Inground tank testing

Anthony Mobilio_2

Would like to do inground oil tank tank testing. What is the best method

Ken_8

That depends

There are many ways, all bordering on black magic and witch-craft.

The problem is not testing the tank - as much as the piping attached thereto! The fill pipe, the vent pipe and the oil lines are the problem more than half the time. Simply plugging the vent, the fill and the oil lines, and then pressurizing the tank with a couple of pounds of pressure and seeing if it holds will NOT prove what's leaking - if one exists! From the obvious solution of isolating all elements (the tank itself, the fill, the vent and fuel lines) one can determine if there's a leak and where.

If it gets ugly, monitor wells at the four corners of the tank (in the dirt surrounding the tank and down about 4-8 feet below grade) are frequently done to verify UST integrity. The problem is, if the oil guy was a slob while filling the tank and drooled a few ounces near the fill, over the years, a few ounces can suggest to testing monitors a leak - when in fact it was sloppy fills - not tank leaks that caused the problems!

Like I wrote, UST "testing" borders on black magic and witchcraft...



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Mijola

Tank testing

Do you suspect that you have a leak or are you just testing to be cautious?

Ed Carey

oil-2-4-6-gas

.

is this your tank or tank testing as a business??residential or commercial?

Jamie Hall

Black art

well, not really -- but to do it right, it takes a good bit of training and really good equipment. As someone said, the leaks are most often in the piping -- particularly the swing joints. And even with a clean tank test, you can't be absolutely sure that there are no leaks (I've seen it) and that the ground is clean.

If you intend to do it as a matter of personal curiousity, go for it, but the equipment isn't cheap. If you plan to do it as a business, keep in mind that the insurance (errors and omissions) is hideously expensive!

Kyle Kubs

Tank testing

If your looking to get your personal tank or one in a prospective home tested, there are many companies that do this professionally. It typically costs about 350 - 400 dollars and is considered to be 99.95% accurate. The new computerized equipment is supposed to even pickup a pinhole. "Pressurizing" an oil tank is no longer allowed, for obvious reasons... The new test is done by applying suction. A computer then "listens" for specific frequencies of sound that would indicate a leak and even differentiate between different areas of the tank.

Take a look at this website - I use these guy's on a regular basis
www.tankinspections.com

Good luck

Kyle Kubs
Benchmark Home Inspection Services