Everything I read says the max run from the tank to the boiler is 25 feet. Why is this, and is there a workaround? I need to go about 35 feet, and I can't move my fuel tank because it supplies both the house and the shop.

The unit I will be installing in the shop is a used Quietside QXM8. The distance from the tank is about 35 feet, and the bottom of the tank is about 2-3 feet above the fuel inlet on the boiler, so I have a bit of pressure head that I was hoping would account for the extra 10 feet of distance. Is this installation going to be a problem?

Thanks!

You could always step up to a larger line from the tank

Before installing fuel oil anything, look at Air or Ground Source Heat Pumps. Given the price of oil, electric heat may be competitive as well. Estimates are free and from whence operating cost models come so you can see if there is a more cost effective heat plant for you.

my tank is outside the house and about 40 ft away (the line snakes its way to the oil furnace around the perimeter walls)... there is also a drop of about 4 ft from tank outlet to burner as well...

I have always thought that having the oil -warmed- in the heated crawlspace before it gets to the furnace was a good thing..especially when the oil coming from the tank is -30c to -40c and at 16c in the crawlspace.The 40 ft run gets the oil warm before it gets to the burner..

now that said...

Joe is absolutely right...oil is crazy expensive at $1.32/liter and after factoring in a 75% eff furnace an effective rate of $1.65/liter (1.32 x 1.25) OUCH!!

I will be installing an ASHP this fall with electric resistance heat as back-up/emergency heat since there are about 12 weeks of -25c or colder temps in NW Ontario (Canada)... at least the elec is 100% efficient

That along with some new doors/windows/air sealing/insulation next year will get my energy costs way down.

ASHP is cheaper by far but only effective to about -25c

GSHP is WAY more expensive but can be justified your heat load is BIG enough to get a payback in $$ saved over a reasonable period.

Thank you both for your thoughts on the heat pump. Yes, fuel oil is $4.00/gal, but electricity is $0.25/kWh. (Yep, that's Alaska prices.) Either way it is crazy expensive. On the plus side, I'm only heating an 1100 SF newly built shop to about 45 degrees, so my heat load isn't very high. But I doubt at that demand that I'd ever have payback on a heat pump.

I guess I was just more curious about the fuel pressure requirements at the burner. I can do the math if I know what is needed, but a vague "25 feet" in the manual with no reason why wasn't helpful. I guess I'll just try it and if I'm not getting enough fuel then I'll try something else.

my "all in" price for elec is $0.27/KW... bill divided by KW.... the utility says .12 KW but after the delivery/debt repayment/etc its .27...

I feel your pain...