Cleaning 1500L Domestic Fuel Tank

[nb99]

Hi

Apologies if this thread is in the wrong section but I hope it comes under the "central heating" header. I have a plastic domestic fuel tank (for our fuel boiler), 1500L which needs cleaning. The quotes are coming in ridiculously high so I'm considering doing it myself. The tank has 4x 7cm wide holes at the top and unfortunately no drainage from the bottom which makes it a little trickier. The pros have said they will just use power hoses to clean it down, suck all the liquid out and dispose of the liquid safely. Because I don't have a suction device, I was going to move the tank (it's light as it's plastic), put it up on its side and then use a power hose and drain the liquid out. My only cost would therefore be disposing of the liquid which I can do at the local tip for not much cost.

Before I attempt the operation I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts/experience/advice on the process.

Thanks

NB

 

[oilhead]

I would be more concerned about mauling an old tank about and the potential for damage and stress. Also, your contamination is presently held in the bottom of the tank and putting it on its side will spread it about making the job more prone to lack of success. A contractor with the right equipment would get most of it out before putting any spray into the tank.

 

[nb99]

Thanks Oilhead. Can I ask what you mean by "A contractor with the right equipment would get most of it out before putting any spray into the tank"? Do you mean there is an alternative treatment that involves not using a power hose? If so, what would it be? thanks

 

[oilhead]

Enquire with a septic tank emptier or gully sucker.
Most of your tank will be perfectly clean. An alternative would be to use a simple vacuum pump with reservoir, available from e-bay or similar sites for around £25 -30 with a large reservoir. The hose could be fixed to a cane or pole to keep it in the sludge. After removing most of it, you can 'loosen' the rest with clean oil and finish the job to a satisfactory level. You will need several 25 lt containers to transfer the muck into. It is amazing how much a couple of inches in the bottom of a tank actually is.
Alternatively, if you are moving the tank any, you can jack up the back so that your sediment comes out of the take off hole.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I dont know what the procedure is in France, over here that would need to be a specialist job, carried out by a licenced contractor. The waste removed would need to be taken to an appropriate facility for treatment.

Anything spilt will contaminate the ground, if you're on a macadam surface it'll likely wreck it. Oil is filthy stuff, getting it anywhere other than where intended is not recommended!

 

[nb99]

I've taken oilhead's point about pumping it out without moving the tank which makes sense and will reduce any risk of damaging the tank. The only laws that apply here are in relation to disposal of sludge which I'll do properly by taking it for treatment. But the cost of that is about €50 instead of €850 to get the thing done professionally which is why I'm thinking of doing it myself!