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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions and Facts to Know When Owning a Home.
When should I remove or decommission my oil tank?
What is the average cost for a clean up?
Will testing my tank possibly damage it?
Must all underground tanks be removed?
What’s the best tank insurance?
Questions and Facts to Know When Buying or Selling a Home
- What source of energy is at the home?
- Do the sellers have knowledge of an oil tank?
- Do the sellers know how old the tank is, or if it has been previously removed or abandoned by a professional?
- Do the sellers have records to review that the tank was removed or abandoned by a professional?
- Has a certificate of approval been issued by the local Township,City or Environmental company?
- Does the existing underground tank have tank Insurance and is it transferable?
Has the underground tank ever been tested? - If so what kind of test was performed?
- What kind of tank is it and does it have a warranty?
- Has the tank been tested for water?
- Will my homeowner insurance pay for a cleanup?
When should I remove or decommission my oil tank?
15-25 Years
What is the average cost for a clean up?
$9,000.00
Will testing my tank possibly damage it?
NO
What is more reliable when investigating the integrity of an underground tank: Soil Samples or Tank Testing?
Tank Testing
Must all underground tanks be removed?
No, but check with local building Department.
How old is my tank?
Normally the age of the home.
What’s the best tank insurance?
Replacing the underground tank with an above ground or warranty underground tank.
When dealing with oil tank abandonment, removal, installation testing and cleanup always use a licensed environmental company with pollution insurance. When it comes time to sell or refinance your property and the proper procedure, paperwork, permits, inspections and manifests are not completed and submitted or in your possession, a simple procedure now becomes a nightmare costing thousands of dollars more.
Each of these problems can cost thousands of dollars to correct. The following tips can help homeowners avoid costly repairs and problems associated with leaks and spills from home heating oil systems.
Inspect your tank and heating equipment before and during the heating season
Check the condition of your tank and lines. The life of your tank depends on many variables such as the tank construction, tank installation, soil and ground water conditions, and maintenance of the tank. Inspect your tank for signs of corrosion.
Make sure the fill cap and the vent cap are in place and tightly secured.
Check the stability of the tank support and the ground underneath aboveground tanks. Many tanks have buckled or tipped due to instabilities and frost heaving. If you have a wooden tank stand, use only pressure treated lumber. Pressure treated 4×4’s make an excellent tank cradle.
Keep the fill pipe accessible and visible to the delivery company.
Place oil lines between tank and furnace either under concrete or in protective tubing. Check fuel lines for crimps and replace any damaged fuel lines. Use flexible tubing if frost heaving is a problem.
Keep all pipe connections clean and tight. Check for drips from the fittings and the filter.
Clear snow, ice, insect nests or other debris from the tank vent to allow the tank to properly breathe.
Is there a danger of ice or snow sliding off a roof and damaging the tank, tank stand, or exposed fuel lines?
Look for signs of spillage near the fill and vent pipes. Stained soil and rock or distressed vegetation could indicate a fuel spill has occurred.
Water can collect inside a tank from condensation and cause internal corrosion. Trapped water can be controlled by removing the water from a drain plug, using water absorbent socks, or periodically using additives.
Buried tanks can corrode and leak without obvious signs on the surface. Be alert for unexplained fuel losses that might point to leakage.
For inside tanks, be alert for signs of oil in the sump pump pit and floor drains, and for any oil smell in the basement or crawl space.
All indoor tanks should have a vent alarm that alerts the fuel deliverer before the tank is full. When you receive oil, you can ask the deliverer to verify that the whistle is operating.
Things to consider:
- Know how to properly measure your tank and calculate the volume in the tank. Determine your tank size and know when and how much to order from your delivery company.
- Don’t leave your tank unattended during fuel transfers. Avoid overfills!
- Measure and monitor fuel usage and compare it to past seasons. A leaking underground fuel tank or line may cause unexplained increases in fuel consumption.
- Avoid using the area around or under the tank as a storage area. Heavy items can damage the fill or supply pipes.
- Protect fuel lines from damage by vehicles. Snowmobiles, heavy equipment, or heavy vehicle loads can damage underground lines if they are not adequately buried or protected. Aboveground fuel lines should be encased in protective tubing.
- Consider using a locking cap on the fill pipe to help prevent vandalism.
- Install a shutoff valve at the tank outlet to isolate the fuel line in case it starts to leak. If you see a leak in the line, close the valve to avoid spilling the entire tank volume.
- Do children play around the tank? Protect fuel lines so they cannot be used as handholds for children climbing on a tank.
- Consider a secondary containment area under an aboveground tank. A fuel resistant liner will catch spills before they can contaminate surrounding areas.
- If your underground tank is taking on water, a leak may be present. Your oil burner technician can check for water or provide you with a water-finding paste so you can check for yourself.
