Considering a waste oil heater

[dmurph2016]

I’m looking to do some research on waste oil heaters. I’m looking at renting a shop this fall/winter if Eveything worked out. The shop is about 50x70. With 3 bay doors. Currently it is heated with oil and I’m assuming a heater of some sort. A waste oil heater seems like it could be a good way to heat the shop.

Any cons to them besides the maintenance they require?
Where could I look to get cheap/free used waste oil to burn?

 

[Shop Specialties]

I’m looking to do some research on waste oil heaters. I’m looking at renting a shop this fall/winter if Eveything worked out. The shop is about 50x70. With 3 bay doors. Currently it is heated with oil and I’m assuming a heater of some sort. A waste oil heater seems like it could be a good way to heat the shop.

Any cons to them besides the maintenance they require?
Where could I look to get cheap/free used waste oil to burn?

I have been doing nothing but waste oil heater sales/service for 30 years here in Montana and I am happy to help if I can.

Looks like you have a shop large enough to justify a waste oil heater. I would start by checking with shops nearby that generate waste oil and are paying to have it hauled off. Make sure you have a good source of oil first before buying the heater.

 

[dmurph2016]

I have been doing nothing but waste oil heater sales/service for 30 years here in Montana and I am happy to help if I can.

Looks like you have a shop large enough to justify a waste oil heater. I would start by checking with shops nearby that generate waste oil and are paying to have it hauled off. Make sure you have a good source of oil first before buying the heater.

What’s the way to go about this, call shops? I’m guessing most smaller Independent, diesel shops etc either have a waste oil heater themselves or already have someone taking it off their hands. But something I’ll start looking into. Currently just at the looking stage.

 

[Greenlawnracing]

My father-in-law has one on his farm in Nebraska. It’s a good sized shop, and he’s been happy for a long time.

Oil is his own, as well as friends and family. Various facilities, we did pick up quite a bit from the local power plant after they did an oil change on the generators.


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[American Locomotive]

As mentioned, the biggest thing will be to make sure you have a steady enough supply of waste oil to warrant it. I'm going to guess a shop of that size will probably require a furnace that burns ~1.5-2 GPH worth of oil on a cold day.

 

[Shop Specialties]

What’s the way to go about this, call shops? I’m guessing most smaller Independent, diesel shops etc either have a waste oil heater themselves or already have someone taking it off their hands. But something I’ll start looking into. Currently just at the looking stage.

I would show up in person and have a nice discussion with each shop. This summer would be the perfect time to get oil collected so you will be prepared for next winter.

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[65ranchero]

make sure you have a way to store it!

 

[ant.foste]

Check with local shops, equipment rental yards, generator service shops, and heavy equipment maintenance shops, and local truck shops. Don't limit yourself to just the car shops. The bigger generator shops are going through hundreds of gallons every month.

I've managed generator rental stores in which we were refilling our 500 gallon new oil tanks takes every other week. Somewhere around 2015 SafetyKleen switched from buying used from us, to charging us to haul it away when the price of crude went down. Paying to dispose of 800g of used oil every month was a noticeable expense I would have preferred to avoid.

 

[dmurph2016]

Check with local shops, equipment rental yards, generator service shops, and heavy equipment maintenance shops, and local truck shops. Don't limit yourself to just the car shops. The bigger generator shops are going through hundreds of gallons every month.

I've managed generator rental stores in which we were refilling our 500 gallon new oil tanks takes every other week. Somewhere around 2015 SafetyKleen switched from buying used from us, to charging us to haul it away when the price of crude went down. Paying to dispose of 800g of used oil every month was a noticeable expense I would have preferred to avoid.

I’ll certainly have to think about that, but again, I feel like theses places are either going to have a heater themselves, or already have someone taking it. But it doesn’t hurt to ask! I’d love to be able to bring a place a empty 55 gallon drum and they give me a full one and repeat that. I’m sure I’ll be able to find oil it’ll just take some research

 

[Shop Specialties]

I’ll certainly have to think about that, but again, I feel like theses places are either going to have a heater themselves, or already have someone taking it. But it doesn’t hurt to ask! I’d love to be able to bring a place a empty 55 gallon drum and they give me a full one and repeat that. I’m sure I’ll be able to find oil it’ll just take some research

55's are a PITA. Instead do totes which will make life much easier.

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[dmurph2016]

55's are a PITA. Instead do totes which will make life much easier.

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How do you load full totes into truck? Or pump the oil into the tote?
I’m going to send you a pm as I have a question about the heaters

 

[Montucky]

I have been doing nothing but waste oil heater sales/service for 30 years here in Montana and I am happy to help if I can.

Looks like you have a shop large enough to justify a waste oil heater. I would start by checking with shops nearby that generate waste oil and are paying to have it hauled off. Make sure you have a good source of oil first before buying the heater.

Hello,
I was considering building a 50x120 shop and wanted to do radiant heat with a waste oil boiler. The building would be a steel clear span structure with 6” insulation in roof and 4” in wall. It’s shop space and temps would be kept at 50-65 depending. I have an unlimited supply of clean motor oil that my oil change business produces. Any advice you have on this would be great in terms of manufactures and cost per sq ft or cost of boiler as I plan my project would be helpful. My only concern is oil storage. I currently store oil in 240 gallon totes.
Thank you.

 

[Montucky]

How do you load full totes into truck? Or pump the oil into the tote?
I’m going to send you a pm as I have a question about the heaters

You can fork lift a full tote no problem. That’s the only way to move them. They have fork lift spaces in bottom of tote

 

[dmurph2016]

You can fork lift a full tote no problem. That’s the only way to move them. They have fork lift spaces in bottom of tote

I know the icb totes have fork pockets, but just trying to figure out how to get the oil. By pumping it from garage etc into my tote and then brining it to the shop. I figured swapping 55 gal drums would be easier

 

[Shop Specialties]

Ok, let's go ahead and take this to pm or email

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[American Locomotive]

I know the icb totes have fork pockets, but just trying to figure out how to get the oil. By pumping it from garage etc into my tote and then brining it to the shop. I figured swapping 55 gal drums would be easier

The totes have a spout on the bottom you can attach a valve or a hose to, and they also have an opening on top. They make oil pumps specifically for totes as they're frequently used in industrial settings to transport and move oil.

 

[930dreamer]

A portable oil pump/air pump and you could pump out on location. A mid size trailer would keep it lower to the ground. My vehicle inspection/ heavy equipment shop picked up my last full tote and left a empty one.

 

[dmurph2016]

A portable oil pump/air pump and you could pump out on location. A mid size trailer would keep it lower to the ground. My vehicle inspection/ heavy equipment shop picked up my last full tote and left a empty one.

It would be easier to swap out containers but I’m
Not sure how many places would use totes instead of barrels. Pumping out wouldn’t be the end of the world if I can find a good 12v pump. A trailer could be something to consider.

 

[dmurph2016]

Ok, let's go ahead and take this to pm or email

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I don’t have enough posters yet to send pms, but when I can I’ll see you one.

 

[930dreamer]

I don’t have enough posters yet to send pms, but when I can I’ll see you one.

Now if the shop could just load it for you.

 

[dmurph2016]

Now if the shop could just load it for you.

I was thinking about that, but not every shop has a forklift. But all things I need to think about

 

[ant.foste]

I’ll certainly have to think about that, but again, I feel like theses places are either going to have a heater themselves, or already have someone taking it. But it doesn’t hurt to ask! I’d love to be able to bring a place a empty 55 gallon drum and they give me a full one and repeat that. I’m sure I’ll be able to find oil it’ll just take some research

You would be shocked at how the large companies will burn money by paying for disposal versus doing some environmental paperwork and just burning the waste product.

 

[dmurph2016]

You would be shocked at how the large companies will burn money by paying for disposal versus doing some environmental paperwork and just burning the waste product.

I have a feeling they probably have to show where the oil is going to show it’s disposed of properly. But if I can find a good steady supply I think this would work perfect. The issue is most big places probably would rather just pay to get rid of it then give it away to someone like me.
A good size car dealership would be perfect, but I’m sure they have burners themselves

 

[Shop Specialties]

There is one shop that averages $10,000/month heat bill and $12,000+/year in oil disposal. I wrote them a bid for the biggest heater, install, tank, etc for roughly $15,000 and they thought that was to much money to spend. I tried to explain to them that they would have a 2 month ROI and they could not comprehend it. They told me they thought the way they were doing it was cheaper.

 

[kbeefy]

You don't know until you ask. I am amazed at the number of shops that don't have waste oil heaters.
We have 350 + 1000 gallon storage tanks. Holds what we generate and supplies us through most seasons. I have on occasion ran out and/or overfilled.

Maintenance is pretty big on these, keep that in mind. I just replaced a 20 year old unit so it will hopefully be troublefree for a while but the last one broke down about every month.

 

[kbeefy]

There is one shop that averages $10,000/month heat bill and $12,000+/year in oil disposal. I wrote them a bid for the biggest heater, install, tank, etc for roughly $15,000 and they thought that was to much money to spend. I tried to explain to them that they would have a 2 month ROI and they could not comprehend it. They told me they thought the way they were doing it was cheaper.

Unbelievable. Paying $12k disposal so you can pay $120k heating.

Must be a giant operation to run those numbers....

 

[Shop Specialties]

Unbelievable. Paying $12k disposal so you can pay $120k heating.

Must be a giant operation to run those numbers....

That $10k/month heat bill is probably for like 4 months but that is still a lot of $$$ to spend every month.

 

[Super Mech]

My shop is a little bigger than yours and I have a large hanging gas heater. I would love to get a waste oil heater but as far as I know they are not allowed in NYC. I can drive two minutes into Westchester though and they are legal there.

 

[BKB]

I built a 200 gallon super sucker out of an air tank. Pull a vacuum on it at home then go collect my oil. The one shop loves it because it makes no noise and he has apartments above the shop.

 

[Montucky]

Most people that produce oil are considered waste oil generators by the epa. As a small company I don’t give my oil away, since I generated it if I give someone the oil and they spill it it’s still my problem. Something to think about. I only recycle my oil though a used oil recycler and he takes it free.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, not all localities will allow a waste oil heater.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have worked in shops that use waste oil heaters. The ones that had good employees and generated all their own oil (from customer vehicles) were fine and not to much maintenance.

Another farm shop I worked it wouldn't fire one idiot that was constantly dumping antifreeze contaminated oil into the tank and accepted oil from local farmers(always contaminated) was a night mare. Seems like 30 plus mins a day spent changing filters and unclogging lines.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

I had Reznor waste oil furnaces when I had the truck shop out of need, not choice- no natural gas on the street. Pure and simple, it's a huge PITFA to keep the furnace happy, bled, and working. You'll be constantly pumping tanks and drums of oil back and forth, sourcing oil when we needed it and the high maintenance of the furnace itself is something I'll never forget (in a negative way). Tanks, drums, leaks, transfer mess, people telling you "Yes, it's clean oil, no water" when in fact there's a ton of water and sludge in it, etc. We averaged about 2500 gallons per winter, running the furnace from October to May. I can easily see companies paying to dispose of oil when they have NG at the shop.


I moved my current shop to a location with NG so I won't ever have to mess with that $#!t again.

 

[Shop Specialties]

I had Reznor waste oil furnaces when I had the truck shop out of need, not choice- no natural gas on the street. Pure and simple, it's a huge PITFA to keep the furnace happy, bled, and working. You'll be constantly pumping tanks and drums of oil back and forth, sourcing oil when we needed it and the high maintenance of the furnace itself is something I'll never forget (in a negative way). Tanks, drums, leaks, transfer mess, people telling you "Yes, it's clean oil, no water" when in fact there's a ton of water and sludge in it, etc. We averaged about 2500 gallons per winter, running the furnace from October to May. I can easily see companies paying to dispose of oil when they have NG at the shop.


I moved my current shop to a location with NG so I won't ever have to mess with that $#!t again.

Reznor was not the highest quality heater on the market but a lot of what you are describing is poor setup. I have customers burning up to 15,000 gallons of oil a Winter and only call when it is time to clean the heater. 95% of the problems I see are due to human error such as poor install and setup of the entire process.

 

[Spareparts]

Altec Ind. in St. Joe Mo has been using waste oil heaters back in the early 90's. They used the Black Gold units 300 gal tank with a 1/2" steel plate top for a work bench with a vice and the heater mounted about 4-5' above that in their service bays 32 bays and every other bay had a heater. At that time they generated about 40,000 gals of hydraulic oil. The savings from disposing of the oil paid for the heating units. It worked so well that they bought a tanker truck to fill the units every Saturday and do routine maintenance. Hydraulic oil does not have the BTU output that used oil has but it is also cleaner so less problems there. I would supose that record keeping is critical for the EPA but that is what suit and ties are for.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I think a waste oil heater is a great idea. If I was on a farm or large acreage that would be my source of shop heat. I know one guy that has a shop that is set up for waste oil heat. The only item or problem as someone else mentioned is anti freeze contamination. This can likely be filtered out but would add to the time and labour required to use the fuel. But there is something to be said for a fuel source that is basically free.

 

[Shop Specialties]

Antifreeze is easily dealt with by not putting it in the tank in the first place. Then if you are dumb enough to put it in the tank it settles to the bottom and you drain it off.

 

[Randy in Maine]

You may also need to have a state or local license to haul waste oil over the road. You might want to call and ask about what licensing (if any) is required.

 

[Spareparts]

Shop I have seen that on several WOH especially with the large poly tanks, they take the supply right off the valve at the bottom of the tank, I usually go up about 6/8" and put a shut off valve so it gives an oppertunity to drain the trash off and dispost of it properly.

 

[dmurph2016]

Altec Ind. in St. Joe Mo has been using waste oil heaters back in the early 90's. They used the Black Gold units 300 gal tank with a 1/2" steel plate top for a work bench with a vice and the heater mounted about 4-5' above that in their service bays 32 bays and every other bay had a heater. At that time they generated about 40,000 gals of hydraulic oil. The savings from disposing of the oil paid for the heating units. It worked so well that they bought a tanker truck to fill the units every Saturday and do routine maintenance. Hydraulic oil does not have the BTU output that used oil has but it is also cleaner so less problems there. I would supose that record keeping is critical for the EPA but that is what suit and ties are for.

I wonder how many gallons of hydraulic oil equals a gallon of motor oil. The heaters can burn all different kinds of oil, so it’s just whstver I would be able to get my hands on