How Water Gets Into Above-Ground Oil Tanks

This article explains how water gets into above-ground oil tanks.

We explain how to test for or visually check for water in a buried or above-ground oil storage tank, and how to get water out of an oil tank.

This article series explains the problems caused by water accumulation in oil tanks, how water gets into the oil tank, how to measure water in the oil tank, how to remove water from oil storage tanks regardless of whether the oil tank is indoors, outdoors above ground, or buried, and how to prevent water from getting into an oil storage tank.

How Does Water Enter an Above-Ground Oil Storage Tank

Sources of water entry into above ground oil storage tanks are similar to the underground oil tank water leak sources listed

in our separate at BURIED OIL TANK WATER ENTRY.

Here we list additional ways that water may leak into an above-ground oil storage tank besides the ones in that earlier list for buried tanks.

[Paraphrased, edited, and expanded from R.W. Beckett ]:

[Click to enlarge any image]

• Water may enter an above-ground oil storage tank from a fill pipe that is not properly capped, sealed, and located out of the roof edge drip line.
  
  Our photo (above-left) of an outdoor oil storage tank shows that the oil tank vent is not protected against water entry, and worse, though you can't see it in this closeup photo), this outdoor oil tank was located close to the building (the usual practice) placing it right under the drip line of the roof.
  
  Whenever gutters overflowed (which is common), water splashing on the oil tank to was at risk of entering the tank through this vent pipe.

Water may enter an above-ground oil storage tank from a vent pipe that is not capped, shielded from water entry, and located away from roof edges.

Note that water spilling on to the top of an outdoor oil storage tank can splash-up and enter the oil tank through the vent pipe even if the pipe has a rain cap installed.

Below: Carson Dunlop Associates illustration of an above ground oil storage tank.

• Outdoor above-ground oil storage tank water condensation occurs when a partially-filled oil tank is exposed to variations in outdoor temperature. Oil in the tank and the tank steel itself are warmed by sunlight and higher daytime temperatures.
  
  The above-ground oil tank illustration is provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education & report writing tool company.
  
  At higher temperatures both air inside the free area in the oil storage tank and the oil itself expand in volume, pushing air out of the oil storage tank.
  
  As temperatures fall after sundown or in night time temperatures, both air and oil volume in the oil tank are reduced in volume.
  
  This volume reduction of air and oil inside the oil tank will draw night-time air into the oil tank through the oil tank vent pipe opening.
• When that incoming air is high in moisture, moisture will condense on the oil tank interior walls, accumulating on the oil tank bottom (water is heavier than oil).
  
  When the quantity of water on the oil tank bottom is great enough to reach the oil supply piping (for oil tanks whose piping is attached through the oil tank top), or when it reaches an oil supply line outlet at the tank bottom (for oil tanks piped off of the tank bottom), water enters the heating system oil burner, leading to lockout or loss of heat.

Home buyers should be sure to review OIL TANK LEAK TEST METHODS - Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - How Oil Tanks are Tested for Evidence Leaks, of Current or Previous Oil Spills and Tank

OIL TANK LEGAL ISSUES - home Buyers and Home Owners Guide to Leaky Heating Oil Tanks

and

LEAKY HEATING OIL TANKS- What to Do About & When to Report Oil Tank Leaks.

Home owners who have old oil tanks above ground or any age oil tank below ground that is no longer to be used should also be sure to review

OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE - Abandoning Commercial vs. Residential Underground Oil Storage Tanks (UST) - Procedures & Regulations

...

Continue reading at OIL TANK WATER DETECTION or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION
  • ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK WATER ENTRY
  • BURIED OIL TANK WATER ENTRY
  • OIL TANK WATER DETECTION
  • OIL TANK WATER PREVENTION
  • OIL TANK WATER REMOVAL

Suggested citation for this web page

ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK WATER ENTRY at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to HEATING OIL, OIL BURNERS, OIL FIRED HEATERS, OIL TANKS

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