Upgrades of Oil Tank Supply Line

New Regulation Effective July 1, 2010

Effective July 1, 2010, homeowners must upgrade their oil tank supply line to prevent undiscovered leaks. There are two manners of upgrade; an oil safety valve on the tank or a protective sleeve that encases the actual oil line from tank to burner. Since all homeowners (not just those transfering title) must comply with this new regulation, you'll start to see Home Inspectors identify this issue during their inspection and Fire Inspectors check when issuing a smoke/carbon certificate.

This regulation applies to 1-4 family homes heated with oil, unless the burner and entire supply line is located above the oil tank. Homeowners conforming with this new regulation will also be able to purchase insurance coverage for oil leaks (typically not covered), as mandated by the regulation. For more information, please see Mass DEP guidance

Submitted by Sandy Carroll on 03/25/2010