Executive Summary
- Undetected underground storage tanks (USTs) can corrode and leak over time; finding and addressing USTs can prevent soil contamination and keep the property as safe and valuable as possible.
- Some visible indicators may suggest the presence of an underground oil tank. Look for fill pipes, vent pipes, and feeder lines near your home’s foundation or in the basement.
- You should also recognize situational clues, such as odd geographical patterns, sinking soil, and dying vegetation, along with sensory signs like petroleum-like odors and oily sheen on water.
- If you suspect a UST on your property, you should contact a dependable environmental remediation company that can perform a tank sweep using advanced detection methods.
Learning Whether or Not There Is an Underground Oil Tank
Between the 1930s and 1980s, underground oil tanks were frequently used to heat homes. Thanks to federal regulations that limit environmental damage, most modern-day residential properties do not have an underground tank because they can corrode and leak over time.
While a lot of underground oil tanks should be removed or decommissioned already, some remain buried and forgotten. Knowing how to pick up on signs of an underground oil tank can help property owners minimize environmental and financial risks. Look for physical indicators like visible supply lines and sensory signs like an oil-like odor that may suggest soil contamination.
This guide can equip you with knowledge and techniques that can facilitate the detection of an underground storage tank (UST). Still, it is crucial for property owners to contact a reliable environmental remediation company that has experience performing tank sweeps and UST services to ensure each underground tank is accurately detected and adequately addressed.
Physical Indicators
As you perform a visual inspection of your property, you may find components that likely belong to a UST. Contact a qualified professional if you find any of the following occurrences on your property.
Visible Fill Pipes
One of the most noteworthy visible signs of a UST is fill pipes protruding from the ground. These UST components are usually found near the home’s foundation to give people of yore easy access to refill the tank with heating oil. So, as you look around the perimeter of your home or building, try to find capped metal tubes.
Presence of Vent Pipes
Another type of pipe you can look for is vent pipes. Although the tank may no longer be in use, the vent pipes’ original purpose was to allow air to escape during oil delivery. These UST components usually measure about two inches in diameter and extend six to twelve inches above ground. If you find such a pipe near your home, there may be an underground heating oil tank.
Existence of Feeder Lines
Not all piping and UST components are on the property’s exterior. Search inside the basement or crawl space for copper or steel lines emerging from the floor or foundation wall. These feeder lines may connect the underground tank to the furnace to supply it with fuel. You can also look for signs of removed oil lines, such as crimped ends or patched concrete, hinting at former UST use.
Situational Clues
In addition to trying to find supply lines and other UST parts, you should keep your eyes peeled for situational clues. If you notice the following changes in your yard’s landscape, there may be an underground oil tank.
Unusual Geographic Patterns
Geographic anomalies in the yard might indicate ground disturbance from underground oil tank removal or installation. Look for unusual patterns like a slight mound that may be hiding an underground tank or a circular patch of grass that has a different level of lushness than the rest around it.
Sinking Soil or Depressions
As time elapses and a tank begins to deteriorate, it can cause the soil above to settle and slowly sink downward. To pinpoint a UST, try to locate any noticeable depressions or sinkholes in the yard.
Patchy or Brown Vegetation
An underground oil tank leak can seep into the surrounding dirt. Soil contamination directly affects plant health, so you should look for discolored or dying vegetation areas. If these areas still look patchy and brown after adequate care, it may signal underlying UST-related issues.
Emission of Oil-Like Odors
An underground oil tank leak can result in more than just patchy vegetation; it can leave a persistent oily or petroleum-like smell throughout portions of your yard or even from within the home. Try to pick up on oily odors in your basement or near the foundation of your property—this can be a red flag for a potential oil tank leak.
Oily Sheen On Water
As an underground oil tank leak seeps into the soil, it can mix with water and create a rainbow-like sheen on puddles in your yard. If you notice the presence of oil in any wet areas of your property, contact an environmental specialist with experience dealing with USTs.
Structural Indicators
The design and components of a property’s heating system can show whether or not an oil tank was used in the past. In some cases, the structural components below can serve as indicators for USTs and demand a professional tank sweep for certainty.
Old Furnaces
Homes with older heating systems, especially those predating natural gas conversions, which became popular in the late 1960s, might have relied on oil heating from a UST. Therefore, if you have an old furnace, you should check to see if it was once hooked up to an underground heating oil tank.
Chimneys with Double Or Triple Flues
Multiple flues in your chimney can serve as signs of an underground oil tank. Double or triple flues may have been installed as separate exhausts for different heating systems, including oil furnaces that may have received their fuel supply from an underground tank.
Consequences of Undetected Tanks
Historically, failing to identify and address an underground oil tank has contributed to environmental risks and financial repercussions, including the consequences below.
Soil Contamination and Groundwater Pollution
Unfortunately, leaking underground oil tanks can lead to significant soil contamination. When left unaddressed, oil seeping into the ground can pollute the groundwater, harm plant life, and pose health risks to nearby animals and the property’s inhabitants, especially if they use a well or other on-site water supply for their drinking water. Plus, contaminated soil usually necessitates soil tests and professional soil remediation services that may take substantial time and thousands of dollars.
Property Value Impact
The discovery of a UST, especially one that has already deteriorated or leaked, can decrease property value due to the upkeep and remediation demands they usually require to increase regulatory compliance. Even if the prospect of environmental cleanup and associated costs do not deter buyers, some lenders might hesitate to finance a property with a potential issue relating to a UST.
Actions to Take
You can avoid the above-mentioned consequences by taking prompt and appropriate actions to mitigate risks. Execute the following steps to promote safety and regulatory compliance.
Scheduling a Tank Sweep/Locate/Search
The first and most crucial step is to employ qualified professionals. A trained environmental specialist can conduct a thorough property survey to catch signs of an underground oil tank. A thorough tank sweep may include advanced techniques and tools, such as ground-penetrating radar, to detect buried tanks without invasive digging.
Suppose a UST is suspected or confirmed by the environmental specialist. In that case, they can further assess the situation by testing for soil contamination. They can also headline the underground oil tank removal or decommissioning process.
How Much Does it Cost to Decommission a Tank?
Decommissioning an Underground Storage Tank (UST) or Heating Oil Tank can be quite labor-intensive and requires properly trained professionals completing the work. However, there are situations where the tank can be ‘clean decommissioned’. In these cases, the decommissioning, DEQ paperwork, certificate, and submittal start at just over $1,000. For extremely challenging sites with difficult geography, along with contamination and a high water table, decommissioning costs start at around $5,000.
Educate Yourself on Legal Requirements and Regulations
Regulations regarding USTs tend to vary by state and locality. For instance, some areas mandate underground oil tank removal if the tank is no longer used, while others allow for oil tank decommissioning without removal. In Oregon, ORS 466.878 only forces homeowners to remove all heating oil from an unused underground tank when it is no longer in service, has been replaced, or before selling the property. Familiarizing yourself with local laws and securing necessary permits before proceeding with any UST-related action is vital.
Trust Alpha Environmental for Comprehensive Tank Sweeps
Being able to recognize potential signs of an underground oil tank on your property is a great way to eliminate the risk of soil contamination and other forms of environmental damage. Noticing things like visible supply lines or vent pipes and unusual yard patterns, from sinking soil to discolored vegetation, may indicate past heating oil usage and suggest the presence of an underground oil tank.
If you think there may be an underground tank on your property, contact a team of environmental professionals that you can trust. Alpha Environmental has offered expert tank sweep services to the people of Portland, Oregon, for over two decades. We utilize time-tested, advanced detection methods that can easily locate a hidden oil tank.
After a thorough oil tank search, our team provides Portlanders with comprehensive assessments and solutions tailored to each property’s specific needs. We are skilled, knowledgeable, and passionate about what we do, making us an excellent resource for ensuring your home remains safe and compliant with environmental standards.
Contact Alpha Environmental for expert-level UST services, including tank sweeps and underground oil tank removal, that will give you peace of mind.
