Oil Tank Explodes All Over My Finished Basement

Sally_2

I am a senior citizen that just got back from Florida where I have a condo. I noticed a strong smell of oil in my house. When I went down stairs to check where the smell was coming from oil was all over my finished basement. It appears that my oil tank is leaking from the top. Is this possible??? I just received an oil delivery could they have over filled the tank???? There is about 40 gallons of oil in my basement and when I spoke to my oil company they told me because they are short handed no one can get here until sat. afternoon weather permitting.

Firedragon_4

Call and ask to speak to a supervisor, if

that doesn't work call the Fire Dept.

Chuckles_3

If you'd ever had an explosion, you wouldn't use the word to describe a leak.

Carl PE

Here we go again..

Weezbo

the quickest way would be to throw towels on the oil

put them in a bag or bucket and take them out of the building...do NOT use any towels or rags that have been used as painting cleaner ups or store them under the stairs till they "dry out"....it is unlikely that you will ave any help so, turn the power off to any boiler BEFORE embarking on that clean up. the local gasoline station may give you some heavy white material they use as spill clean up kits....if not you will probably have to buy it...

sootmonkey

oil spill

time to find a new oil company.

Jed_2

Sally

Call them back and tell them you're calling the DEP. See what kind of response you get then! That's a hazardous waste site.

paul sr

if you call the dep, they will come and drill 4" holes in your floor and take soil samples. if it gets under the floor and contaminates the soil there gonna blow a wall out of the side of your house, dig up your floor and remove soil until they find no more contamination. if its an old house it could have had a leak in the past that your now responsible for. its also big bucks to have it hauled away. ive seen these oil spills go into six figures with a blink of an eye. most homeowners insurance wont cover oil spills. my co goes to the full extent to cover our customers butts and we go there immediately!! we will try to take care of it so the homeowner doesnt get the shaft. did they inspect that tank and piping before they started filling it, and check for the proper permit to store? required by most insurance companys also. i would threaten the company with dep involvement, and hope they dont call your bluff. sorry to hear about this, oil spills can be tough. paul sr.

Weezbo

Paul, i think you forgot to mention the monitoring station

that is then required as there could be some ambiguity of as to how long this spill may have been occuring in the past,it is basically a small 4X6 box with THOUSANDS of dollars of various devices with sensors that are down in the soil inside of core drilled tubes...:)oh they aint gonna like it much....

homecheck

oil leak

I have a smaller, but similar problem. I had a leaking oil tank replaced in my basement in the fall. The installation was poor. There was a leak at threaded joint at the bottom of the tank and at the fill pipe. I called the installer, but he has dragged his feet. I contacted the state environmental agency, but they seem more concerned with larger spills. I recently called the county permit people. No permit was obtained to install the tank, but I haven't heard anything in a week. I don't want to fill the tank, because it will probably have to be drained to fix the lower leak, so we get 100 gallons at a time when temps are in the low teens with a blizzard on the way (Metro Phila.).
What do I do now?

jeff_51

yes

they could have overfilled that tank, have heard the horror stories. Call your ins co if you havent and then a co like servicemaster or cure. Cure usually only does water but they may have some ideas. There no is 1-800-420-6748. don,t know the other no but I.m sure they are in your phone book

pete_15

looking for hvac pro in lehigh valley pa

used the "find a pro", none close enough.
need a pro for quote on electric/heat pump to gas hydronic coil conversion. must be local enough to service.
please post reply or email to above address.
thanks
pete

ps: any "unreccomendations" appreciated also