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Basement oil tank and flooding

CEP
CEP Member Posts: 9
in THE MAIN WALL
If a basement floods, can a full basement oil tank (vertical 275 g) break off the full and vent pipes? If so, does anyone know at what approx. water level relative to the tank this would occur (e.g. 30%, 50%, 75%, 100%)?

Comments

  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    It depends on how much air is in the tank. A tank full of oil has far less buoyancy than empty one.

    Are you planning on having your basement turned in to a swimming pool? If it is a concrete floor, cut some 2"X's and fit them tightly against the top of the tank and the ceiling if the basement is going to flood.
    bmwpowere36m3
  • bmwpowere36m3
    bmwpowere36m3 Member Posts: 512
    @icesailor

    Indoor swimming pool… I like it :D
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,991
    edited March 2015
    If the water level rises to the level of the oil in the tank (approximately, oil is lighter than water by a little) then it could start to lift the tank. Many an empty underground oil tank has floated when surrounded by groundwater.
  • Danscrew
    Danscrew Member Posts: 130
    During Sandy the tanks that were low on oil floated up and broke the fill and vent. And leaked what ever oil was left all over the basement what a mess Dan

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