OilTankRemovals.com - Blog

5 Key Steps For Oil Tank Removal

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 17:28:11 GMT

Your home’s underground oil tank may have helped keep you and your family warm through dozens of cold winters. However, nothing lasts forever. Whether it has sprung a leak, is in need of an upgrade or has become obsolete, you may be considering getting rid of it. If so, you must understand exactly what is involved. There’s far more to the process of removing an old vessel than simply digging it out of the ground. The process is too complicated for a typical homeowner to attempt as a do-it-yourself project, for a variety of reasons. The size of the tank, the type of equipment needed and the environmental impact the removal process can have make it necessary to call in professionals under most circumstances. Still, you should be familiar with the process. Here are the most important steps involved in removing an underground oil tank.

Step 1: Locating the Tank

Depending on how familiar you are with your property, you may be unsure of the exact location of the underground oil storage tank. Even if you are certain about the location, the professionals from a company specializing in tank removal can help determine whether other utilities are in close proximity and how that affects the removal process.

Step 2: Creating a Plan

Once the location of the oil tank is determined, a specific plan can be drawn up for this complex undertaking. It’s essential to plan as much of the removal process as possible ahead of time to avoid unforeseen delays. A comprehensive plan can even include post-removal actions such as replacing the topsoil for your yard and garden.

Step 3: Getting the Proper Permits

Even though the removal process takes place on your property, the type of work typically will require approval from your local governmental bodies. The company removing your oil tank will do research about the necessary permitting. A failure to get the proper permits could result in your project being halted.

Step 4: Using the Right Equipment

If space around the oil tank allows it, a backhoe typically will be used to help remove the oil tank. A professional service provider is likely to have this and any other specialized equipment required to remove the tank.

Step 5: Hiring an Inspector

Whether or not it is required for your permits, hiring an inspector is almost always a good idea. Experience and expertise are needed to determine that the property has been cleared of hazardous substances and that any other potential post-removal issues have been mitigated.

If you believe it may be time to have your home’s oil tank removed for any reason, there’s a lot to consider. Willard Environmental Group has the capabilities and knowledge necessary to carry out every essential step. To make the process as easy and worry-free as possible, reach out to us for a quote today.

Why Is My Oil Tank Leaking?

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 14:40:49 GMT

Why Is My Oil Tank Leaking?

When it’s in good working order, your property’s oil tank helps keep you and your family warm. When it isn’t, it can spring a leak that leads to serious problems. Any leaks can mean a costly and disruptive cleanup process to remove harmful contaminants from the soil. With that in mind, it’s important to know how and why your oil tank may be leaking. With this information, you may be able to avoid a leak or at least pinpoint the cause.

Reason No. 1: Water Outside the Tank
Most leaks are caused by corrosion, which is why it’s essential for it to have a protective coating. Otherwise, rainwater that seeps into the ground will create rust on the outside of the walls and lead to a breakdown in its integrity.

Reason No. 2: Water Inside the Tank
If there is moisture inside, it can condense on the walls and lead to the metal becoming corroded. There are a number of ways in which water could be introduced into it — such as inferior fuels or seepage into the pipes feeding it.

Reason No. 3: The Water Table
Whenever digging on your property, you should always be aware of where the water table is. This is the point at which you will begin to encounter groundwater in the soil. If yours is buried below this level, it could mean moisture is pooling around it all the time, which in turn creates corrosion.

Reason No. 4: Poor Construction
There’s a much greater chance that your equipment will fail if it is made from inferior materials or with shoddy construction. If you choose the cheapest option in the hope you’ll save a few dollars, you could end up paying for it later. It’s also important to note that poor construction can make it more likely that water will get inside the oil tank.

Reason No. 5: Loose Connections
Always make sure the pipes connecting the oil tank to the house are tight and secure. Not only could fuel start leaking into the ground from loose connections, but moisture from the ground could find its way in, as well.

Reason No. 6: Bacteria
Microscopic bacteria can take residence inside your oil tank. Over time, they will leave corrosive materials that will eat through the metal. This is why you should have a protective coating on the inside as well as the outside.

There are many reasons why your underground storage tank may be leaking. However, no matter the source of the problem, Willard Environmental Group has the solution. Our complete repair services can ensure that any issues are dealt with and any contamination is cleaned up and completely removed. For more information about our capabilities, visit our leak repair service page.

Using Companies that are Properly Licensed and Insured

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:56:05 GMT

When it comes to successful home renovation projects, choosing the right contractor for the job is an important first step. Whether you're remodeling a bathroom, building a deck or removing an underground storage tank, slow down and do some research. If you don't choose the right contractor, you could end up disappointed in the work, feeling swindled and needing someone else to finish the job.

Get a referral from someone you know. People love updating their
homes so you should have no trouble coming up with a list of contractors. Sometimes it's difficult to find a company that performs work on petroleum storage tanks. We have a list of folks in our TESTIMONIAL section that are very satisfied with our services.

Hire a contractor who specializes in the type of work you need done. Someone you hire to install wood flooring or to build a deck should be a carpentry contractor, while someone you hire to remove an underground storage tank should specialize in tank work. There are many different trade certifications, so be sure to check the title on your contractor's certification to make sure he or she is a specialist.

Check licenses and insurance. Ask the contractor for copies of the following documents: Contractor's License and Certificates of Insurance. A reputable contractor will have no problem providing copies of these documents.

Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out if complaints have ever been filed or are outstanding against the contractor. Beware of companies who display the BBB Logo on their information to make it appear they are members. Our information can be found
HERE.

We have discovered a lot of companies in the Northern Virginia area performing tank removals without the proper licensing and insurance. Don't be afraid to ask for proof of licensing and insurance. We can make these documents available at your request.

Tips & Warnings

Hire a contractor who seems professional and knowledgeable.

Check with your county or city building department about whether a permit is required for the work to be done. If a permit is required, the liability is on the owner of the property to procure the permit or authorize the contractor to pull the permit.

Don't hire unlicensed contractors to do the job. If you do, you
will have no recourse should you be unhappy with the job or should you have code or permit violations cited by your county.

Selling your Home? Have an Underground Heating Oil Tank?

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:13:45 GMT

Oil Tank Leak Rates Reported in Real Estate Publications Real Estate Publications, while reluctant to scare home owners and buyers by aggressive reporting on leaky oil tanks (which can involve a very large cleanup expense), also cite the concern for leaking oil tanks.

"Statistics indicate as many as 25% of all Underground storage tanks (USTs) may now be leaking. These underground tanks may hold oil or gas but can most frequently be found at homes heated with oil. Over time, there is a tendency for these older tanks to corrode and leak their contents into the ground and possibly into the ground water. Because of the great expense involved in cleaning up the contamination caused by leaking tanks, it behooves those that have older underground tanks, to have them or the soil tested."

HOW CAN FUEL OILS AFFECT MY HEALTH?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:12:24 GMT

We know very little of the human health effects caused by fuel oils. Daily use of a kerosene stove for cooking should not cause any breathing problems for most people. People who use kerosene stoves to cook do not have more colds than people who have other types of stoves. Breathing moderate amounts of deodorized kerosene (fuel oil no. 1) has been shown to slightly affect the ability to smell and to cause a taste sensation. Numerous case-studies have reported accidental poisoning in children as the result of drinking kerosene.

These accidents are probably much more frequent in areas where kerosene is commonly used for cooking and heating. Drinking kerosene may cause vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of the stomach, stomach cramps, coughing, drowsiness, restlessness, irritability, and unconsciousness; also, it may be difficult to breathe, and breathing may be painful. Coughing, pneumonia, and difficult or painful breathing after drinking kerosene suggest that kerosene has entered the lungs. In addition, drinking large amounts of kerosene can put you into a coma, cause convulsions, and may even cause death. When kerosene gets on your skin for short periods, it can make your skin itchy, red, and sore; sometimes blisters may occur and your skin may peel.

Breathing fuel oil no. 1 vapor for periods as short as 1 hour may make you feel nauseous, increase your blood pressure, be irritating to your eyes, or make your eyes bloodshot. Breathing kerosene or JP-5 vapors can also affect your nervous system. Some of the effects that have been noted in case studies include headache, light-headedness, anorexia (loss of appetite), poor coordination, and difficulty concentrating. Breathing diesel fuel vapors for a long time may damage your kidneys, increase your blood pressure, or lower your blood’s ability to clot. Constant skin contact (for example, washing) with diesel fuel may also
damage your kidneys.

It appears that repeated contact with fuel oils can cause skin cancer in mice and may cause liver cancer in mice. However, there is some conflicting information. Further, the fuel oils were tested only on mice. We do not know if fuel oils can cause cancer in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that residual (heavy) fuel oils and marine diesel fuel are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B classification). In addition, IARC considers that there is not enough information (Group 3 classification) available to determine if distillate (light) fuel oils or distillate (light) diesel fuels cause cancer. They have also determined that occupational exposures to fuel oils during petroleum refining are probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A classification). We do not know if fuel oils can cause birth defects or if they affect reproduction. See Chapter 2 for more information on the health effects of fuel oils.

THE RISK - A Home Buyer's Guide to Buried Oil Tanks - The Risk of Oil Leaks Means Risk of Major Cleanup Costs

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:18:56 GMT

When we observe evidence that a buried fuel storage tank is located at a property and when no other information is known about the type, condition, or even exact location of the tank, underground tank leaks, environmental damage, local water or well contamination, and a costly cleanup are potential risks to the property owner.

Because significant site cleanup costs can be involved if an oil tank has leaked at a property, unless there is reliable documentation that the tank has been tested quite recently, it would be prudent for a home buyer to have such testing performed before purchasing the property.

Installing a new oil storage tank will involve significant expense. There are also proper methods of "abandoning" old unused buried tanks.

Before completing purchase of a property that has or had a buried oil tank you need to have either had the tank removed, abandoned in place, or tested.

Usual Reasons for Oil Storage Tank Leaks - Rust Perforation

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:10:33 GMT

Underground fuel storage tanks usually fail from rust perforation from the inside of the tank, due to several effects of water inside the tank including, in the case of heating oil, combination of water with sulphur in the fuel.

So if a test shows that there is a lot of water in a buried oil tank one would be more pessimistic about its remaining life.

Water in home heating oil joins with sulphur in this case to become acidic and corrosive. It causes tank failure by rust penetration from the inside. Also, there may be a bacteria living in tanks, existing at the water/oil interface, digesting organics and excreting acids.

The corrosiveness of this activity is often most significant at the water-oil interface in the tank, which explains why some tank leaks will develop not at the very bottom of the tank (but look there too) but instead, a few inches up, along the side of the tank.

The height of this corrosion line along the sides of the inside of the oil storage tank depends on the amount of water in the tank and thus the location of the water/oil interface line on the side of the tank.

Happy New Years from WEG!

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:48:36 GMT

Happy New Years from everyone at Willard Environmental Group Inc! Although I've been doing environmental consulting work for over 15 years, WEG got it's start in June of 2009. It has been a very prosperous time for us and we appreciate each and every one of our great clients! We could not do it without you! We will be adding content to our website and blog on a continual basis, so check back with us often to get the latest tips, tricks, suggestions and recommendations needed to stay environmentally friendly. Hope everyone has a great 2011 New Years!

Test The Tank - Basic Advice about Testing Buried Oil Tanks

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:00:46 GMT

Hire an expert to find hidden or buried tanks, abandoned tanks, or to test existing tanks: Willard Environmental Group Inc has equipment to test buried tanks for leaks. Tanks and soil around and below tanks are tested for evidence of leakage using:

Common oil tank leak tests listed below can tell you if a tank has already leaked and can help assess the chances of an upcoming oil tank leak. The tests are listed here.

Water testing in oil tanks can indicate the risk of in-tank corrosion and thus leakage - an easy first-pass which can be used at both above ground tanks and buried oil tanks. However, just having no water in the tank does not indicate that the tank is not leaking.
Soil testing looks for evidence of actual oil contamination in the soil. A proper soil test is based on having located the buried tank or the site where a tank was buried, and taking borings to a depth approximately just below the tank bottom.
Low-psi tank pressure-testing is used to test a tank for existing leaks.
Electronic testing can also screen tanks for evidence of damage - usually this is used only on commercial jobs.
Ground scanning radar or magnetic sensing is also used to locate buried steel tanks.

I advise home buyers to have a soil test performed rather than a pressure test of an existing oil tank, since even if the tank is not currently leaking we would prefer an assurance that it didn't leak before, say from a plumbing connection that was repaired.