Rush Locates can help you learn about oil tank supply lines. The copper tubes found in basements and crawlspaces connect oil tanks to furnaces. They may be sticking out of the foundation, wall, or buried in the ground.
Oil Supply Lines
The Oil Supply Lines are almost always 3/8″ copper tubing, in rare circumstances you will see galvanized steel piping or 1/4″ copper tube. If supply lines are present than the house had oil heat at one point. Replacement of underground tanks with aboveground tanks in a basement is fairly common. If your house shows any of the signs of oil heat then scheduling an oil tank search is recommended.
In basement or crawlspace
One or two copper tubes or steel pipes coming up from the ground and exiting the foundation is a pretty good sign of oil heat. Whereas older furnaces had dedicated fill and return lines while newer oil burning furnaces use just one supply line. So a single copper tube might signify a condensation drain tube from a furnace however it could also be an oil supply line. Sometimes there is a shut off valve or knob on one of these oil supply lines.
The trench for oil supply lines
A sign that oil heat which is put in after construction, and common for pre-1960 homes. This ‘trench’ contains the supply lines and connects the tank to the furnace. Roughly 4′ wide, this trench will often goes to from the old furnace/ chimney area towards the wall.
A shut off valve or spigot
Homes built with oil heat at the time of construction won’t have a trench. However there might still be supply lines or a shut off valve. Rather commonly seen in homes built between 1940-1980.
Seeing any of the signs of oil heat indicates the strong possibility of an underground heating oil tank. Whenever you see signs of oil heat use Rush Locates to schedule your oil tank search today and get the best experience and value for your money.
