The Buried Danger: Why Old Oil Tanks Need Replacing
That rusty, leaking oil tank buried in your yard is more than just an eyesore—it’s an environmental hazard and safety risk waiting to happen. Underground oil storage tanks have a nasty habit of developing cracks and leaks as they age, allowing petroleum to seep into the soil and groundwater over time. This contaminates the land, creates hazardous vapors, and puts your property and neighborhood at risk of lasting damage.
If you have an old underground oil tank on your premises, removing it is absolutely critical from both an environmental and legal perspective.
Reasons for Oil Tank Removal & New Tank Installation
Here are some key reasons why homeowners and businesses are opting to remove oil tanks and install new oil tanks.
- Environmental concerns: Leaking oil tanks can contaminate soil and groundwater, posing risks to human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. Proper removal site, remediation and a new above ground tank installation help mitigate these environmental impacts.
- Regulatory compliance: Many states and municipalities have implemented strict regulations governing the use, maintenance, removal, and installation of underground storage tanks. Not complying can result in costly fines and legal consequences.
- Property renovation or sale: When renovating or selling a property, the presence of an old oil tank can be a major deterrent for potential buyers or lenders. A new oil tank installation eliminates this liability and increases the property’s value.
- Safety hazards: Aging oil tanks can develop cracks, rust, or other structural defects, increasing the risk of leaks and contamination. Oil tank removal and new oil tank installation eliminates these potential safety hazards.
The Safe, Responsible Removal and Replacement Process
From initial testing to complete excavation, oil tank removal requires substantial experience and approved procedures to be handled safely. First, a professional crew will inspect the tank and test the surrounding soil for any existing contamination. The tank must then be properly emptied of all remaining oil and sludge.
Next, the tank is either removed intact via digging or cut into sections for piece-by-piece extraction. Either way, this process requires extreme care and caution to avoid hazardous spills or exposure to toxic fumes. Once removed, the tank must be properly disposed of at an approved facility to prevent further environmental harm.
If soil testing indicates petroleum contamination, remediation is necessary as well. This involves removing and safely disposing of all contaminated soil, and potentially installing groundwater filtration systems if the damage extends that far. Finally, a new state-of-the-art oil tank is installed for customers to enjoy worry free for decades to come.
The Environmental & Safety Benefits
Oil tank removal and replacement is highly recommended for aging or neglected oil tanks and is one of the best things you can do for the environment and your community. It eliminates the threat of a potentially catastrophic leak that could harm local ecosystems, contaminate drinking water supplies, and endanger the health of humans and wildlife exposed to the toxins.
Even if no active leak is occurring yet, removing the old tank, and installing a new above ground oil tank prevents greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum vapors, and rids your property of a major legal liability. Removing an underground oil tank also helps increase your home’s resale value.
Your Local Oil Tank Removal and Installation Experts
Since 2015, Removal Pro has been the go-to expert for Oil Tank Removal and Installation helping residential, commercial, and industrial clients. We service all of Massachusetts including Cape Cod as well as New Hampshire and Maine. As a fully licensed and insured company, we offer not just oil tank removal and oil tank installation but a suite of services that include expert boiler removal and boiler installation, furnace removal and furnace installation, water heater removal and water heater installation along with comprehensive oil contamination remediation.
Our team of highly trained and certified technicians follows all local, state, and federal regulations governing tank handling to ensure the installation and removal process is fully compliant and environmentally sound from start to finish. Call today to schedule an inspection and replace that old oil tank with a brand new one!
