Above Ground Oil Tank Leak

John Levey

I strongly suggest that you get a qualified professional involved ASAP.
Having valves installed on the fill and vent lines is a very bad practice that can lead to serious problems, so is taking oil from that leaking tank and putting it into another tank.

PJO_5

Looks like a very small rust hole...

Wallies,

In my basement I have twin tanks that are 10 years old. The one in the back (of course) has a very small leak in the bottom...just noticed it after the last delivery. It is about one gallon per day which I am catching w/ a basin and putting into the other tank (edit from here) until I can get the permamnent solution done.

1) Is there anything that can patch this somehow? I'm thinking some sort of "Dresser Coupling" style of set-up...maybe with a tiny lolly column or something?

2) How about a patch weld? Can this be done while the tank is full?

3) Of course, I can pump the 260 gallons back outside, remove the tank, clean what's left of the floor, get a new tank, etc. I am also worried about the other one.

Advice?

Thanks, PJO

Unknown

You had better,

tend to that and quick!

Look what a neighbor of mine went through last winter because of the same thing!

Dave

Al Letellier_9

leaking tank

Be careful....here in Maine it is illegal to put oil in a bpatched tank and any leaking tank must be replaced. This is a NFPA reg and you should/must replace it.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

PJO_5

I plan on replacing it...

I'm talking about what to do in the meanwhile (I should have stated that better at the start). Please remember it is above-ground...most regs. deal with UST.

I certainly am not going to have a patched tank in my basement for long. Thanks for the help so far gents.

Take Care, PJO

Unknown

My neighbors tank

was above ground, at the rear of the pictured house.
I wouldn`t fool around with it, take heed to Al`s advice!

Dave

Mark_7

oil tank

When we replace a tank we bring 275 gal tanks along to pump out what cust has inexisting tanks. Remove old tanks,set up new tanks and refill.

bill_97

Same here

For our customers we drop a temp tank outside and pump the leaking one into it , till we can get there to do the complete job . They make a temporary fix called Magna-Patch , which is a rubber gasket held in place with magnets. But that's just a very temporary fix , meaning one day .

Leo_13

Danger Danger

A leaking oil tank is no safer than a leaking gas line. One blows up the other cause's what you saw with the house jacked up. Don't ask here, call someone in to address it. There are magnetic patches that buy a little time but if you leak too much a contractor is obligated to report it. YOU DON'T WANT OR NEED THAT.

Leo

PJO_5

Thanks!

That's what I was looking for.

As stated earlier, I am catching the slow drip with a basin and putting it into the other tank...nothing is leaking anywhere else to cause any environmental damage. I did have a very small stain on my concrete below the tank when the adsorbent cloth (which I kept under the tanks) let a little through. The wife thought she smelled something so I checked it out...

The work is supposed to get done later today, but I'll see if I can get a Magnapatch just in case.

Thanks guys. PJO

Todd S_9

tank leak

I would also be sure to disable the fill pipe in some manner so that it won't be filled again. Mistakes can happen and you don't want an accidental delivery to this tank if a delivery driver gets the address wrong.

PJO_5

Thanks Todd...

I have valves on the fill and vent side of each tank, so that should do it...I am putting a basin under it just in case though ;-)

PJO

JOHN_103

leaking oil tank

unless your house is hard to get to in snow storms or you burn alot of oil you could have it pumped out and remove the tank and piping and go with one tank. if it was cold out you could magna-patch the tank and shut the valves off on the good tank and run down the leaker, but the magna-patch does not buy you much time. act now

Unknown

years ago i saw a patch which was a thick rubber sheet held onto tank with metal straps.

Unknown

I totally agree,

with John. Here`s a read from a Canadian company that manufactures steel OT, I think many will find it interesting.
Pay particular attention to the end of the document.

Dave

Unknown

I totally agree,

with John. Here`s a read from a Canadian company that manufactures steel OT`s, I think many will find it interesting.
For people with tanks, pay particular attention to the end of the document.

Dave

PJO_5

John,

I do have professionals involved. Why are the valves a "very bad practice..."? The way the tanks are set-up, the fill lines are not the same length...so thus the need for valves to get both tanks full. I isolate one tank and then the other...when the filling is done all valves are opened again. Maybe you are thinking that the wrong valves would be closed?

What would you suggest I do with the oil in the leaking tank? Others have said here it should be pumped to another tank...do you have another suggestion?

Thanks, PJO