How to Replace an Oil Tank

If your oil tank is over 10 years old or has developed a leak, it is recommended to replace it. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to replace an oil tank, including important factors such as adhering to OFTEC regulations, choosing the right tank location, draining the oil tank, and more.

It is recommended when replacing and existing tank that you contact a registered OFTEC oil tank installers in your area, call Andrew on 07434 691 809.

1) Draining Your Old Oil Tank

The first step to replace your oil tank is to turn off the supply of oil to the boiler. This can be done by turning off the outlet valve at the bottom of the oil tank. Make sure to have another spare tank or drums ready to transfer the remaining heating oil from the old tank. Most companies that replace oil tanks have a spare tank for this purpose.

To remove the heating oil, you will need a 12v fuel transfer pump and a 12v lead acid battery, similar to the one used in cars. The pump has two rubber hoses, one with a filter and the other with a fuel nozzle. The pump sucks the oil up the hose, through the pump, and into the spare tank or drums.

As you drain the oil, it is recommended to leave around 50 litres at the bottom of the old tank as it may contain dirt and water. Once the good heating oil has been transferred, disconnect the old tank and move it to a safe location ready for oil tank disposal.

2) Install Temporary Tank & Restore Heating

During the installation of a new oil tank, it is important to restore your heating system so that you can keep your home warm, especially during the winter months. This can be done by using a temporary drum equipped with a 1/2 lever valve and a 1/2 inch by 10mm reducer. By connecting the 10mm fuel line to the temporary drum and removing any air from the fuel line, you can restart your boiler and restore heating to your home.

The process of draining the old tank, potentially adjusting the new tanks location to comply with OFTEC regulations, and ordering a new oil tank, can take up to 4 – 7 days to replace an oil tank.

3) Location of New Oil Tank and Base

As mentioned above, the original base and location of your oil tank may not comply with OFTEC regulations for the storage of domestic fuel.  Oil tanks are now prohibited from being placed next to buildings or boundary fences. In the past, it was common to see oil tanks positioned closely against garage walls, the side of a house, or in a garden corner next to a fence.

In order to comply with the new oil tank regulations, the oil tank must be situated at a minimum distance of 760mm from any building or boundary fence. Additionally, the base on which the oil tank is placed must be constructed using materials such as concrete, breeze block, lintels, and pavers. Furthermore, the oil tank base should have dimensions that are at least 300mm larger than the circumference of the oil tank.

If you are intending to store a quantity of 2500 litres or more of heating oil, it is mandatory to have a bunded oil tank installed. Additionally, if your oil tank is situated near a river, stream, or any other waterway, it is also necessary to have a bunded oil tank.

4) Connect Fuel Line and Transfer Oil

After your new oil tank has been delivered and placed on your base, it is important to reconnect the fuel oil line. It is highly recommended to have an OFTEC technician or a boiler heating engineer perform this task. OFTEC registered installers have the ability to self-certify their own work, and building control is not involved in this process.

Once the tank has been properly connected, the next step is to transfer the heating oil that was previously stored into the new oil tank. The process remains the same as before, using a 12v fuel transfer pump to complete the transfer.

5) Bleeding the Fuel Line

After the installation of the new oil tank, the final step involves removing the air from the fuel line to ensure the smooth flow of heating oil to the boiler. For this purpose, most boilers are equipped with a bleed valve that can be loosened with an allen key.

First, loosen the bleed valve using the allen key. As you do this, be prepared to collect any oil that comes out in the container. Allow some time for any air bubbles present in the fuel line to escape. You will know this process is complete when there is a consistent flow of oil without any air bubbles.

Once the air has been successfully removed and there is a consistent flow of oil, close the bleed valve. Now, test the boiler to ensure that it fires up as expected. This will confirm that the oil is flowing properly and there are no issues with the installation.

5) Removing the Old Decommissioned Oil Tank

All storage tanks used to store heating oil (kerosene) are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of at a licensed facility capable of handling this type of waste. The governing body responsible for overseeing and monitoring the movement of hazardous waste is the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency (NIEA).

If you hire an oil tank replacement company, they will handle the disposal of the oil tank on your behalf. A consignment must be purchased from the NIEA, the consignment number will be allocated to a pre-notification form that informs the NIEA of your address, the type of waste, and the collection date.

If you are claiming a grant as part of the affordable warmth scheme, you must hire the services of a qualified heating engineer or an OFTEC technician to replace your oil tank. The company responsible for disposing of the oil tank must be licensed and is required to submit a pre-notification before collection.

Oil Tank Services in Northern Ireland

Removerr is a company based in North Down, serving customers in Northern Ireland. We offer a range of oil tank services in, Bangor, Belfast, Lisburn, Portadown, Armagh, Downpatrick, and the surrounding areas. Our services include oil tank replacement, oil tank removal, water in oil tank detection, oil spill cleanup. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Andrew at 07434 691 809.