Heating oil tanks that leak or spill can cause environmental damage that requires costly cleanup. Tank inspections can identify signs of a potential issue before it causes a problem.
An inspector will check the tank’s base and footing to ensure they are stable enough to support the weight of an oil tank. They will also look for any rust around the weld seams, which can indicate a possible leak.
Safety
Oil tank leaks are considered an environmental hazard and can cause soil contamination that impacts plants and wildlife. It can also be a health risk for people living in the area.
Corrosion can occur at the seams of your oil tank, so inspecting the tank’s exterior regularly is essential. An inspector will look for rust around the weld seams to identify any signs of corrosion that could lead to a potential leak.
Regularly inspecting an above-ground oil tank’s base and footing is also essential. An inspector will ensure that the tank sits on a uniform concrete slab instead of cinder blocks, which are more likely to shift over time. An inspector will also take soil samples from all sides of the underground tank to determine if any petroleum-based substances are in the surrounding soil. This information can help create a plan to remediate the contaminated soil.
Peace of Mind
Many property owners need to remember their buried oil tanks when they start to leak and cause environmental damage. When this happens, the cost of cleaning up the soil and groundwater can run into the millions. This is why a professional oil tank removal Westchester County NY that guarantees their work is so necessary.
The professionals will start by searching the land for clues that indicate the presence of an old oil tank. These could include a lack of vegetation or flat stones that may have been used to mark an oil tank filler or vent line. The professionals will also use detection equipment to search for buried metal eight feet below the surface.
If the old oil tank is found, it will be tested to see if there are any current or future leaks. The results will indicate if any remediation is needed to the soil around the tank. The new home buyers will need to know this information to budget for the cleanup costs.
Reputation
When a home heating oil tank is not properly inspected and maintained, it may start to leak. This could be dangerous and cause a mess. Homeowner insurance companies might only cover the property once the leak is resolved.
When you have a leaking underground oil tank, cleaning up can be very expensive. Also, there might be a need to test the soil and report any leaks to the authorities. These issues can prevent you from selling your property or making a deal with a buyer.
If you are going to sell a property, it is essential to have an inspection done on the underground oil tank. A professional can investigate an oil tank’s past or present existence on a property using ground-penetrating radar and steel rods. They can also verify the tank’s size, capacity, and direction. Then the tank can be safely removed, and the soil can be remediated and returned to normal.
Cost
An underground oil tank requires excavation to locate and remove. This can add significant project costs. In addition, a leaky tank can lead to environmental damage requiring costly soil testing and remediation.
This can run tens of thousands of dollars. A home inspector or fuel oil company trained by TankSure can detect the presence of an underground oil tank using ground penetrating radar or electromagnetics and provide a report to the property buyer.
In most cases, a leaking underground tank must be removed and the soil tested. This involves drilling holes or coupons in the bottom of the tank and collecting soil samples. The soil is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. If the results show that the earth is contaminated with petroleum, the homeowner must notify their state-level environmental agency and submit for cleanup. This is a significant expense for the homeowner and a reason that it’s essential to ask about the existence of an old buried oil tank in any seller disclosure.
