Can I Use A Standard Auto Oil Filter On My Oil Furnace

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"Home Heating Oil" also chosen "# 2 fuel oil" (or simply "Number two Oil") is a fuel used to heat buildings, homes and water. This heating method is very popular in the New England area. The #two fuel oils (both clear diesel fuel and dyed domicile heating oil) practice not freeze but rather "gel" or thicken to a soft wax. This begins to occur when temperatures drop below 32F, when the fuel starts to get "cloudy" (but withal flows readily). Every bit temperatures continue to drop (20F to 15F), wax or paraffin in the fuel begins to crystallize and separates from the oil. These crystals collect on filter surfaces and cling to the interior walls of the fuel lines that are subjected to these low temperatures and can reduce oil menstruum rates enough that the furnace shuts downward. Beneath are some tips to help prevent this from happening.

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The following steps are presented in order of least expense and / or level of difficulty to perform or operate, down to most expense and difficulty. Even if properly implemented, none of the steps (except for possibly the final) tin be considered "guaranteed to work". If the right combination of depression temperature and length of time were to occur, somewhen the cold would penetrate the insulation and cool the oil lines.
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Explain the trouble to your oil dealer. He might be able to solve the problem for you. If he can't, you can contact some other dealer to hear the solutions they offering. The near common set consists of a liquid additive that is formulated to reduce or eliminate gelling when added the tank (preferably immediately before refilling). Most dealers offering these additives for sale in xvi oz (or larger) containers; just others provide the additive premixed with the fuel in the delivery vehicle's tank. If you discover that you accept to solve the problem yourself, be enlightened that at that place are many different types of additives available that perform one or more functions. Be certain to select an additive that targets the prevention of gelling or waxing of fuel oils. Read the characterization and employ just every bit directed.

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Install the oil filter indoors. The felt filter media of an oil filter tin quickly become chock-full with wax crystals in wintertime if located outdoors. Moving the filter indoors will go it into an area that is warmer than the outdoor temperature. Just install a new filter housing and filter in the indoor location so remove the filter media from the outdoor filter housing. You lot can leave the outdoor filter housing in identify without a filter.
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Wrap fuel lines with insulation that do not blot wet. Minimize the amount of pipe exposed to the cold temperatures past completely insulating or moving them indoors when possible. Carefully seal all openings and seams in the insulation to prevent exposure to cold temperatures.
five

Install larger fuel lines. Because it will take longer for larger diameter fuel lines to become clogged completely, a fuel line with a diameter that is larger than the standard three/8" blazon will permit oil to flow for a longer period of fourth dimension when compared to smaller diameter lines. Sometimes, this boosted time is long enough to "ride out" a period of farthermost cold.
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Add K-1 (kerosene) to the abode heating fuel tank. This will mix with fuel oil and lower the "freeze" signal, every bit the freeze signal for Grand-1 is about -20F. K-1 volition burn successfully in simply nigh any home heating fuel oil furnace, but the downside is the expense (historically, K-1 tin cost a 20% to thirty% higher than fuel oil).
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Install an electric fuel oil tank heater. Install as directed past manufacturer (use a search engine to find a current listing of "fuel oil tank heater" suppliers). Canvas type heaters and drum heaters may also be customized for use on the exterior of tanks. These will piece of work best when installed on the bottom or lower sides of the tank and are secured with RTV adhesive (as opposed to straps and clamps). Installing on the lesser of the tank helps distribute the heat because heat rises. This rising heated oil will thermally "stir" the contents of the tank. Brand sure the heater selected is appropriate for the location of the tank (such as wet or outdoor). The price of operating this heater will be reflected in your electric bill and considering of this, it should be a "last resort" type fix. These oestrus sheet products are available at industrial supply stores
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Build a room around the tank. While this is the most expensive solution, information technology will about always work. Add a pocket-sized heat source, or if continued to the dwelling house, provide a small amount of airflow between the room and the rest of the home to prevent gelling of the fuel.

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Question

How do I keep an outside oil line from freezing? Information technology has insulation on it already.

Buy and wrap electric heat record like yous would use on water pipes effectually the plumbing. For the actual tanks you could use an electric blanket. In that location are some electric blankets that are actually intrinsically rubber (safe to use in gas-laden environments), merely as long every bit there are no strong vapors from the tanks, then a regular electrical blanket would exist okay. Intrinsically condom blankets are very expensive, and if information technology is and then cold that you need to use a blanket to go on the tanks warm, so there really should be no vapors unless y'all really turn the rut up on the blanket. Another option would be to look into fuel oil additives for the cold, like diesel fuel additives.
Question

Tin can I use an oil furnace without the filter?

You have to have a filter for an oil furnace.
Question

What do I practice with one-time oil tanks? Someone told me I can fill it with sand if it's empty, is that true?

The removal of an oil tank that is no longer in apply requires a licensed oil technician to perform the work, and a permit in many locations. The filler pipage and vents must as well be removed to preclude an adventitious "fill" of the space the tank occupied.
Question

Is it ameliorate to leave a fuel tank completely full or a quarter full if I won't be using it for vi months?

I would suggest leaving it completely full. A total fuel tank cannot corrode within, nor can condensation form on the inside when in that location is a large difference betwixt the temperature of the fuel inside the tank (right after a delivery in winter) and the ambience air temperature of the room the tank is in (heated basement or other like area). You too won't need to worry about the fuel level when you return.
Question

Can I add mineral spirits to my oil furnace to prevent it from freezing?

You can add together denatured booze to cut the oil if it's already gelled. Add together it hot earlier you lot get a delivery; this will prevent gelling and keep the oil flowing.
Question

Can I use an oil heater without a filter?

Yes, you tin can, simply it is not recommended. Oil should exist filtered as the inside of the tank tin can corrode and these particles can become suspended in the oil. Also, sludge forms in the tank from deliveries, and over time it settles on the bottom of the tank. If you let the oil level in the tank autumn too low, this sludge can eventually menstruum through the lines to the nozzle and clog it. Clogged lines are easily cleared with a blast of CO2 back to the tank, but a clogged nozzle will require replacement and tin can damage the pump. Filters are cheap insurance against costly repairs and help ensure even and efficient fuel atomization past the nozzle in the furnace for the most efficient combustion.
Question

Is it sufficient to wrap blankets on an exterior oil tank for the next few days if information technology's going to be beneath 32 degrees F?

The trouble with insulation is that it is not a source of heat (or cold for that matter). Information technology tin can but assist maintain the temperature of whatever it is wrapped around -- in this instance, your oil tank. Somewhen, the common cold temperature outside of information technology will "soak through" and modify the temperature of the oil in the tank. When information technology warms up, the warmer air will have to soak through the insulation once again to warm the oil in your tank. The college the "R" value of the insulation, the longer information technology will take to soak through information technology.
Question

Is foam or rubber insulation improve on exposed piping to an oil tank?

Rubber would be much better on exposed pipe than foam.
Question

Is it okay to burn K-1 kerosene in your home boiler or furnace that burns #2 fuel oil?

G-one can be used as a fuel for about oil burners only information technology costs more than than #2 fuel oil, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to do so. Almost issues with #2 oil business the gelling of fuel due to ambient temperatures. These issues can usually be mitigated for a much lower cost.

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Oil heat dealers are independent. Match your needs with an oil dealer that is able to provide i or more: oil at a competitive toll, provides tune upwards service for a reasonable toll, offers 24 hr emergency service and - in this instance - has fuel additives available to lower the freeze point of fuel oil. Some dealers provide only oil commitment - offer none of the additional services - which is reflected in their lower cost per gallon of oil.
Forbid sludge buildup. Add together 1 or 2 gallons (3.8 or 7.6 L) of denatured alcohol to a typical 275 gallon (1,041.0 L) fuel tank when full. Denatured booze (sometimes called "camp stove fuel" or "marine fuel") will breakdown sludge buildup and assistance forestall its formation if used annually. Denatured alcohol is popular for its solvent properties and is toxic. Because of its toxicity, information technology must not be ingested.
Talk to neighbors with outdoor fuel tanks to larn what their oil dealer does to help forbid gelling of fuel - or if they treat the oil themselves. The dealer may charge more than the cost of the additive that you might be able to buy on your ain.
Chock-full filters and nozzles, poor efficiency, excessive soot buildup, failed pumps, smokey flames, etc. can unremarkably be prevented past having the organisation professionally maintained and tuned every year.
Fuel filters should be changed annually.

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Never add together gasoline to a #2 fuel oil tank under any circumstance.
Never disconnect or cutting fuel lines, open filter bowls, loosen compression fittings, etc. without first shutting off the fuel supply at the tank.
Never attempt warming whatsoever part of a fuel line with an open flame.
Fuel oils - similar almost all petroleum products - are considered hazardous materials. Take steps to prevent or capture and contain spills if they occur. When spills occur they almost e'er crave services from a state licensed chancy materials (HAZMAT) clean-up professional and the spill may demand to exist reported to proper local or state government. This can exist the beginning of an extremely expensive procedure that may not be covered past insurance.
Check with your oil estrus dealer or town authorities before attempting these steps. Local laws and rules may limit modifications that homeowners tin make to the fuel storage and delivery systems. There are specific codes that govern fuel tanks, supply lines and oil burner installations. Failure to adhere to the codes and requirements tin put property and lives at hazard.
Exercise not allow fuel to spill when working on the tank or lines. Have the necessary precautions to capture fuel that will drain from the lines, fittings, filter bowls, etc. when loosened, cut or opened.

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