Heating Oil Tank Tests

Heating Oil Tanks

Do you have concerns that the home you are getting ready to purchase has an underground heating oil tank? Are you concerned that it may leak? Do you know how to test for such leakage? As a home buyer, it would be prudent for you to have the tank tested to check for any leaks before purchasing the home.

Any tank testing should be done by an expert or your local heating oil company, who have trained technician that can do minor testing (and sometimes at no additional expense). There are several methods of tank testing that can be performed. Some are more invasive than others, and should be considered depending on visual condition of the area and age of the tank.

Water testing in heating oil tanks can be an indication of corrosion and the potential of leakage. It may also just be an indication that bad fuel was delivered with excessive water. The technician uses a paste which is applied to the end of probe/stick and lowered down to the bottom of the tank. If this test shows that there is evidence of water in the tanks, then this water should be pumped out, which will prevent problems later (such as overflow or cracking of tank). If the tank is hard to reach, such as the case when it is located in a basement compartment, then another method can be used to check for water. Each oil tank will have an oil filter canister near the tank or near the burner. If you open the canister and see rust, this is a good indication that you have water in your tank, thus requiring further testing and clean up of the water.

Soil testing is used to find evidence, if any, of actual oil contamination in the soil. First, the expert would need to locate the tank, and then take borings of the area (at a depth just below the bottom of the tank). Many boring will be taken around the tank to ensure that the soil around the entire tank is tested. The soil test is the definitive test for an oil tank leak as it is lab tested for any oil contamination.

Low-psi tank pressure-testing is a method used to test for an existing leak where the tank is sealed, then pressurized at a very low psi. The tank is then monitored for about 24 hours watching for any drop in pressure, indicating a possible leak. The method is not all inclusive due to the fact that the tank may have had a leak before, but was repaired (potentially causing a leak later).

Two words of advice on pressure testing is 1) contrary to popular belief, conducting a low pressure test will NOT burst the tank, even if it is about ready to fail/crack, as the pressure injected into the tank for the test is lower than the pressure sustained by filling the tank with a routine oil fill. And 2) if the pressure test does come back positive with a pressure drop, a soil test will need to be conducted, so you may want to save time and money and go straight for the soil test.

If an underground heating oil tank has been maintained properly (not overfilled, not run over with heavy equipment, not struck by lawn equipment), then it should last anywhere from 10-15 years and beyond. A steel tank may experience damage and problems sooner than a fiberglass tank, so take that into consideration when purchasing a home with an underground oil tank.

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