Helpful tips for buying a home with oil heat.

   When purchasing a home, it is important to know whether the home has or has had an oil tank.  If a “petroleum release” has occurred, it is the responsibility of the property owner to pay for all costs associated with the remediation of the contamination.  As a buyer there are a few things you can do to determine the condition of the tank and the soil around it.  

·       Request any paper work from the town, city or village detailing that the work was done to code.

·       

         Determine if there is or was an oil tank

o   Site visit to perform a field assessment

o   Tile Probe Area Of Concern (AOC)

o   Use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

·       SoilTesting

o   Once the Area Of Concern (AOC) is established, Use soil probing technology to  insert 3 probes to a depth of 6-9 feet

o   Inspect the soil

§  Send the soil to the lab for analysis of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC’s) and Volatile Organic Compounds

o   Compare Lab analytics with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Standards

·       

          TankTesting

o   When a tank is found, a NYS licensed tank tester, applies a vacuum to the tank along with an acoustical test.

    The best way to know for sure is to remove the tank prior to closing. Removing the oil tank prior to closing not only shows the buyer you are serious but also relieves you of future remediation costs. 

Old oil tanks can be a costly liability if they leak.  Oil tanks that had previously been decommissioned can also leak if not done properly.

  Some or most new home owner insurance policies do not cover oil tanks and the costs associated with heating oil contamination. This is why it is important to know the condition of the tank and the soil around the tank.  For More information visit www.barrier.com or Call (914)760-2090

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.

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.