil return line a check valve permits oil to flow from the oil pump back to the oil tank. This makes service easier since we won't spill oil backwards out of the return line when working on the oil burner.

Check valves suitable for placement on the oil return line are available from various oil heat equipment producers including Webster.

Oil line check valve (C) Daniel Friedman
The valve shown at left should not be used as a check valve in the application we just discussed. This is a Webster OSV & requires a vacuum to open.

If installed in the return line the valve would be pressurized, not open, cause the shaft seal to rupture or blow out & result in a major oil leak. Thanks to reader Rick Johnston for adding clarification.

Where do I Install a Tigerloop™ or similar oil line de-aerator/prime-protection device?

Watch out: Tigerloop™ warns that you should never install an oil line shutoff device between the de-aerator device and the oil pump.

Or as reader T.R. clarifies: ... I've been reading about TigerLoop oil fuel line de-aerators. When they are used, the manufacturer recommends that the fusible valve near the burner be attached at the inlet of their de-aeration device.

Details about this device are found at Tigerloop and other Oil Line Devices to Maintain Prime and Simplify Oil Piping

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about Oil Safety Valves on Heating Equipment

Question: What is the position of the valve stem when a Fire-o-Matic type fusible-link oil safety valve is OFF (closed) nd ON (open)?

Fusible link oil line valve (C) Daniel Friedman Can you tell me what position the stem should be in to use the valve as a manual shutoff—when the handle is turned to screw the stem IN the handle comes off as the stem goes into the valve body—when the handle is turned to move the stem out of the body it reaches end of travel with ~1/4’ of stem exposed—I want to shut the valve to change the filter feeding the furnace - Thanks S.N.

Reply: Fusible-link oil line valves such as the Fire-o-Matic valve work opposite from usual plumbing valves

These oil line control and safety valves work backwards from what you'd expect and backwards from ordinary plumbing stop valves. The turning directions to open or close an oil line safety valve are opposite to usual water plumbing system valves.

Turn the oil line valve clockwise (left to right) to open heating oil fuel flow. [This is opposite from usual plumbing shutoff valves]
Turn the Firematic type valve counter-clockwise (right to left) to close the valve and stop oil flow.

Watch out: if the control valve on a heating oil line is not a fusible-link safety valve such as the Fire-o-Matic™, it will probably be an ordinary plumbing stop valve that works as all plumbing valves: clockwise closes those valves and counter-clockwise opens them. Sometimes we find a common stop valve on the oil line at the oil tank and a fusible-link safety valve just at each oil burner.

Details About Fusible Link Oil Line Valve Turning Directions to Open & Close the Valve

Oil Line Valve Open Position:

An internal spring pressure, combined with a fusible link in the valve stem are what shut the oil line valve in event of a fire.

As you turn the handle on the oil piping safety valve clockwise you will feel increasing spring tension as you are opening the valve (lifting the stem out of the valve body) against the spring pressure.

When the valve is fully open to permit fuel flow, the valve stem is "all the way out" of the valve body and the valve is being pushed-on by the internal spring. In this position the valve's knob has been turned clockwise, all the way down against the body of the valve.

When this oil line fusible-link valve is completely open to heating oil fuel flow, the valve stem is screwed all the way up "out" of the valve body. As you turn the valve knob clockwise you'll feel it moving against the internal valve spring pressure and you will see the valve stem moving up and out through the center of the oil valve knob.

Oil Line Valve Closed Position:

When the oil safety valve handle is screwed all the counter-clockwise (right to left) the valve handle will become loose and the valve internal components will be in the closed position - heating oil fuel will not flow.

As you turn the oil valve knob counter-clockwise you will see the valve stem move back into the valve body and you will feel the spring tension on the device lessen.

For the last few counter-clockwise turns on the valve stem/screw you should feel a complete release of tension of the spring mentioned just above and if you keep turning the valve knob counter-clockwise it will unscrew and come off. Don't panic if this happens. The threaded portion of the valve stem protrudes up through the valve body and you can simply screw the knob back on.

Summary of Oil Line Control Valve Open & Closed Positions

Put another way: if you turn the oil line valve until the handle begins to come off, the valve is in the CLOSED position. You will see that at this point you have removed all tension against the valve's internal spring and the spring has pushed the valve shut or closed. The valve stem has moved into the valve body.

If you turn the valve against its spring tension the valve is in its OPEN position. You will see that in this position you have turned the valve against its spring tension - the spring tension is increased - and the valve is open. The valve stem has moved out of the valve body.

We discuss using this valve for service to shut off the oil supply in our article on heating fuel oil filters found at OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT where during heating equipment oil filter servicing the valve is used to close and later open the oil line feeding the oil burner.

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about oil heating control valves & fusible link oil safety valves (OSVs)

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.

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.

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. We provide an article series that explains the installation & use of Fusible Link Oil Safety Valves (immediately below), Vacuum-Activated Oil Safety Valves, OSVs & PRVs, Check Valves on Heating Oil Lines, and Tigerloop™ or similar oil line de-aerator/prime-protection devices. Oil delay valves, also called quick-stop valves and also referred to as oil safety valves, are discussed separately at OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES.

Check Valves on Oil Lines

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.

Fusible Link Oil Line Valves

Fusible link oil safety valves 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. Details are at OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES.

Quick Stop & Oil Delay Valves - OSVs.

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.

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

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OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

OIL LINE QUICK STOP VALVES
OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES

[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
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
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.

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

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Above Ground Oil Tanks Checklist, an Oil Company's advice
Above Ground Tanks UL Standards, UL Tank Listing Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
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Environmental Issues & Regulations for Oil Tanks, Registration, Abandonment, Leak Reporting
Home Inspection Report Language Library: Buried Oil Tanks, Basic home buyer advice - home inspection report language suggestions
Home Inspection Report Language Library: Visible Defects in Oil Tank Installations, Tanks, and Heating Oil Piping
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Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - Advice for Home Owners or Buyers: caused of leaks in oil tanks, oil tank testing alternatives, what to do about leaky tanks: D.J. Friedman, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.2 No.1, Winter, 1992 p. 42-43 Illus
Leak or Failure Rates for Home Heating Oil Tanks
Legal Issues Regarding Buried Oil Storage Tanks K.S. Rea, Attorney, summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
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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OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES - Oil Tank Failure Causes - oil tank leaks are caused by corrosion, damage, soil conditions, other factors
TANK FAILURE RATES - Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors
OIL TANK TESTING - How Oil Tanks are Tested for Evidence Leaks, of Current or Previous Oil Spills
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How & Where do We Install a Fusible-Link Firematic™ Type Oil Safety Valve?

Guide to Fusible-Link Oil Safety Valves (OSVs)

Fire Safety for Two-Line Oil Piping Systems

Guide to Vacuum-Activated Oil Safety Valves, OSVs & PRVs

How are vacuum type OSVs different from fusible link OSVs?

Vacuum Operated Oil Safety Valves Protect Against Oil Spills

Where to Install Vacuum Operated Oil Safety Valves OSVs

Suntech's PRV Valves are OSVs that Prevent Oil Flow or Leaks When the Oil Burner is Not Running

PRV Installation & Use Recommendations

PRV valves and No-Heat Calls

Where do we Put the Check Valve on a Heating Oil Line?

Where do I Install a Tigerloop™ or similar oil line de-aerator/prime-protection device?

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about Oil Safety Valves on Heating Equipment

Question: What is the position of the valve stem when a Fire-o-Matic type fusible-link oil safety valve is OFF (closed) nd ON (open)?

Reply: Fusible-link oil line valves such as the Fire-o-Matic valve work opposite from usual plumbing valves

Details About Fusible Link Oil Line Valve Turning Directions to Open & Close the Valve

Oil Line Valve Open Position:

Oil Line Valve Closed Position:

Summary of Oil Line Control Valve Open & Closed Positions

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about oil heating control valves & fusible link oil safety valves (OSVs)

Question: Freeing up a stuck oil line control valve?

Reply:

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

Fusible Link Oil Line Valves

Quick Stop & Oil Delay Valves - OSVs.

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

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