Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection

Above Ground Oil Tanks require very little maintenance. However, it is very important to inspect your tank

It is important for the homeowner to understand

Painted 275 Gallon Above Ground Oil Tank
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that the oil tank is their property and their responsibility. The tank owner should ensure that it is properly maintained. Proper tank maintenance should include, but is not limited to, the following:

· Subscribing to a maintenance program performed by a heating oil  system licensed service technician;

· Visually inspecting the tank(s) at least Twice a year. Careful visual inspection will uncover traces of oil on the tank surface;

· Asking a service technician to check, at least once a year, for the presence of water inside the tank and to remove it;

· Immediately correct an unstable foundation or when the tank is likely to topple. The services of a licensed installer, Barrier Contracting, should be used;

· Maintaining the tank’s exterior surface, at least once per year, by: 

       1. Gently brushing the rusted areas on the tank’s exterior with sandpaper;

       2. Cleaning the sanded surface; and

       3. Applying a coat of rust proof metallic paint (readily available at

           any hardware store). If needed, Barrier Contracting can provide paint. 

Maintaining the tank’s exterior surface is a good practice and the

application of touch-up paint will not void the warranty of the tank

· Maintaining the tank liquid level as high as possible during the 

summer months to limit water condensation within the tank.

Oil Tank Removal in Westchester and Putnam, NY

 Barrier Contracting has trained professionals to help guide you through the oil tank removal process.  If your tank is above or below ground we have the expertise to provide excellent service.  We remove 275, 550,1000 up to 16,000 gallon oil tanks. If you are buying or selling a home, we recommend any underground fuel oil tanks be removed before the contracts are signed.  
      Oil Tanks over 25 years old can have a 20% failure rate. If you wait until you have a leaky tank it can be a disaster. If your storage tank is leaking we can provide you full service environmental remediation including soil removal, water disposal, soil testing, etc.  We handle inspections, sampling, closure reports and meet with local inspectors to make sure any issue is resolved. 
        At Barrier Contracting, we provide underground oil tank removal for homes and businesses. We can bring our excavator machine to your location and remove the tank safely and efficiently.  We also provide Oil tank removal by hand, which 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.

Oil Tank Installation

Above Ground Oil Tanks can be installed in your basement, garage or outside, depending on the tank regulations in your area.  Different towns, cities and villages in Westchester and Putnam County have different codes about the placement of oil tanks.  We can help you decide where the best location is for us to install your tank.  If the Above Ground Storage Tank (AST) is going to be installed outside we place them on 4 inch cement pads to ensure stability.  Although Tanks are already primed, we can paint them a variety of different colors before we install them.      Before installing or replacing an oil tank, there are strict regulations that need to be addressed. Experienced professionals are required to hook up oil tank systems in most municipalities, a process that poses serious risks, particularly if the original tank was not installed correctly. For more information visit http://barrier.com/oiltankinstallation.html or email waynejr@barrier.com

Information on Failed Oil Tank Tests in New York

Did you know failing a tank test creates a NYS Spill Number?

     If you have failed an oil tank test we recommend replacing the oil tank with an above ground oil tank.  This creates is the best value for the money you will spend.

     When an oil tank fails a tank test, also know as pressure test but is actually a vacuum and acoustical test, the tester must notify the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).  Once notified, the NYSDEC will assign your property a Spill Number. A Spill Number is like a case number used to reference your property and the actions taken.  Once the Spill Number is assigned an investigation is required to find out if any soil or groundwater has been impacted and if further action is required.

     This can involve excavating to the top of the tank and checking the fittings, connections and piping.  It can also lead to removing the oil tank, impacted soil, taking samples and sending the NYS DEC documentation of the actions taken.
 
If the breach is in the vent or fill, the top of the tank needs to be exposed and the piping replaced then a retest must be preformed.  If this passes the report needs to be sent to the NYSDEC.

If the breach is in the oil lines, the top of the tank needs to be exposed then the oil lines need to be exposed and replaced. Finally the tank needs to be retested.

If the breach is not found after replacing the vent, fill, oil lines and failing the second test the tank needs to be removed.   After the tank is removed the pit needs to be inspected and sampled. If the samples come back with contamination a remediation must be done.

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. For more information visit www.barrier.com or email waynejr@barrier.com

ARE YOU THINKING OF PURCHASING A HOME WITH A HEATING OIL TANK?

   ARE YOU THINKING OF PURCHASING A HOME WITH A HEATING OIL TANK?

     Find out the age of the tank, some underground tanks can be as old as the house (some above ground tanks are the result of previously replaced underground tanks).  Replacing  below ground oil tanks is the BEST way to verify the tank has not failed and contaminated the property. Your home inspector, lawyer and bank will agree. We recommend to try to get the seller to remove the tank prior to closing 

   

   If no oil tank is present ask if there was a tank previously removed. If so ask for the paper work regarding its removal. Find out why they removed it. If the oil tank was filled in place ask for the results of the soil samples taken. If there were no samples taken, you can have samples taken or at least consult a professional (preferably Barrier). It is best to take sample around the sides and down roughly 2 feet below the bottom of the tank (7-12 feet). For more information visit www.barrier.com or call us today.