Abandoned Oil Tanks
Many older homes previously used oil tanks to hold heating oil instead of using natural gas or propane. These tanks were commonly placed in a basement, cellar, or buried in the yard next to the house.
Most of these tanks are no longer used, however these old metal tanks rust and corrode over time. This corrosion allows the oil to leak into the soil and groundwater, contaminating drinking water, and harming wildlife, and vegetation. Oil can also seep into basements and crawlspaces, where it can cause respiratory problems and other health problems. The costs associated with oil tank contamination cleanup can be very costly, depending on the extent of the contamination.
If you believe there may be a storage tank on your property or on a property you are purchasing, I recommend the following:
- Look around the home or ask your property inspector to look for signs of an abandoned tank while conducting the home inspection.
- Some obvious signs would be:
- Fill or vent pipes sticking out of the ground
- Oil feed lines coming through the wall of the basement
- Abandoned feed lines where the old furnace was located.
- If a tank is located (even if it is above ground in a basement or cellar):
- Have the tank inspected and removed or decommissioned by a qualified professional.
or - Ask the seller to have the tank removed, decommissioned, or provide documentation that the tank was decommissioned.
- Have the tank inspected and removed or decommissioned by a qualified professional.
The cost of tank removal or decommissioning may be expensive, but it is a fraction of the cost of dealing with the health, environmental, and financial consequences of an oil leak. These steps can help to protect your health, the environment, and your property from the dangers of abandoned in-ground oil tanks.