Testing a residential fuel tank

zepfan · February 1

Is there any way to test the integrity of an in ground residential fuel oil tank? Are there companies that do this? I know that there are companies that test in ground gasoline tanks. The reason I ask is that two winters ago I had three customers that had in ground tanks that leaked, and were all about the same age 45 years. Those customers had their tanks dug up, and installed new ones in their basements.

Now I have a customer that just purchased a home that is about 50 years old, with an in ground tank. I can only assume that the tank is the original one. That customer is talking about putting in a new patio, which the tank is below. I didn't know if there was a way to test the tank or just suggest that they should think about replacing it with one that could go in their basement. thanks to all

Jamie Hall · February 1

The only really reliable way is to fill the tank, then monitor the level. The alternative is to take soil samples all around the tank going at least to groundwater, and have them analysed — which isn't cheap.

50 years old? I wouldn't chance it. It may still be sounds, but… that's pushing it awfully hard.

I might add that if the tank does leak in the future, even if it sound now, the resulting cleanup costs are eye-watering.

EBEBRATT-Ed · February 1

Either way i would not put a patio on a 50 year old tank or over any tank for that matter.

If the tank is that old it needs to go. have them budget for it and replace it. Any money testing that tank would be a waste of money. I doubt the building code would allow building on top of that tank.

HydronicMike · February 1

Well if it's an underground tank it's supposed to be registered and checked every year. Ultrasonic testing is one way. Leaving it off for an extended period of time and checking levels is another.
If a person purchased a home with a 50 year old inground tank and accepted it as-is, well there's nothing I can say next that would be nice. I know the market is hot, and around here people are foregoing septic and well inspections when buying house, which is ridiculous.
The tank has to go, sooner than later. Maybe limp thru the winter, but after that, if they don't replace that tank you have to walk. Should the tank be a leaker, remember you were filling it knowing it wasn't registered with annual leak checks. When people sue, and the EPA gets involved, everyone gets pulled into it.
Think about how much money you are going to 'make' off of this account, and the aggravation and expense of getting pulled into a lawsuit.

EBEBRATT-Ed · February 2

@HydronicMike

Do UG tanks have to be registered everywhere? I know (at least at one time) MA. exempted anything 2000 gallons or smaller if it was residential

HydronicMike · February 2

I'm pretty sure it’s all of them.

zepfan · February 2

thanks to all that responded. I am unaware of any law in Maryland that an existing oil tank has to be registered, and inspected annually.The state has tried to pass laws that anything in the ground has to be inspected annually, but as of now nothing has come of it. If a tank has a known leak the company that removes it has to register that they are removing it, after its removal the soil has to be removed at $1000.00 a foot(average). One of the houses from a few years ago the company went down 9 feet until they hit clean soil.
With the removal of the old tank, installing the new one, and everything I think the homeowner spent 19k

Thanks to all

Jamie Hall · February 2

That was a cheap remediation, @zepfan

HVACNUT · February 3

Why would the homeowner be interested in testing a 50 year old buried steel oil tank that he's going to build a patio over? Wouldn't putting a patio over a 50 year old buried tank only be ok if that tank was abated, and there was a new tank somewhere else? Ridiculous.

Testing a residential fuel tank

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