Question on Heating Oil!

greatcrested

You should get a computer print out from the lorry showing the start/end time, and the start/end litres.

Until a few years ago Trading Standards used to periodically test the lorry pumps/computers (as they still do with petrol station pumps), but no longer (apart from a very few council TSs).

* just checked GoffOil website which seems to be out of date...

How do I know how much oil was delivered?

All our heating oil deliveries are made through the meter on the lorry. All meters are set, sealed, and checked by Trading Standards. The delivery ticket will have recorded on it the appropriate meter readings.

youth_leader

It never occurred to me the oil man would deliver less, I suppose it is possible.  I can't remember what was on my bills.  As for the coal man, if he delivers in sacks, I was told to 'watch him' and  'count' them!  And then ask him to come back on Friday afternoon for the payment when my husband had given me the money! 

welwynrose

As we’ve got a monitor on ours I can check how much is in my tank at anytime and I always do after delivery 

Thrugelmir

Many years back when I had a Saturday job at a garage. We used to climb on top of the oil tankers with the driver before and after delivery to dip the individual tanks. To ensure that there was 5,000 litres on board and that the full loads were discharged. No metering. 

sujsuj

greatcrested said

When was it last emptied? They should not be emptied too often as that removes all the 'good' bacteria that is needed for them to working properly. Once a year max (we do it around every 2 years).

But you need to check it is compliant with the new rules. On sale of a property, STs must comply with the 2020 rules. Where does the outflow go? If to a watercourse, you'll need to upgrade, probably to a small sewage works.

This is where I have problem. According to documents I received from previous owners .last emptying was done on  Aug 2020 and was told previously it was done once in an year (it was 2 adults stayed here before). No other information like capacity of tank etc anywhere. My solicitor recommended survey but I was keen to close the purchase ASAP before next lockdown so didn't bother to do that.  
Surely there can't be any monitor for this..except nose when it goes wrong..???

greatcrested

If you believe it as emptied in August, and it appears to be funcioning (ie not backing up) then I wouldn't worry. Get it emptied next summer.

But you should be considering compliance. Many septic tanks are very old (ours was about 100 - currently being replaced) and that's often fine.

But if it drains to a watercourse (lake, pond, river, ditch, highway drain, canal, etc) it is now illegal.

Likewise if it drains to a drainage field, that must comply in terms of size, soil type, and speed with which it soaks away.

Lots of reading.......

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6186516/purchasing-a-house-with-septic-tank/p1

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/442889/BR_PDF_AD_H_2015.pdf

https://www.wte-ltd.co.uk/percolation_test.html

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-binding-rules-small-sewage-discharge-to-a-surface-water

https://en-gb.graf.info/news-press/company/2020-general-binding-rules.html

Davesnave

sujsuj said:

greatcrested said

When was it last emptied? They should not be emptied too often as that removes all the 'good' bacteria that is needed for them to working properly. Once a year max (we do it around every 2 years).

But you need to check it is compliant with the new rules. On sale of a property, STs must comply with the 2020 rules. Where does the outflow go? If to a watercourse, you'll need to upgrade, probably to a small sewage works.

Surely there can't be any monitor for this..except nose when it goes wrong..???

You should know by now where it drains to and you may have an inspection chamber on the outlet. You ought to have one on the inlet and on the tank itself. If water is running out clear, everything's fine. If material isn't backed up in the inlet everything's probably fine. When things are not fine, waste flows over the weir at the bottom end and down the outlet, quickly blocking the drain field. This soon leads to gooey black sludge and smelly black water making its way to the surface in the drain field, especially in winter.

Don't ask me how I know!