Underground Oil Tank Locating and Property Sweeps in Westchester and Putnam County

Underground Oil Tank Locating and Property Sweeps in Westchester and Putnam County

     When purchasing (or selling) a property, In Westchester or Putnam County, it is imperative to know whether or not underground storage tanks (UST’s) are present. Even if a property is currently heated by natural gas, propane, above ground oil tank or current underground tank, it is important to know what other types of oil storage have previously existed. In most cases homes in Westchester and Putnam have been heated by oil  at one point since being built.  This is especially true in houses built prior to 1970 (or in rural areas). Although newer houses have also relied on oil for heating purposes. In some cases the current owners don't even know whether a tank exists.  For example, A house built in the 1920's most likely used coal  for heat then oil and then natural gas. A home from the 30's-80's may have had heating oil then natural gas or electric.

     In Westchester and Putnam County, many Villages, Towns and Cities did not require municipal permits to install or remove tanks. This lead to many tanks be improperly abandoned.  Now most municipalities require permits and inspections for the removal and installation of oil tanks.  Municipal involvement is designed to protect the home owner to ensure the proper disposal and documentation takes place 

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is one of the most accurate tools used in determining if underground heating oil tanks exist at a property. Another technology is Electromagnetic Detection (ED).  Barrier Contracting uses both of these technologies to identify and locate any previous and in use underground heating oil tanks or associated piping

–Ground Penetrating Radar uses radio signals to determine the characteristics of what lays underground. These signals can identify tanks, piping and various other materials beneath the surface without excavation.

–Electromagnetic Detection involves connecting a transmitter to induce radio frequency to old oil lines and using a handheld device to trace and follow them. This technology can help determine if an underground oil tank exists or has existed.

Demolition Contractors In Westchester and Putnam County

The demolition of structures, homes, garages and other buildings, include scrap and concrete/brick segregation, foundation removal, site grading and preparation, and waste removal.  Prior to the Demolition most municipalities in Westchester and Putnam County, require permits that must be acquired. Conditions of these permits usually include proof that utilities, such as gas, electric and water, have been disconnected. Another requirement is to make sure all hazardous materials have been disposed of, this can include asbestos, oil tanks and lead.

Trained professionals in each of the trades are brought in for inspections and abatements if needed. Once these matters have been resolved, a walk through is usually done with the local building inspector. They will address any additional concerns they may have. Prior to working it is important to implement erosion control such as trap rock or silt fence to make sure you protect the surrounding areas from being impacted. It is important to know all the costs upfront, any costs that can’t be estimated should be addressed to ensure both parties know the financial parameters of the work. It is also important to make sure the contractor of choice has the proper licenses, insurances and permits to perform the work. In Westchester and Putnam County each county issues their own home improvement contractors licenses. The hazardous waste professionals, generally, have state licenses.

If you are looking for Best Demolition Contractors In Westchester or Putnam County, just contact us at 914-760-2089.

Soil Boring and Sampling in Westchester County, NY

     Soil testing should be performed to identify potential soil contamination. It can also measure the amount of leakage and identify the amount of remedial action necessary. Older oil tanks were usually installed underground in order to save space indoors. However due to the risk of an unknown tank leak, home heating oil tanks are now recommended to be installed above ground in a basement, garage or on a cement pad outside

There are several situations when you should perform soil testing in Westchester County:

•    When you are planning to buy or sell a home which has underground oil tank installed

•    When an underground oil tank was abandoned or removed, and no proper documents are mentioning the steps taken to assure there was no oil leakage.

•    When you observe a sudden increase in heating oil consumption which is not due to the weather

Soil testing examines the soil around the tank and checks for any contamination caused by underground oil tank. Remediation of tank leaks can be costly and time consuming. It is important to be sure there is no contamination before you purchase a home. Likewise, when selling, it is import to know prior to having a potential buyer discover it.

Soil testing includes the following steps:

•    The first step is to locate all underground utilities using DIG SAFELY NY including the underground home heating oil tank.

•    The second step is to install soil borings from several areas around the oil tank. Make sure that the sample gets collected from a depth below the level of the tank bottom. This is usually 6-8 feet below grade.

•    After the sample is obtained, the boring soil samples are then sent to a state certified testing lab for analysis. This helps in an authentic and an unbiased test result. The soil samples are analyzed for any petroleum product contamination using STARS METHOD 8260/8270.

•    The laboratory then provides a report of findings within seven days to ten of testing. In case of emergency, a report can also be provided in 24-48 hours so that immediate remedial action can be taken.

Once analytical data in our hands, we can recommend various remedial measures which can oil tank removal, soil disposal or more sampling. Soil borings and testing in Westchester County is considered one of most definitive tests to identify oil contamination (second to removing the oil tank)

However, soil testing only tells about the current state of the soil surrounding the oil tank. It reveals nothing about the quality or status of the tank. The underground oil tank could be corroding and potentially contaminate soil and water. Therefore it is recommended to replace the underground oil tank, if that is not an option soil testing is the second best option. Soil testing can also tell whether there is any water testing required or a need for soil contamination disposal.

Oil Tank Removal and Installation

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Many homes and businesses have oil heat that requires large tank for storage. These tanks can either be found above- or below-ground. While either system is certainly efficient, we’ve found that above ground tanks pose significant advantages. Oil tanks need to be monitored on a regular basis, and when they are underground, it’s extremely difficult to keep an eye on them. Homes and businesses that have underground tanks aren’t out of luck, however – they can be removed and placed above-ground, which is where we come in!

At Barrier Contracting, we provide underground oil tank removal for homes and businesses. We bring our excavator machine to your location and remove the tank safely and efficiently. Oil tank removal by hand can be extremely dangerous if not done properly. Our specialists are experienced and knowledgeable about the industry’s best practices, and provide excellent service every time. Trust Barrier Contracting for all your needs, from fuel oil storage tank installation to oil tank removal.

The cost to remove underground storage tanks depends on a variety of factors and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Our cost-effective solutions are perfect for all of our new and existing clients. Don’t be afraid of any hidden costs. We stand by our pricing and break down each expense to help you understand exactly what you’re paying for. To learn more about our services and get a quote, contact us today by phone or email at (914) 760-2089, (914) 760-2090 or at waynejr@barrier.com. 

Excavating, Sampling and Disposing of Oil or Gasoline Contaminated Soil

    There are many regulations in New York State (NYS) regarding the removal and disposal of soil that has been contaminated by oil or gasoline.  The regulating agency is the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Information regarding these regulations can be found on their website http://www.dec.ny.gov/.

      If Heating Oil, Diesel Fuel, Kerosene or Gasoline, leaks or spills in the soil, the impacted areas should be excavated and the soil safely disposed of.  If you encounter this you should notify the NYSDEC spill hotline (800) 457-7362 and contact an environmental company, Barrier Contracting, LLC, for advice.  The proper disposal includes collecting soil samples of the impacted soil to be analyzed by a certified lab. The samples can be collected after the soil is excavated and stockpiled or prior to excavation.  The results are then sent to the licensed disposal facility for review. Once approved, the contaminated soil can be loaded and shipped to the disposal facility by a specialized hauler.

     After the contaminated soil has been removed, a consultant or specialized contractor, like Barrier, collects endpoint samples from the four walls and the base.  Again, these samples are sent to a certified lab to be certified.  When sampling, the sampler must also fill out a chain of custody for the sample, these are usually signed by the sampler, transporter and laboratory technician.  These “endpoint” or “post excavation” samples will be used to determine if all of the contamination has been removed. Once, confirmed that the soil is now free of contamination, backfill can be brought in to replace the contaminated soil that has been removed.

    While this seems like a simple process, it is extremely important to hire the right professional to guide you through the process.  There are many companies to choose from in Westchester and Putnam County.  Be sure to ask for references or read reviews (Angie’s list is also a great tool).  Choosing the wrong contractor can add to the time and cost of the clean-up.  The professional must be aware of the regulations and protocols involved with cleaning up oil contamination.  All of the information, analytics, manifests, weight tickets, etc, must be included in a concise report describing the work that transpired and proving the contamination has been properly removed and disposed of.

Oil Tank Removal and Installation Photos

Bellow are some pictures of the work that Barrier Contracting has done. We remove and install heating oil tanks of all sizes. 

Oil Tank Testing

Whether you are buying or selling a house, it is important to know if the oil tank has or is leaking. If removal is not an option we recommend testing the oil tank and the soils around it.

    One of the most common misconceptions about oil tank testing is that is done with pressure. In fact, the opposite is done. When a tester performs a tank test he puts your tank under 3 pounds of vacuum and places a microphone in your tank. The down side is there are many reasons a tank can FAIL a tank test, causing a spill number to be created.

      Sometimes the 3 pounds isn't enough to pull air through holes in the bottom of leaky tanks and other times the tank may fail due to a piping issue. For more information http://barrier.com/failedtanktest.html

      We advise our clients; buyers, sellers and home owners to replace the underground storage tank with an above ground heating oil tank.  Especially when it is an older tank.  At least you will have a new tank afterwards.

     Another way is to test the soil around the tank. This is called a subsurface investigation or tank assessment.  This investigation tests the soil and/or water around your oil tank.  It allows you to know whether the soil/water around the tank has been impacted.

     In the end, any single wall underground home heating oil tank should be replaced with an above ground oil tank.  Even if the tank passes a tank test or subsurface analysis.