Residential Oil Tank Safety Oil tanks Can be good to have, but they can also cause a lot of issues as well. One of the biggest problems when it comes to these tanks is that they begin to leak from underneath – the above ground ones are easier to inspect so this shouldn’t happen often unless you never have it inspected, but the ones that are below ground are much more difficult and expensive to inspect so sadly a lot of owners just don’t do it.
If you have a leak in your oil tank and you are not taking care of it or fixing it, this could lead to hundreds of gallons of oil to spill and soak up into the foundation of your home, your yard and WILL ruin local drinking water as well. Nearly half of the oil spills in the US are because of domestic oil spills. That’s unfortunate but what is even more unfortunate is that people just don’t seem to learn that these tanks are not something you can just set and forget. Oil tanks are regulated. When oil is spilled it can cause groundwater issues and contamination of the soil, but it also smells really bad and is hard to clean up. If you can’t clean it up yourself you will have to hire someone and this could end up costing you thousands of dollars to have cleaned up by professionals. Once a spill happens, you cant just wait days or weeks to clean it up, you have to do it right then and there which may cost you even more if you need to find a company that can do it for you in an emergency! If you are a New Jersey resident and are looking for a company that can assist you n cleaning your oil spill you should contact a company that does oil tank clean up in NJ. When dealing with an oil tank leak the best case scenario is a simple clean up, that means replacing the tank and the supply lines which might cost a few hundred dollars. At worst you will have to treat the groundwater, possibly replace the foundation of your house, etc. This will most likely cost you thousands of dollars! The Tanks
Most of the time when you have an Oil Tank they are galvanized steel and poly mixed tanks but there are also fiberglass and steel tanks as well. The combination steel and poly tanks are the strongest, but they are also the most. Most Oil Tank range from around 275 gallons on up to 330, but as a homeowner you can also find smaller and larger versions as well depending on your needs. Buying Your Tank When it comes time to buy an Oil Tank, not just any tank will do. Make sure that the tank has a label on it that its been tested by the EPA under its strict guidelines and that it meets certain regulations. If it does not include this label, go someplace else. Immediately. Another thing to look for are the pipes on the tank, none of the pipes should be made from plastic or rubber, but instead metal. This is a requirement and will help keep you, your house and your family safe from home fires. Lastly, never buy a used tank. Taking Care Of Your Tanks Oil spills can be prevented if you notice them early on. Most of the fuel companies out there right now will come and inspect your tank to make sure that nothing is wrong with the tank. If they do notice any problems, they are supposed to report those problems to you, as well as give you a list of recommended repairs that need to be done. Remember to also change the filter on your tank once a year. And to remove things like sludge, dirt, soil and water on the bottom part of the tank. By doing this you will reduce the chance of creating rust in the bottom part of the tank which can eventually lead to a leak. Lastly, make sure that you aren’t just checking the inside of the tank, but the outside as well. Look for things like rust and make sure that the rust proof paint is still on the tank. If its all been washed away or rubbed off, you need to apply a new layer of the paint to reduce rust from forming.