Blog

October 13, 2015

The Importance of Oil Tank Detection and Removal

As a property owner, you should be aware of the risks posed by old oil tanks. Many residential properties built between the years 1925 – 1965 are highly likely to have a buried oil tank.

If no longer in use, oil tanks should always be removed from a property by professionals to ensure that the property and remaining environment is safe.

The main danger of oil tank is the contamination of the local environment such as soil and water. Due to factors such as improper maintenance, or installation, as well as corrosion, or other external damage, oil tanks can leak hazardous oil into the local environment, making the area toxic for humans.

Contaminated soil and water should always be dealt with professionally, but the best thing is to have the oil tank removed before a leak occurs, costing the property owner thousands of dollars in repairs.

You may have noticed some signs on your property pointing to the presence of a buried oil tank. Look for a filler cap, either on your lawn, or somewhere on your exterior property. Also look for a vent pipe on the side of your home that runs upwards. In many cases, these elements may have been unadvisedly concealed by home improvements such as extensions or landscaping; making detection with the naked eye very difficult.

If you suspect there may be a buried oil tank on your property, the best solution is to contact professionals. WC Tank Recovery offer a free estimate of the cost of an oil tank detection operation, and, if necessary, a safe oil tank removal from your property.

How does it work?

WC Tank Recovery uses state of the art technology to scan oil tanks underneath the ground, therefore accurately detecting the presence of oil tanks in a short amount of time. The technology employed by WC Tank Recovery combines effective methods such as metal detection and GPR scanning to search for buried oil tanks in a non-destructive manner. This means if no oil tank is found, you will not have to worry about any resulting clean up on your property.

If a buried oil tank is detected, WC Tank Recovery will look after the safe removal of the oil tank, as well as any potentially contaminated soil, sludge or sand. WC Tank Recovery will then safely and responsibly dispose of the tank and all contaminated materials.

Finally, WC Tank Recovery will backfill your land, and can arrange for further restoration of your property if necessary.