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December 23, 2015

At What Stage of Selling Should You Consider Oil Tank Removal?

When you are selling a property in British Columbia, you need to ensure that there are no oil tanks on it. In the mid twentieth century, the province of British Columbia decided to stop using oil, which was then the main source of energy for the region. BC instead switched to natural gas, which is more energy efficient and better for the environment.

However, the oil tanks that previously stored oil used as fuel were not entirely disposed of and many were buried underground to keep them out of sight. The problem with this is that it can be damaging to the environment. Yes, the oil tanks were emptied before they were buried underground but they still had some residual oil left in them. As the tank ages and deteriorate, if this leaks, it could leach into the soil and contaminate it.

Because of this risk, the government of BC has declared it illegal to sell a property with an oil tank on it. Property is big news in BC and a lot of buying and selling of property happens, so the government is hoping that this means a lot of oil tank removals also happen.

If you are thinking of selling your property, or are in the process of doing so, oil tank removal is a natural concern. Many people ask the question, at what stage of selling should you consider oil tank removal?

The truth of the matter is that you should look into oil tank removal as soon as possible. This is because you might not even have to avail of oil tank removal. It could turn out that you do not have an oil tank on your property at all. To know this for sure you can have an oil tank removal firm come out and scan your property and its grounds for oil tanks. They will use radar technology to see if there is an oil tank underground without digging anything up.

If there is an oil tank on your property, then the sooner you get the oil tank removal over with, the better. It is not a difficult, or particularly mess process at all. In fact, the oil tank removal firm will break it up and remove it in parts and then recycle it, with very little upheaval to the surrounding area. However, as you cannot sell your property with an oil tank on the grounds, it is best to avail of oil tank removal as soon as possible, so you won’t encounter any delays.