5 Key Steps For Oil Tank Removal

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.