If you are selling your home and even if you are buying a home, the folks at Goodwin Realty Group, think you’ll want to take notice of the new heating system regulation for oil burning systems.  On July 1, 2010 there is a new regulation (Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008).  In an effort to eliminate costly and environmentally dangerous mishaps, this Massachusetts law is designed to address this issue.
 

The new regulation requires that all 1-4 family homes with oil feed lines delivering oil to the burner be encased in a protective slee
ve, not underground and not imbedded in concrete.   Alternatively a home owner may opt to remedy this by installing an “oil safety valve” coming directly off the oil tank and located at the bottom where the feed line leaves the oil tank.    In addition to the above requirements, the law addresses a major change making it mandatory that insurance companies that write homeowner’s policies offer “oil clean up” as an optional purchase for homeowners. 

In 1991, new heating and fire regulation codes were upgraded therefore most homes built after 1991 or with heating systems upgraded after 1991 will be in compliance.  However homes built prior to 1991 or not having significant heating system updating, will most likely need to be modified.

Unlike regulatory requirements that precede this one, there is no clear idea of who will regulate this new law.  It is believed that once in common practice, real estate appraisers, the Fire Department (when checking for smoke and carbon equipment compliance) and insurance companies writing the homeowner’s policy will mandate compliance.   Long before these practitioners discover this need will be the savvy real estate salesperson involved in the sale, real estate home inspectors and heating maintenance companies.  Given the recent debacle emanating from the BP oil loss in the Gulf, we all should be good ambassadors of our environment!   If you are not yet selling your home, please consider a repair of your existing oil system.  And those selling, well, please put it on your list of “to do” items! 

Pictures have been provided by Niccoli Bros. Oil serving our customers in Easton and Brockton, MA or any town in their greater service area.  Niccoli Bros. Oil has also has offered  a 15% discount  to any individual wishing to make one of the above repairs—be sure to mention Goodwin Realty Group sent you!