My question is: how did they install the tank? Of course, it was probably put there during construction, but then my question is, how does one ever replace a tank? The only viable way I could see is to knock down an interior wall - but that wall has all the water piping work going through it.
There is an unheated 'room' in the house where the 5000L oil tank sits. The room has no doors and only a small 1 meter square panel to access the room for refuelling.
Same here- the tank was installed, then walled in! We had to have a retaining container put around it a few years back- requested by the Commune to stop any possible leaks. The way they did the job was just incredible. Mainly 1 tiny guy from Cuba who was incredibly agile! He then crawled into the tank to clean it - I just could not believe my eyes. Our tank is 10000 litres.
If ever they needed to replace it, they would have to smash the wall.
Getting it out is often not the problem, they just emptied ours and cut it down.
I ́d think they get it in piece-wise and weld/laminate it together?
Yes taking it out is easier, but putting in a new tank would be more difficult.
I guess if they took it in as panels, you'd only need to cut out a 'slot' in the wall. I'm not sure whether these are really constructed on site or put in as a single unit. Given that it needs to contain toxic/flammable liquids, it makes sense to have this as a single unit that is tested rather than deal with potential variances in welding etc.
Might want to look into an alternative heating solution. Perhaps a geothermal heat pump.
This thread is curiousity about the logistics of installing and removing tanks, not about heating!
OK, let's go back to the amusement of auslanders doing quirky tasks for little money
Don't they replace the large metal tank with a set of of smaller plastic ones, with an equal total volume, which can be fitted through an existing doorway?
I tried to find more information but it looks like the big basement tanks can generally be repaired. They are not exposed to the elements so they won't rust.
You're supposed to do maintenance on it every 10 years, so maybe the idea is that it lasts 'forever'.
Might be a better payback investment. Considering cost of tank replacement and increasing price of oil. Should not rule it out of the possibilities. Perhaps subsidies are available.
This thread is curiousity about the logistics of installing and removing tanks, not about payback periods!
I have heard that tanks come disassembled and can be assembled in that small space. Although not original owner, so no idea how it was at the beginning. Just did the 10-year cleaning and tank in excellent shape, appears to be about 40-50 years old, but may not be the original one. Same situation here, one small entry space otherwise enclosed in concrete.
I would hope they don't have much rust on the inside, surely the oil is some lubrication.
Mine (which I removed when we changed the heating and turned the room into a gym) was put in there during the construction of the house back in 1976. I heard that now they use, as Tom1234 mentioned, smaller interconnected plastic tanks.
Ours is very thick plastic. At 10000 litres it is huge- I have NOOOO idea how they got it in, before concrete walling it in.
My house has had tanks replaced (before I moved in) - and they tell a story.
Instead of one 4000-5000l tank, there are two, plastic, 2000l tanks. These have a seam halfway up, so it looks like they were brought in in 6 pieces (2x metal bowls underneath, 2x bottom halves and 2x top halves).
All pieces would conceivably fit through the door, but you would need to be VERY agile (or very small) to assemble it inside the room...
If you have time to share a photo, I'd be interested as I'm struggling to picture it.
I'm travelling right now, but will gladly do so when I'm back (I was quite curious about this myself when we moved in)
Why would you ever replace an oil tank? Nobody installs new oil systems these days.
I had a similar tank - 10’000l in the basement with that small door. I had it cut up in place and removed after I knocked the doorway into a normal door size. Then insulated the room, added A/C and ventilation and converted it to a gym. One of the many benefits of converting to a heat pump.