Common Earth Farm – Basement Oil Tank Upgrade

CommTank's truck is parked behind the house so the crew can access the basement through the bulkhead.

A crewman is cutting the side of the old oil tank in order to access the interior.

We had to cut new holes in the foundation because the original vent and fill pipes ran in front of the electric panel.

The crew are cutting and threading the new iron pipe that will be the vent and fill pipes.

The crewman is joining the newly cut pipes. Each pipe is sealed with pipe compound to create a tight seal.

The Roth tank and piping are now connected and tested to make sure the furnace is running properly.

Previous



Next

CommTank provided an oil tank upgrade from a steel tank to a double-walled 275-gallon Roth™ oil tank inside this home in Bedford, NH. It was the second time we worked at this property.

The home owner also runs the Common Earth Farm which grows many traditional ethnic foods not otherwise available to refugees from various countries currently settled in the Manchester area. The refugee farmers, with support from local volunteers and non-profits, run a high production all natural farming operation. CommTank provided the tank upgrade at a 50% discount. The owner gives back so much to the community and we are proud to support her in any way we can.

CommTank crews performed the oil tank replacement by following the steps outlined below:

Tank Removal

• Obtain necessary permit from the Local Fire Department
• Cut the tanks using a nibbler
• Remove all pumpable contents and tank bottoms
• Clean the inside of the AST
• Remove/abandon existing 3/8-inch copper fuel oil line from AST
• Remove fill and vent piping
• Remove and transport the 275-gallon AST and associated piping to a licensed scrap yard

Tank Installation – 275 gallon Roth™ AST

• Obtain necessary permit from the Local Fire Department
• Provide and install two (2) 275-gallon Roth™ AST
• Core-drill one (1) new hole for fuel oil line to enter home to connect to boiler
• Provide and install two (2) new 3/8-inch copper fuel oil lines from AST to the boiler
• Install new fill and vent piping
• Install new vent alarm, oil control safety valve, fuel gauge, filter and piping according to 527 CMR 4.03

All work conformed to federal, state and local fire code regulations. Once the piping was complete, the fuel that was in the old tank was transferred to the new Roth Tank. After testing the tank and furnace the system was ready for operation.

About the Author: Dan Hoag

Dan Hoag has worked in the environmental and tank storage industry for 16 years. Dan’s range of expertise includes designing systems for oil spill clean-ups, treating soil contamination through "in situ" oxidation and testing, and inspecting underground storage tank systems. As head of Marketing and Information Technologies at CommTank, Dan draws from field experience to write about fuel, water and chemical storage technologies, and the regulations that affect them. He has developed training courses in home inspection, underground storage tank operator, ultrasonic thickness and tank tightness testing. Over the past decade, Dan has published over 60 articles about industry trends and has documented commercial, residential, and environmental projects through illustration, videos, and photography. When Dan unplugs from technology, he spends his time backyard farming, hiking, and kayaking, while masquerading as a hockey player during the wee hours of the morning.