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Can you fill your heating oil tank yourself?

Posted by rowen402 (My Page) on
Sat, Jan 22, 11 at 2:08

I live in Massachusetts and the heating oil tank in an investment property I own has just run out of oil. The house is vacant and I am concerned about pipes freezing.

I have tried to get an oil company to come out and fill the tank but they all say at least 3 days notice to come out!

I was wondering could I just buy a tank of oil at a gas station and fill the tank myself? I know it wouldn't last long but it would at least buy me a week or so to get a full oil delivery.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Can you fill your heating oil tank yourself?

I don't see why not, but up in Mass., who knows? You house could use plus/minus one gallon per hour of use. Another problem is that when the tank runs empty, the filter gets all sludged up and needs replacement. Then you have to bleed the line to the burner and hopefully, it will light on the first shot.

Do you see why you should never let the oil tank run empty?


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RE: Can you fill your heating oil tank yourself?

Call the fuel oil company and tell them you have an emergency situation. They may have a service guy come out with a 5 or 10 gallon container of fuel oil. You may have to pay for this service, but it is better than frozen pipes.


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RE: Can you fill your heating oil tank yourself?

Filling the tank with Diesel fuel will work perfectly if the normal fill is #2 heating oil. Your furnace will be happy. Use K-1 if the Diesel is not available to you. The furnace will be OK with that.


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