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Here in Massachusetts we had a new law passed on Jan. 8, 2009 and I’m very excited about it and the great things that it will hopefully do. It’s called M.G.L. Chapter 453 and its alias is the ‘Oil Tank Law,” but many also call it the ‘Oil Line Law.”

It states that before July 1, 2010 insurers will have to make casualty insurance available to Massachusetts homeowners, and at a reasonable rate, for a spill caused by a leaking oil tank or failed line. This is the first time in many years that oil heated homes will be covered in the event of just normal wear and tear and aging of a fuel tank.

Homeowners must do their part. Every property owner of a one to four family residence must either replace his oil line in a non-metallic sleeve, or upgrade the line through the use of an oil safety valve. If the entire tank and line are below the pump nothing has to be done, but those jobs are very rare.

The absolute best way to upgrade an existing system is a new sleeved line, but the prv/osv valve makes a good option for many. Finally, oil companies and heating contractors can gain some much needed work and a simple permit signed by the installer and filed with the local fire department is all that is needed to comply. The permit must be made out, but the fire department doesn’t have to inspect it since the technician is the inspector, per se.

Sunstrand originally created the concept for these valves in the 1960s for high head and pressurized applications’the PRV-38, Pressure Reducing Valve – 3/8″‘and they were followed by Webster with their model. In 1976 Webster changed the name to OSV® (oil safety valve). Sundstrand bowed out of the PRV market in the mid-1970s since they just weren’t selling enough of them to keep making them, Suntec brought them back in the 1980s for use as the PRV/OSV.

The oil safety valve is a dynamic pressure reducer; it requires pressure or vacuum to work. As a pressure reducer (PRV), it’s invaluable in protecting pump seals under the high pressures needed to get oil up to burners located high overhead. Working with booster pumps, the PRV does a great job. As an OSV®, the valve works to protect us against underground oil line leaks. I was first introduced to these devices while working on oil lift jobs in the Air Force and found them everywhere, especially in aircraft hangers.

Basically, what most of us knew was if you put 30 psi on a PRV/OSV the pressure goes to about 10 psi. If you put three psi on it you’ll get about one psi out of it. That wasn’t new, but what Sam found was that if you put zero psi on it you got nothing out, but apply vacuum to it and it would open. Pressure is a positive force, vacuum is a negative force. If you have a PRV/OSV at zero pressure and you exert two inches of vacuum, it will open. As long as you keep a vacuum on it the valve stays open. Imagine your finger on a straw filled with liquid, the liquid stays inside because you’ve trapped it in a vacuum. But, if you lose vacuum, the valve closes and the OSV was born.

If you do a search of the PRV/OSV you’ll find the PRV/OSV mentioned all over the place because they work and do the job. Several states, Massachusetts and Maine, now have legislation mandating them and yet the industry still wonders about them. The Europeans use them and even have models that can be adjusted based on the height of the oil level and the pump, Figure 4. So what gives? Well, it’s like a lot of things; if we don’t understand, it we knock it. But the PRV/OSV is a device that can help you and truly do a lot to clean up oil heat’s image. By using the PRV/OSV you can prevent unseen, underground oil line leaks, and that’s a big deal today, as it always has been.

If you still can’t get the PRV/OSV to work look at your system. The purpose of the PRV/OSV is to protect property against oil line failures, but if there’s too much vacuum you probably don’t need it. Remember, when being used as an oil safety valve, it’s a gravity (vacuum) device, not a pressure device. Make sure you power vacuum bleed that pump too, and you can find the directions for that at my website, it’s my Field Note No. 6.

*George Lanthier is the owner of Firedragon Enterprises, a teaching, publishing and consulting firm. He is the author of over 25 books on oil heating and HVAC subjects. He can be reached at 608 Moose Hill Rd., Leicester, MA 01524. His phone is 508-421-3490, fax at 508-421-3477

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The Hopkinsons® brand started in 1843, when Joseph Hopkinsons began making valves and mountings in an upstairs room of a cottage in Huddersfield, England.  Joseph Hopkinsons was a visionary who believed in the power of engineering during an era characterized by a strong cultural backlash against mechanization. His determination began what is today one of Trillium Flow Technologies™ prominent legacy brands.

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Under a new Massachusetts oil heating lawwhich went into effect on September 30, 2011, every homeowner with an oil heating system is required to install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve in their system. The cost is approximately $150 to $350 depending on the system. The required upgrade is to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. The upgrade will reduce the risk of an oil leak so by making a relatively small expenditure now, you can prevent a much greater expense in the future.

Owners of 1- to 4-unit residences that are heated with oil must already have or install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with a protective sleeve. Installation of these devices must be performed by a licensed oil burner technician. Technicians are employed by companies that deliver home heating oil or are self-employed. It is important to note that heating oil systems installed on or after January 1, 1990 most likely are already in compliance because state fire codes implemented these requirements on new installations at that time.

those changes are in compliance with the oil burning equipment regulations; a copy of the oil burner permit from the local fire department may be used to demonstrate compliance.

Not only is complying with the new law required, it makes good financial and environmental sense. Homeowners who take these preventive measures can avoid the disruption and expense that can be caused by heating oil leaks. A leak may result in exposure to petroleum vapors in your home. If the leak reaches the soil or groundwater beneath your house, then a cleanup must be performed to restore your property to state environmental standards. Such a leak can cost many thousands to clean up. Leaks that affect another property or impact drinking water supply wells can complicate the cleanup and increase the expense. Each year, several hundred Massachusetts families experience some kind of leak.

The typical cost of installing either an oil safety valve or oil supply line with a protective sleeve ranges from $150 – $350 (including labor, parts, and local permit fees).

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If you are one of many homeowners who use an oil tank to heat their home, you know that there are several crucial steps to maintaining it properly. From servicing your oil furnace and tank regularly to keeping up with new oil deliveries, proper maintenance is essential for your home"s proper heating safety and efficiency.

If your heating oil is making noise, that is completely normal! If you hear a whistling sound, then your tank"s whistle is functioning correctly and doing its job. There is more to worry about if your tank fails to whistle. Cleaning your oil tank"s vent whistle is critical to the condition of your furnace.

An oil tank whistle or oil tank vent alarm is a small type of overfill device for aboveground tanks. The alarm is located beneath the vent pipe above your tank and produces a continuous, high-pitched whistling sound loud enough for the delivery driver outside of your house to hear. When you pump oil into the tank, it displaces the air and forces it up out of the vent pipe. As the air escapes, it causes the whistle to vibrate.

Since the whistle hangs below the tank, the oil will eventually rise and cover it. Once the oil has reached the whistle, it will cease to vibrate, signaling that the tank is full. The sound of the whistle stops when the oil reaches 1-2 inches below the top of the tank. This space left in the top of the tank allows for some expansion of the oil as it warms up and acts as an extra safeguard against vapors and foams.

When you are refilling your oil tank and hear a whistling sound, it indicates that your tank is in good working order. This whistling means that your tank is not yet full of oil and indicates to the person filling the tank to keep pouring. Once the whistling stops, that means the tank is now at its total capacity. An oil whistle effectively minimizes any spills and avoids the risk of overfilling the tank by ensuring there is just enough fuel.

New homeowners need to check the condition of their whistle if they have a pre-installed home heating oil tank. Under regular operation, your tank"s vent will relieve the vacuum your oil burner creates when pulling oil from the tank. If your oil tank vent alarm becomes clogged, you might have to clean it, as oil tank whistle problems can have severe repercussions on the overall state of the tank.

Having a working oil whistle can prevent potential disruptions to your property and your lifestyle. A functioning oil tank vent alarm will significantly reduce your risk of accidental overpumping and subsequent oil spillage. Thus, cleaning your oil tank and its whistle is vital for several reasons.

If your oil tank overflows or leaks, the oil from the spill can sink into the ground and contaminate the surrounding area. When oil seeps into the ground, it can have a much broader impact on animal habitats. An oil tank vent whistle is essential to safeguarding the environment around your home from potential oil spills. Filling an oil tank without the guidance of the whistle may lead to spills and accidental pollution.

To avoid dealing with the expense and inconvenience of a malfunctioning whistle, you should always ensure your tank"s whistle is clean. The cost of cleanup for oil spills can range from several hundred to thousands of dollars. Ensuring your tank whistle is functioning properly will save you from considerable extraneous expenses and help you prolong the life of your oil supply.

Depending on the amount of spilled oil, a working oil whistle can also save you the extensive amount of time it would take to clean up any heating oil contamination. A clean oil tank vent whistle will also help you extend the life of your oil furnace.

Leaks from your oil tank can cause significant problems for you and your home. A functioning whistle makes for far safer tank refilling and will prevent flammable liquid from spilling into your home, which could cause fires. If your vent alarm fails to sound, you may run out of oil when you need it most. Cleaning your oil tank vent whistle will help you keep your home warm enough to avoid a severely frigid winter.

Regular maintenance is also critical to achieving the proper safety and efficiency standard for your home"s oil furnace. If you lack a functioning vent whistle in good condition, some oil delivery companies may refuse to fill your tank. Heating oil deliverers must adhere to strict safety codes and will not supply you with oil unless you have a way to ensure your tank does not overfill.

For an extreme blockage, you will need to contact a service technician. Professionals will be able to check the vent and make sure you have replaced it properly, without compromising the overall quality of your oil tank. Depending on the age and location of your oil tank, it may be best to repair or even replace your oil tank, vent and whistle system altogether.

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Smart Touch Energy works with the most reputable dealers to provide customized service for a wide variety of home heating needs. Contact us today to take advantage of our quick and easy online ordering process for your next oil delivery!