Guide to Heating Oil Fill, Vent, & Oil Burner Feed Piping Defects & Leaks
- Heating oil storage tank fill & vent piping errors, leaks, defects
- Defects Found in Heating Oil Piping Between the Oil Tank & the Oil Burner
- Heating oil piping leaks, loss of heat, oil burner puffback causes
- Heating oil tank fill and vent pipe requirements
- Heating Oil Line Leaks - Oil Line leaks found - can lead to oil heat system puffback and loss of heat - how to protect heating oil lines from damage, kinks, punctures
- Common Heating Oil Leak Points at the Heating oil piping. How to protect the heating oil line from mechanical damage, kinks, abrasion, corrosion, or punctures from screws & nails.
- Single Heating Oil Line on a Buried Oil Storage Tank - Single oil line on buried oil tank risks lost prime, no heat
- Heat Tape Fire Hazards on Heating Oil Storage Tanks or Piping May Be a Fire Hazard
- Heating Oil System Filter Omitted - No Oil Filter Installed on Oil Fired Equipment
- Where should oil line fire safety valves and check valves be located?
- How to de-clog a blocked heating oil line pipe or tubing
- Questions & Answers about leaks or installation problems in heating oil piping for oil-fired heating equipment & water heaters
- References
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Causes & locations of heating oil leaks in heating oil piping, fittings, oil filters, oil burners: this oil burner fuel piping article describes defects in heating oil piping, filters, safety valves, and oil tank fill and vent piping. All of these oil storage tank and piping installation defects can easily be found by visual inspection. We include considerations of oil pipe leaks out (fuel oil leaks), oil piping leaks in (air in the system), clogged, damaged, noisy, or mis-routed fuel oil piping, and oil fill and vent piping size and location requirements. We also discuss the need for and location for heating oil or fuel oil filters and safety valves. Beyond the costly problem of leaky oil piping, this document lists other important safety or
oil-fired equipment operational defects in home and light commercial heating oil storage and piping systems.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Heating Oil Fill, Vent, & Piping Leaks & Defects: How to Find, Fix, or Report Oil Piping Defects by Visual Inspection
If your heating appliance fuel is LP gas or natural gas, see GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS.
Why is this heating oil delivery operator leaning with his ear next to the vent pipe on this building during a fuel delivery? And why is he standing on a ladder? These are examples of topics we explain in this article.
In addition to explaining and illustrating common defects in heating oil piping at the oil tank and between the oil tank and the oil burner, we also include sample home inspection report language that may assist home owners or home buyers in understanding
risks associated with both buried and above ground oil or other fuel storage tanks at their property.
A Maryland study found that more than 80% of petroleum product storage tank leaks occurred in the piping system, not the tank itself, and that leaks were not correlated with age of the storage tank and piping.[3]
Proper oil tank and oil piping inspection report language explains the need for action and indicates where
more information can be obtained. Also see text and oil tank defect photographs at Visual Inspection of Oil Storage Tanks.
NOTICE: while example report language is provided here, reproduction of this or any of our web pages or their contents online at other websites
or in printed documents for sale is prohibited. Readers are welcome to use the text directly in home inspection reports, with citation of the InspectAPedia website source.
Undersized Heating Oil Fill or Vent Pipes risk oil tank leaks or damage
As Carson Dunlop's sketch shows, oil filler or vent piping that is too small can result in too much pressure in the oil tank during filling, resulting in a burst oil tank and serious oil leakage.
Oil tanks are usually filled under pressure (not by gravity like your car). We also do not like to see plastic oil piping used for these applications, out of concern that it may be broken, leading to a serious oil spill.
More about oil tank fill & vent pipes is at OIL FILL & VENT PIPING. And see OIL TANK PRESSURE for a detailed explanation.
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Heating oil storage tank fill & vent pipes too far apart risks over pressurized tank, oil leaks
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Carson Dunlop's sketch at left shows typical oil fill and vent piping details for an oil tank installed inside of a building. Usually these pipes are located together and against the building wall.
Sometimes we see that the oil filler pipe for an outdoor buried oil tank will be directly over the tank (and perhaps too close to ground level to keep water out), while the installer may have placed the vent pipe some distance away, against the building wall.
This may have seemed to be a neat job for the installer, but you should know that the oil delivery driver listens to the oil vent pipe to hear when the oil tank has been filled. Placing the vent line too far from the oil tank fill line is risky.
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Heating Oil Fill & Vent Pipes Located Too High on the Wall Make Delivery Difficult & Risk Leaks & Spills
The fill & vent piping for an oil tank should be located at a convenient height above ground that is neither too low (our previous example above) nor too high to permit the oil delivery operator to reach the fill pipe and listen at the vent pipe.
In our photo the driver from Bottini Fuel (Poughkeepsie NY) is standing on a ladder we left next to a large rock, both placed to permit the operator to both reach the fill pipe and listen closely at the vent pipe to determine when the oil tank (not in view) is filled.
Making it easy for the driver to listen to the fill alarm or vent pipe reduces the chances of seepage, over-filling, or leaks at the oil tank.
At the property shown, renovations lowered the ground level by about 24", making this fill & vent pipe a bit height. This driver told us he has been delivering oil to this property for a decade, so he's quite good natured about stepping up to the piping using the rock or ladder. But a heating oil delivery person does not carry a ladder on the oil truck, nor is s/he obligated to dig around in the property owner's stuff to find something to stand on. Making the driver perform extra tasks adds time and trouble to a job whose performance is often measured by the oil company in the number of deliveries accomplished in the day.
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Improper oil fill or vent piping, missing cap, wrong fittings risk water leaks into outdoor or buried oil tanks
Heating Oil Tank Fill or Vent Pipe Caps Lost or Clogged
As Carson Dunlop's sketch shows (above left) and as we show in Arlene Puentes' photo (above right), you are asking for water in the heating oil tank or insects clogging the fill or vent line (probably the vent line) if the caps have been lost from these pipes.
We've been informed of oil tank fill difficulties (perhaps even leading to a burst or oil tank leak) when insects clogged the oil tank vent pipe.
If the screen is lost from your oil tank vent pipe be sure to replace it to keep the wasps and mud-daubers out of this line. And be sure the screen on the oil tank vent pipe has not been blocked by painting over it - as we explain at OIL TANK PRESSURE for an explanation. this can cause an oil tank leak during an oil delivery.
No Heating Oil Tank Vent Pipe or Blocked Oil Tank Vent Pipe
Be sure that you can find a proper oil tank vent pipe. On occasion we find that a filler pipe was installed but no vent pipe was run outside. Improper oil tank venting such as no tank vent at all, a too-small oil tank vent, or a vent which is improperly installed, routed, or has become blocked, can cause a catastrophic oil spill in a building or outdoors at a buried tank. See OIL TANK PRESSURE for an explanation.
Oil fumes and even heating oil may spill into the building. The tank should be
vented to outside to avoid dumping noxious and possibly combustible or obnoxious fumes into
the living area.
Outside Exposed Oil Storage Tank Fill or Vent Pipe Admit Water
Check to see if the oil tank fill pipe is in a location where roof drainage may fall directly on or into it.
Water in an oil tank can lead to loss of heat and costly related damage from that condition or
it can accelerate rust and corrosion from inside the oil tank, leading to oil leaks and a costly
environmental cleanup. The tank should be tested for the amount of water in it and if in question,
it should be tested for leaks. And protect the fill pipe and vent from water entry. Details are at
OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION
Oil Tank Fill or Vent Pipe Not Sealed at Wall - Oil Tank - Caulk pipe entrances
You should caulk the opening where tank supply and vent pipes
penetrate the house wall, to prevent pest or water entry at this point. This is
an inexpensive item. This repair/maintenance item may be deferred.
Sources of Leaks & Other Defects Found in Heating Oil Piping Between the Oil Tank & the Oil Burner
OIL LINE EXPOSED - Oil Line Exposed to Damage
Most leaks that occur in the copper piping used to carry heating oil between the oil storage tank and the oil burner occur due to
- Loose or improperly made flare fittings or other fittings
- Mechanical damage: an exposed heating oil line that has been stepped-on, bent, or kinked or otherwise exposed to mechanical damage, or on rare occasions, a nail or screw puncture of a hidden heating oil line.
A kinked oil line, or one that is actually punctured, means an indoor oil leak, possibly a catastrophic one, and earlier than that it risks air leaks into the heating oil system, improper operation, loss of heat, or a puffback.
Routing a heating oil delivery line, typically flexible copper tubing, across a basement or crawl space floor invites damage and leaks from people walking (or crawling) in the area.
- Corrosion: corrosion due to contact of the copper heating oil tubing with a wet corrosive surface such as concrete or concrete block. Corrosion leaks may be traced to
- Corroded oil piping fittings (threads exposed to greater corrosion than surrounding piping), or due to fittings of dissimilar materials (GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION)[3]
- Corroded heating oil piping, pitting of the tubing.[3] Pitting that is found in only a single section of continuous (one piece, no joints) oil piping is probably due to local conditions such as exposure to a spill, a corrosive material, or contact with a surface causing corrosion such as galvanic scale corrosion. Pitting in copper oil lines that is found along the entire length of the piping, especially if the piping route includes both above and below ground or other varying contact surfaces, is more likely due to use of a lower grade material or material with maufacturing defects.
- Abandoned oil piping that has not been properly capped or sealed. Our photo at above left illustrates both exposed heating oil piping and water leaks at a basement floor.
Our photo at left shows how we often find "abandoned" UST oil tank piping - the technician cut off the underground oil tank supply and return lines at the building foundation wall.
Then s/he simply bent the oil line over and pounded it flat.
Actually this "abandonement" of an oil tank line may be fine if the oil tank piping was also cut off and removed at the outside of the foundation wall as well.
But if the outside tank and piping were left in place and not all was removed, this is another potential oil leak point.
How to Protect Heating Oil Flexible Copper Piping From Damage & Leaks
Check to see if the the oil lines are exposed atop the floor where they can be stepped-on. These flexible copper lines can be easily damaged, causing loss of heat or dangerous leaks.
But even running a heating oil line around the perimeter of a building has risks if the tubing is not protected. For example running heating oil tubing where a finish floor baseboard or paneling are to be installed risks having the tubing punctured by someone driving a nail or drywall screw.
Where heating oil delivery piping or tubing runs through building walls or at the wall/floor juncture it should be protected from damage. [In a high risk area you can use black iron / steel piping (not commonly done).]
If in new construction the oil piping is run through the center of 2x4 or 2x6 wall studs, it's rather protected from drywalls screws or nails, but if the tubing is near the surface of the stud at either side (inside or the outside wall) it should be protected from nail punctures by using the same steel plates that are used to protect electrical wiring.
The heating oil piping lines should be protected by means approved by your heating service professional. This should be an inexpensive to correct unless you need to install a whole new oil line.
Our photo (above/left) shows the use of steel plates to protect an air conditioner condensate line (horizontal white plastic tubing at photo center) as well as the black insulated copper refrigerant tubing run in the building wall.
Do the same thing if oil piping lines are run in such a location.
Usually, however, we run heating oil delivery lines, flexible copper tubing, where it can be seen, and at the wall/floor juncture of a basement, crawl space, or garage, between the oil tank and the oil burner.
When we had the new flexible copper oil piping installed as shown in our photo, left, we opted for larger 1/2" ID tubing that was purchased including a heavy plastic protective jacket.
This coating helps protect the copper oil line from damage from being in contact with a concrete garage floor (abrasion, corrosion) and makes it a little more resistant to impact damage.
Photos above & below and left courtesy of Galow Homes.
But this copper piping could certainly be punctured should someone drive a nail through a floor/wall baseboard trim.
Therefore when the trim boards were being installed in this location (we used treated lumber because it's a garage exposed to water and snow-melt from vehicles), we insisted that the baseboard be held off the floor, and we personally drove each nail with great care to be dead certain that it was being driven several inches higher than the route of the oil piping that ran along the floor.
In our photo (left) the left-side wall/floor baseboard trim covers the flexible copper heating oil tubing. We stopped the drywall just above the tubing as well so that we could install the baseboard trim flush with the drywall. But each nail was driven only in the top of the floor trim (red circles).
In the right side of the photo you can see how we handled a corner turn for the tubing - we didn't want to install a 90 degree fitting, avoiding just one more place for a possible leak, and you can't bend this tubing at a sharp 90 so it had to come out from the wall a bit. Keeping this oil line tubing in view also reduces the risk that some future renovator will be unaware that it is there.
The problem with a nail-punctured heating oil line is more likely to occur when the contractor installing baseboard trim along a floor is not someone who installed the copper oil supply line and does not even know it is there. The risk is greater if the copper piping is hidden from view.
SINGLE HIGH OIL LINE - Oil Line Problem: single line routed high may lose prime
SERVICE NOTE: if an oil burner's fuel unit is served by a single line from a buried oil tank, or if the oil line is routed from even an indoor heating oil tank up high beneath the ceiling and back down to the oil burner, in some circumstances this installation may tend to lose prime in oil piping system, become air locked, or these events can lead to loss of heat and possible damage to the building from frozen pipes.
This problem occurs commonly if the oil tank is remote and buried (oil burner pumps don't have much lift capacity), or when an indoor tank is very low on oil. You should review this installation
detail with your service person.
See our discussion of check valves and the Tigerloop™ product and also see OIL TANK PRESSURE for alternatives to conversion of a single line to a two line oil supply piping system.
Heating Oil Line Leaks - Oil Line leaks found - can lead to oil heat system puffback and loss of heat
Watch out: leaks in heating oil appliance piping or filters can be much more serious than just a drip spot on the floor. The same leak that allows oil to drip out of the oil filter or piping connections allows air to be drawn into the system when the oil fuel unit (oil pump for the water heater, oil fired boiler or furnace) is running. That air leak into the system results in improper oil burner operation, soot clogging, and even a loud bang at oil burner start-up or worse, a dangerous puffback.
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Example of inspection report where leaks or drips are found in heating oil piping:
Caution: we saw a possible oil line leak:
... wet oily sections of piping at
... oil stains on the floor at
...
Oil leaks may be hazardous and also, as air may be drawn into the oil line when
the fuel unit is pumping, they can lead to improper system operation and even
loss of heat in the building.
It may come as a surprise but drawing air into the oil burner from a leak in the oil line can leave an air bubble in the oil burner nozzle. When the oil burner shuts down the pressure inside the nozzle area drops from 100 psi or more down to ambient pressure of just a few pounds.
The reduction in pressure causes that little air bubble to expand, pushing extra oil out of the oil burner nozzle where it dribbles into the oil heating system boiler or furnace combustion chamber. The next time the oil burner starts-up this un-burned oil residue forms a mini explosion - you may hear a sort of "bang" when the oil burner starts. This malfunction can lead to a serious puff back blowing soot into the home, or worse. This is an unsafe condition caused by what looks like a tiny innocent drip such as the one we show in our photo above.
This item should be checked/corrected by your
service person promptly.
Heating Oil Leaks in the Heating Oil Line at the Oil Filter
At OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT we described changing the oil filter as part of oil burner maintenance. And there we warned about leaks in piping fittings at the burner and we give a detailed description of exactly why and how leaks occur at the heating oil filter. at the oil filter canister assembly. An except is below.
Oil piping leak at the copper piping flare fitting
As we explained earlier in this article, and as we elaborate at OIL BURNER INSPECTION & REPAIR, oil leaks in the oil piping and filter system can not only spill oil, but can lead to loss of heat, improper oil burner operation and even a puffback.
At left we illustrate an active oil leak at a flare fitting. We don't know without further investigation if this leak is because the flare nut is loose or if it's because the copper flare was cracked or improperly made, or finally, if it's because of a notch or scratch on the brass mating surface of the flare.
Try gently tightening the fitting and then clean it thoroughly and check for leaks. |
Single Heating Oil Line on a Buried Oil Storage Tank - Single oil line on buried oil tank risks lost prime, no heat
A single oil line was found coming from tank to oil burner.
Recommended practice is use of two pipes, for several reasons: avoiding loss of
prime, providing alternate pipe if supply pipe clogs, and reducing the lift
load on the pump.
Note: some experts recommend that the fire-safety valve for these systems be
installed ONLY on the supply line, with only a simple check valve on the
return line. This procedure reduces the risk of burst gasket at the oil pump
and spray of heating oil into an existing fire should a valve on the return
line close before the valve on the supply line during a fire.
DUAL HEATING FUEL OIL LINE - improper installation of oil line shutoff valves
On oil fired heating equipment systems that use an open loop oil piping system or dual oil line piping arrangement (such as used with buried oil tanks and at other installations where the oil burner fuel unit may otherwise lack adequate lift and pumping capacity), the fusible-link type heating oil line shutoff/safety valve should be located only on the oil supply line at the oil burner.
At above left we illustrate a typical dual oil line piping arrangement exiting at the top of an oil storage tank. Notice incidentally that under-sized takn vent line in the upper right ofthe phtoto. Our dual line oil piping hookup photo at above right llustrates at least one thing right: there is a fusible link shutoff valve only on the incoming oil line and not on the return line.
We'd like to see a check valve on the return line, and a cleaner site. Heating service techs are accustomed to having to work in cramped dirty locations, but the tighter and nastier the space, the more difficult the job becomes, and the less time anyone wants to spend doing it.
Often the result is "deferred maintenance" - the heating equipment is simply not properly maintained at all.
Do not install a second fusible-link fire safety valve (OSV) shutoff-valve on the return oil line. Use a check valve instead. Details are at DUAL OIL LINE 2 VALVES
OIL LINE SHUTOFF VALVE - missing or improper location
The proper location for the oil line shutoff valve with a fusible link (Fire-o-Matic™ type valves) is just before the oil filter and close to each individual oil burner. Details about oil line valve installation and operation are at OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES.
Heat Tape Fire Hazards on Heating Oil Storage Tanks or Piping May Be a Fire Hazard
 As we cited at OIL TANK INSPECTION REPORTS, outside above ground heating oil storage tanks in cold climates are exposed to jelling of the heating fuel. On these systems the oil piping is sometimes fitted with
a heating tape in an attempt to avoid freeze-up in the oil line itself. This is a potential fire hazard.
Heat tapes should not be used on heating oil lines.
See FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING where we describe GFCI protection on heat tape circuits powering heat tapes for manufactured and mobile homes.
Similar issues regarding building water entry control are discussed at Sump Pump Inspection.
Also see Testing Receptacles GFCIs AFCIs. AFCI's are discussed at AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS. Readers should also see HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams where we describe outdoor use of heating tapes and de-icing cables to prevent ice dam leaks into buildings.
Safety Recommendation: unless the heating tape is specifically designed for the purpose and is protected against short circuits, do not use electric heat tapes to keep fuel oil lines from
plugging during cold weather. Such measures are an obvious fire hazard.
Watch out: as we explain at Heat Tape Guide, some models of heat tapes used for freeze protection can cause a building fire if the tapes are not installed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, particularly if the tape crosses over itself.
 As Ryan Duffy points out, connecting the heat tape to a GFCI-protected circuit can substantially reduce the risk of heat tape fires. However if the GFCI-protected heat tape circuit trips-off during typical current leakage conditions and without drawing attention of the building occupants, the risk of freeze damaged piping, leaks, water damage, and mold damage will be increased.
The US CPSC recommended in 1994 that HUD consider dropping its no-GFCI-on-Heat-Tape-Circuit provision, and that heat tape powering electrical circuits be be protected with a GFCI device in the electrical panel rather than at the electrical receptacle or "outlet".
Ground fault protection was first required in the 1987 NEC for heat tapes that did not have a metal covering. In 1996/1999 the NEC expanded the requirements for GFCI protection and specified that mobile homes would have at least one heat tape receptacle.
[A significant number of heat tape-related fires occurred in mobile and manufactured homes.]
See FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING where we describe GFCI protection on heat tape circuits powering heat tapes for manufactured and mobile homes. Similar issues regarding building water entry control are discussed at Sump Pump Inspection. Also see Testing Receptacles GFCIs AFCIs. AFCI's are discussed at AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS.
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Heating Oil System Filter Omitted - No Oil Filter Installed on Oil Fired Equipment
Details about heating equipment oil filters are found at OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT. Excerpts are below.
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If we do not find a heating oil filter installed on the system this is a defect that risks loss of heat.
Most modern oil heating equipment will have an oil filter installed, such as the one shown in our photo at left.
Notice that there's a heating oil leak below the connection to the filter outlet? This leak will suck air into the oil burner when it's running, leading to improper and possibly unsafe operation, risking a puffback.
Unless you find or the owner can point out a filter already in place, we recommend
installation of one - to be located at or very near the burner and "downstream"
of a fire-o-matic safety shutoff valve to permit easy service. Failure to
provide adequate filtering may lead to loss of heat and subsequent damage to
the building. |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about troubleshooting & clogged or leaky heating oil appliance piping & oil piping connections
Question: how to get the heating oil line flowing after hurricane & flood damage
I am having problems restarting the water heater ever since hurricane irene slammed into New Jersey and my basement flooded. We changed the motor and oil filter, but are having problems getting oil to feed through the lines I was wondering if there were suggestions. - Antoinette
Reply: Guide to How to clear or un-block a clogged heating oil line by CO2 blasting, filter changeout, or oil line replacement
Antionette,
When an oil fired water heater has been flooded, such as by hurricane Irene, there are a number of concerns that need to be addressed. You have taken two obvious steps by changing parts (motor and oil filter) but I can add a few suggestions that might help:
Oil lines can become blocked with sludge, silt, mud, even water if the lines are open to the flooding environment. Normally an oil line between the oil tank and oil burner, say at a water heater, is always full of fuel oil, and sealed against oil leaks out and air leaks in to the piping system. So dirt or water from outside the system would not easily enter the piping system.
But if the oil tank itself were flooded you might have water and mud or silt and dirt on the tank bottom - if your oil line feeds from the tank bottom all of that crud would enter the oil line. So a further check of the condition of the oil tank is in order.
A buried oil tank should, like the oil piping, be sealed against outside water entry (though in times of area flooding a partially empty oil tank might float-up and break lines or cause leaks).
An above ground oil tank should be ok IF flood waters never rose high enough to enter the oil tank vent or fill piping.
If your oil tank itself checks out as not contaminated with water and dirt, and provided we are sure that the oil burner assembly was itself entirely replaced and that the oil pump (fuel unit) is working properly, and if you are unable to draw oil from the tank, the usual step employed by the service tech is to use a CO2 gas cartridge and special "gun" assembly that connects to the oil line and attempts to "blow out" an obstruction. If you are unable to make the line usable following that procedure, and provided we remain convinced that the line is the culprit, I'd have the service company run a new fuel line between the oil tank and the burner.
I'd also be sure the service tech was following proper procedure for bleeding air out of the oil piping during service restoration.
Also see OIL LINE CLOGGING FIX.
Question: Is it normal practice to pressure test fuel lines when a new boiler has been fitted?
Is it normal practice to pressure test fuel lines when a new boiler has been fitted? We have an outdoor boiler that runs on a 2 pipe system as the storage tank is below the boiler. The lines are buried as the distance between boiler & storage is 15-20 m. We reported a vast increase in oil consumption after installation, would it be the normal course of action to then pressure test 'supply & return' lines? - Mark 5/29/12
Reply: How pressure & vacuum gauges are used on heating oil lines to check for leaks or fuel unit troubles
Mark, it is normal practice to inspect oil piping for leaks at all of its fittings & connections for leaks after a new installation, and there are indeed vacuum measurement tests (not pressure tests) that can be conducted that indicate an air leak into the oil supply line line (or oil leaks out when the fuel unit is not running).
But in my experience oil line vacuum tests are not performed as a matter of course but rather when a problem is under diagnosis, such as improper oil burner operation. And in my experience oil supply & return lines between the oil tank and the oil burner are not pressure tested. As I explain here, pressure testing those lines runs into some practical difficulties.
Similarly, a vacuum gauge installed on the heating oil supply line, often at or near the oil filter assembly, can help diagnose a leak in the supply piping itself.
Unfortunately in a two-pipe system we don't install and cannot use a similar gauge on that second line to check for leaks.
In a two-pipe oil line system, the return line is never under vacuum, only under pressure when excess oil from the fuel unit is cycling back to the oil tank. Because the exit end of that pipe is open into the oil tank, it is not and cannot be "pressure tested" without some diassembly and the fitting of a plug at the line's outlet end.
At OIL PUMP FUEL UNIT we include at Frequently Asked Questions (about fuel units) section that provides a detailed explanation of how to read a pressure gauge on the oil piping system (at the fuel unit) to diagnose a leak or similar problem at the fuel unit.
Question: How frequently do the copper oil lines leak from corrosion or other factors?
Contractor renovating my basement enclosed the fuel oil line (tank to burner) in the walls. Just after having carpet laid, I was reinstalling baseboards and my nail gun made a perfect nail hole in the hidden piping. About 2 qts. oil all sprayed out. I shut off tank valve and ran furnace to use up oil in lines. It will be a massive clean-up and I don't want to have this happen again.
How frequently do the copper lines leak from corrosion or other factors? What are the options to prevent a future leak? - Judy 4/23/12
Reply: Frequency of Heating Oil Piping Leaks by Leak Location, Type, Source, Cause
Judy, statistics on oil tank leaks are discussed at OIL TANK LEAKS & SMELLS. While those data focus on and report leaks as oil tank leaks, actually some of the leaks reported under the aegis of "oil tanks" may actually occur in the oil supply and return piping (on a two pipe system for buried tanks) or on the oil supply line from an above-ground oil tank.
But I have not found studies, reports, nor statistics on the leak occurrence rate in just heating oil piping itself. In my experience, small leaks in the oil piping system are not uncommon. But as leaks in the supply line lead to faulty oil burner operation, ultimately they lead to a diagnosis and repair. (See the previous Q&A about vacuum tests and pressure tests on oil heat piping and on fuel units respectively.)
Oil Piping Leak Report of 0.005 in New England
At OIL TANK FAILURE RATES we include a section on reports of frequency of heating oil piping leaks. You will see that studies found the leakage rate in New England in the U.S. at about five leaks per thousand customers or less, depending on the sub-area in the study.
Oil Tank Leak Report of 40% with 82% due to Oil Piping in Maryland
In a 1986 study Diane H. Heck found leaks in 40% of petroleum fuel tanks (diesel fuel or kerosene K-1, heating oil, waste oil, and gasoline tanks), (n=240). More accurately she reported a 40% leak occurrence rate in oil storage tank installations, because 82% of those leaks were traced to leaks in oil piping![3]
Because gasoline tanks were included in this study, several factors may lead readers to think that a higher proportion of leaks occurred in gasoline storage tanks than in heating oil or kerosene storage tanks. But as we report at OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES that was not the case. Gasoline tanks were responsible for only 26% of all of the leaks found.
Opinion about Probable Percentage of Types of Oil Piping Leaks
My opinion based on field experience repairing heating systems and on field experience as a building inspector of several thousand buildings is that among the leaks that do occur in oil piping systems, they occur in roughly this frequency by type:
- Leaks in oil piping due to a loose, or a poorly-made connection or joint - 80% OR MORE
- Leaks in oil piping due to mechanical damage such as being stepped-on or bent repeatedly or due to a combination of vibration & contact with an abrasive surface - 15 %
- Leaks in oil piping due to abrasion or corrosion leading to a thinning of and ultimately perforation of the piping wall - 5%
- Leaks due to perforation by a nail or screw during construction - less than 1%.
This is because most often the heating oil piping is exposed along a garage or utility area floor or ceiling and is not buried in walls. Certainly if an oil line were to be installed running hidden inside a wall or floor I'd be nervous about including any fittings whatsoever, as it is at the fittings that the leak risk is greater.
In the OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS article above, in a section titled Defects Found in Heating Oil Piping Between the Oil Tank & the Oil Burner, we catalog the types of leaks that occur in oil piping and where they are found. We also describe steps that can be taken t protect oil piping lines from future damage, including a nail puncture such as your oil piping line suffered.
In the Technical Reviewers & References section below we include additional citations on oil piping leak detection & frequency.
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Questions & answers or comments about fuel oil piping for oil-fired heating equipment & water heaters
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- [1] "Fuel Oil Piping and Storage", 2006 Mechanical Code, Chapter 13,
International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Tel: 888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233); Website: iccsafe.org/, Email: webmaster@iccsafe.org, Customer Store (buy publications) 800-786-4452. Also see 2009 International Codes and 2012 International Codes.
- [2] "The application of a continuous leak detection system to pipelines and associated equipment", Sandberg, C.
Raychem Corp., Menlo Park, CA, Holmes, J. ; McCoy, K. ; Koppitsch, H, Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on, Sep/Oct 1989, Vol. 25 No. 5, pp. 906-909, ISSN : 0093-9994 INSPEC Accession Number: 3582593 Digital Object Identifier : 10.1109/28.41257, Abstract:
An overview of classical leak detection systems is given and the engineering basis of a novel type of detector is examined. This system is a flexible hydrocarbon-sensing cable that can be installed along pipelines, in double-containment tanks and piping, or in trenches to detect and locate leaks of common industrial hydrocarbon solvents or fuels while ignoring the presence of water. The simple electrical circuit that locates and detects a leak anywhere along the length of the sensor is also described
- [3] "A Case Study of a Large Scale Precision [oil or fuel] Tank Testing Program", Diane H. Heck, Tetra Tech Richardson, Newark, Delaware, web search 4/27/12, original source: http://info.ngwa.org/GWOL/pdf/870143411.PDF, copy on file as /heating/OIl Tanks UST/Tank_Test_Heck_870143411.pdf Abstract:
In September 1986, a precision tank testing program was started to bring a major Maryland utility into compliance with the State of Maryland Oil Spill Control Regulations regarding underground storage tanks. This program involved the testing of over 240 tanks ranging in size from 300 gallons to 1,500 gallons located throughout the entire state of Maryland.
Analyses of the testing results revealed that 40% of the systems tested leaked. Piping leaks caused 82% of the testing failures and tank leaks caused the remaining 18%. Tank systems located in urban areas experienced a 50% testing failure rate, while tank systems located in rural areas experienced only a 25% failure rate. Leaks in tank systems in urban areas appear to be the result of structural loading and corrosion, affects [effects] absent in rural areas. The age, capacity, and usage of the tanks did not have a role in causing leaks either in the piping or the tank.
- Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
- John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
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:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
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- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
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- Arlene Puentes, an ASHI home inspector in Kingston, NY, contributed the example photograph of an outdoor aboveground oil tank. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
- Audels Oil Burner Guide, Installation, Servicing, Repairing, Frank D. Graham, 1940's edition (obsolete). Updated versions of this guide are available in various editions, 1947, 1950, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1965, 1967, and at prices from around $3.00 to nearly $70.00 - useful for simple, clear, but not current, explanation of how heating equipment works. The original retail price was $1.00.
- Bottini Fuel service, 4/26/2011. 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
- 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.
- Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
- "HUD Regulation for Manufactured Homes; Requirement that Heat-Tape not include a GFCI [ copy on file as /plumbing/GFCI_Heat_Tapes_HUD_CPSC_Letter1994.pdf ] - ", Meeting Log, US CPSC, HUD, Dennis McCoskrie, ESEE, 2/14/1994
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
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