Checking the house fuel oil tank whistle by blowing air in the Fill Pipe

[Robert Mattison]

This is a question.

Can you check the house basement oil storage tank whistle by blowing air into the outside Fill Pipe
and listening at the vent pipe for the whistle to sound off.

That was on the check list. The oil company told the buyer that the whistle wasn't working, so they would not fill the tank, which prevented the house from being sold, until this was taken care of.

I believe using hose with a high volume air coming of the end, would prove that whistle work, because you would hear it. And if you didn't hear the whistle, then a replacement would be necessary, to get the house sold.

You people out there, any thought on this. I believe the oil company smell money because the house being sold and this would be one trick to get money from the seller. Thanks to all that response to this experimental idea.

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[Dom D'Agostino]

If the alarm or whistle is non-functional, then just clean it or replace it. I can't see anyone sticking an air hose into a fuel oil tank to test a whistle.

The oil company doesn't want to overfill the tank, so they have a protocol to follow.

Dom.

[Garry Sorrells]

You can blow air in to check the vent alarm. but you need to move a volume of air.

Robert not a real problem. This is probably the way it went.

Oil company came to put oil in tank and didn't get the whistle as it filled and told owner it needed to be replaced. Owner blew it off but was snagged by buyer.

Rather than bother with testing I would just replace it and be done. The whistle is cheap and easy to replace. At worst two wrenches to remove, screws on and off of threaded pipe. Two types. one is built in to fuel level gauge and the other is a separate that screws into tank or stand pipe. Look at a local supply house for what you need. Shouldn't be hard to find. Here two examples... good luck..

King Combination Fill Alarm And Tank Gauge Current SKU KG4525 Manufacturer King $30.36
King Combination Fill Alarm And Tank Gauge - 4525

2 X 1-1/4 VENT ALARM ONLY 4514
Item Number: 31805. Manufacturer Name: R.W. Beckett Corp.
Manufacturer Part Number: 14514 Our Price Per Unit: $13.26
Beckett 14514 Standard Fill Alarm, 2 Inch MNPT x 1-1/4 Inch FNPT, For Use With Above Ground and In Ground Tanks, Cast Iron, Powder Coated, Red

[Garry Sorrells]

Here is another source possibly near to home.


at LOWES
Durst Oil Tank Alarm Whistle
Item # 98098 Model # A876WH

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Durst-Oil-T...histle/3457296


The other thing is to remove and clean the whistle, but at that point just replace it.

Curiosity,,, what was the oil company quote to replace???

[John Kogel]

The oil tank company, or the plumber that does the tank maintenance can supply you with a valve.
As Garry says, they are cheap. Get them to do it and maybe prevent an oil spill in the basement.

The home insurance company wants to see that tank being maintained.
In this area, the tank usually must be moved outside before the new owner can get home insurance. This makes sense, when you think about it.

A house near here had to be demolished, after the oil guy filled the basement with fuel. The filler pipe had been left in the wall, but no tank inside.

[Garry Sorrells]

.......................

That was on the check list. The oil company told the buyer that the whistle wasn't working, so they would not fill the tank, which prevented the house from being sold, until this was taken care of.

.......................

Robert,
How about a follow up?
How much was the cost to replace the valve??
Did the Seller have an issue with making the correction??
Were RE Agents involved and if so did they offer to split the cost to secure sale???
Inquiring minds want to know.

Where is Paul Harvey when you need him?????

[Robert Mattison]

[QUOTE=Garry Sorrells;272656]Robert,
How about a follow up?
How much was the cost to replace the valve??
Did the Seller have an issue with making the correction??
Were RE Agents involved and if so did they offer to split the cost to secure sale???
Inquiring minds want to know.

Where is Paul Harvey when you need him?????[/QUOTE

The sell of the house didn't go thru, buyer didn't wasn't able to get a
Loan. Plumber coming to the house tomorrow, Thursday;
March1, 2017, 10:30 A.M. to access the whistle problem.