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For homeowners, the prospect of uncovering an underground oil tank can feel like a nightmare; for locating companies, it’s a challenge that requires a keen eye, the right tools, and an understanding of what to look for and where to find it.
Identifying any potential buried oil tanks in a property is crucial because of the significant environmental, financial, and safety risks they pose. An old, forgotten oil tank can silently cause serious issues long after it was last used—and in the case of a home sale, the liability extends long after you pass over the keys.
When should you be concerned about an underground oil tank? The answer is that if you live in a home that was built prior to 1970, and even if you live in a newer home on a lot that had a preexisting structure that dates to when oil tanks were common, underground oil tanks should be a concern. While these tanks have long since become obsolete, that doesn’t mean they no longer present a danger. In fact, the longer an underground oil tank is left in place, the greater the risk of corrosion and leakage, which can lead to soil contamination and costly remediation.
The environmental and financial risk associated with underground oil tanks is so great that the BC Fire Code requires that any newly discovered tanks must be removed and the soil tested for contaminants. Furthermore, most mortgage lenders and insurance companies will not finance or insure properties with known oil tanks and may require an underground oil tank locating certificate to prove that there are no hidden tanks on a property before entering a contract which could impact your ability to sell your home or renew your insurance.
Luckily, there are some telltale signs that at some point a property housed an underground oil tank, which makes locating it easier. Evidence of underground oil tanks includes visible fill and vent lines outside the home and copper fuel lines inside the home (probably located in the basement). You can also gauge whether your property might have an oil tank based on your neighbour’s experience (although don’t base judgment solely on what the person next door says).
The difficulty in relying on visual inspections and word of mouth is that these tanks were typically buried away from the property, and some may have been partially decommissioned. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to have the oil tanks removed—they could still have oil remnants inside and they may not have been properly filled—it just makes them harder to spot.
The best way to know for certain whether your home is hiding an underground oil tank is to hire a professional oil tank locator.
Professional oil tank locating combines specialized equipment and the technician’s skill to identify the presence of a buried tank without digging up your yard unnecessarily. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is the most commonly used and widely accepted scanning tool because it’s able to detect even small irregularities deep underground. This non-invasive oil tank locating method allows inspectors to pinpoint the precise location of an oil tank even if it’s been filled.
Once your GPR scan has been completed you’ll receive a detailed report that either confirms your property is oil tank-free or will outline the findings and recommend the next steps for removal and soil remediation.
Even though they have been buried and forgotten for years, underground oil tanks pose serious environmental and financial risks. As the metal deteriorates, these tanks can leak hazardous petroleum hydrocarbons into the soil and groundwater, affecting not only your property but potentially neighbouring properties and areas as well. The subsequent cleanup efforts are often costly and time-intensive, and homeowners are almost always held responsible for these expenses even if they were unaware of the tank’s existence.
Underground oil tanks can also impact your ability to sell, refinance or renew your insurance as buyers, mortgage lenders, and insurers typically insist on their removal and remediation before proceeding.
Addressing underground oil tanks proactively not only protects the environment but also safeguards your financial interests and peace of mind!