Roth Tank Installation

[Junkman]

I picked up 3 used Roth tanks from a home that converted to gas, and am going to be installing them in my cellar this summer. I would like to know about piping them for the fill and the vent. I did a little internet searching, and found that they have a single fill kit to hook tank 1 & 2 together, but it is a little pricey at $650 list price. The kit to connect tank 2 to tank 3 lists for $362. Not sure if I can get these kits wholesale, or even buy it if I wanted to pay the price, since around here, the supply houses are requiring a plumbers license to purchase from them.
I was thinking of installing 3 individual fills, and then piping the vents together. What are your thoughts as to if the "kits" are worth buying or how I was thinking of doing the installation. I was also thinking that I would use a 2 inch fill, but not certain as to the size of the vent. Should it be 2" also, or is 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" OK? Is a firematic required on the burner pick up at the top of the tank? I want to do this right the first time.
thanks Junk.

 

[Randy in Maine]

OK I will bite....

Why would you have anyone other than someone with an actual license install your tanks inside your own house? Is this something you really want to lowball on?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... The installation manuals are on-line,....

I didn't even know 'bout these tanks, the company headquarters is right here in Watertown,....

If I were doin' it, I'd price out the parts to do the multi-plumbin', 'n compare that to the "Kits",...
Whichever was cheaper, would be the way I'd go,...

I ain't licensed, but I'm damn capable,...

 

[404]

OK I will bite....

Why would you have anyone other than someone with an actual license install your tanks inside your own house? Is this something you really want to lowball on?

It is an oil tank not a Saturn 5 rocket motor.

 

[404]

Funny I took out a roth in CT about 1 year ago. Fill and vent were both 2 inch.

If you do 3 separate fill and vents it avoids problems with the top of the tanks moving relative to each other. The tops want to sag. 3 separate will also avoid screwing around with tees and unions.

Some pics online show a firematic at the top of the roth, but here in MA I have seen pro installed tanks without one as long as the withdrawal is at the top of the tank, which is the case with a roth.


Suggest you copy whatever was done at the old house.

 

[Junkman]

OK I will bite....

Why would you have anyone other than someone with an actual license install your tanks inside your own house? Is this something you really want to lowball on?

Considering that I plumbed and installed all the electrical, including the main service, I know that I am qualified. I also installed my own furnaces, flu, piping, and the steel oil tank. I asked this question, since I have no experience with these new tanks, nor do I know the codes that are in play today, concerning these tanks. The electrical codes are easy to find, but plumbing codes are hidden from the public.

 

[mygarageone]

Considering that I plumbed and installed all the electrical, including the main service, I know that I am qualified. I also installed my own furnaces, flu, piping, and the steel oil tank. I asked this question, since I have no experience with these new tanks, nor do I know the codes that are in play today, concerning these tanks. The electrical codes are easy to find, but plumbing codes are hidden from the public.

The oil tank piping most likely falls in the mechanical code div. though plumbers would do it.

 

[Randy in Maine]

Is it legal in your state for a homeowner to install his own tanks? I don't know.

I do know that here it is legal for a homeowner to install in his "homeowner occupied single family house" his own heating oil tank. That would likely void any warranty on the tank, but that would not be an issue for the OP.

It is not legal in many states for a lot of reasons. The homeowner's insurance company may also have some issues with an homeowner installed tank if there was a problem. I would find out before I installed it if it were me.

 

[Jackfre]

That is a nice pick-up. NFPA 31 is the regulating code for Oil Installation. You can view it on-line. The Roths are good because they are a 100% containment tank.

 

[yeldogt]

Your a bit late -- just had two taken out.

The Roth tanks are smaller -- to minimize deliveries you must get two or three ...vs getting a 550g or 750g. The cascading tanks require a special setup and a trunk that pumps at a particular rate.

Mine were somewhat hidden and I did not want to take the chance that they could overflow somehow -- they were piped individually with individual fill pipes .. but I think they had one vent (outside).


My oil company installed them.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Ayuh,.... The installation manuals are on-line,....

I didn't even know 'bout these tanks, the company headquarters is right here in Watertown,....

Watertown, Germany?? Seriously, Germany is where my Roth tank was made. Watertown must be the US Headquarters.

Tommy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It is an oil tank not a Saturn 5 rocket motor.

Saturn 5 rocket motors are built by the lowest bidder...

Tommy

 

[Jackfre]

Years ago I was called in on a job in E MA. It was a fancy fancy house. the guy had the whole basement area filled with very high end old cars. The contractor installing a heating system for the owner piped the two oil tanks incorrectly, pressurized the tanks and blew the bottom out of them and the guy running the truck just kept on pumping. Kinda turned the guys really nice house into a Superfund site. They jacked up the house and put new floor, foundation & walls under it, after removing an enormous amount of contaminated soil. I think the guy got all new interiors in all of his high end cars due to "odor absorption". Ya just cannot dream this stuff up.

Don't be that guy! The contractor I mean. By all means, do be the owner!

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

There is no substitute for experience, or literacy...

 

[404]

Saturn 5 rocket motors are built by the lowest bidder...

Tommy

Yes but can we agree that they are more complex than installing an oil tank?

 

[jonjon1]

If you have an RE micheals by you see if they will order you the kits, I havent ordered them in a long time, I would check your local codes for...
how much indoor storage you are allowed, clearance to certain items like electric panels, etc.

Besides that it is very east to install with the kits, they look good when finished and they are well made, but costly... Follow the instructions and upon initial fill up have some one in the basement watching and fill slow, a good delivery man will read the whislte and know if there is an issue, its not that hard to do, when ever I install a new tank, I make sure to have 2 techs there for the first fill, I don't care if its a simple 275 outdoor tank, I am there to make sure all goes well, and check for problems before and after...

 

[Vermaraj]

Simply plumbing .com has the parts you need. Usually at pretty reasonable pricing. It's Ferguson's internet site.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Yes but can we agree that they are more complex than installing an oil tank?

Sure. Doing either one wrong can have silimar results. Just kidding. I know fuel oil doesn't just explode...

Tommy