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Report Evidence of a Buried Oil Storage Tank
Report Language for Visual Evidence of a UST
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about buried oil tank reports & reporting
This document describes and provides home inspection report language for reporting evidence of buried heating oil tanks.
Beyond the costly problem of leaky heating oil tanks, this series of articles lists other important safety or oil-fired equipment operational defects in home and light commercial heating oil storage and piping systems - see the links listed at the ARTICLE INDEX the bottom of this article .
This sample home inspection report language may assist home owners or home buyers in understanding risks associated with both buried and above ground oil or other fuel storage tanks at their property. The oil tank and oil piping inspection report language explains the need for action and indicates where more information can be obtained. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
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How to Report the Presence or Suspected Presence of a BURIED OIL Storage TANK - Found or Suspected at a Property
Watch out: old buried fuel storage tanks at a property may be of un-known use, un-known fuel, un-known condition, and they may be quite dangerous. Hazards include sudden collapse (someone walking over the tank could be injured), and even explosion.
Two workers died when a backyard fuel tank exploded in Westchester County, New York in 2015. Initial reports indicated that the type of fuel storage tank was un-known, possibly oil, LP gas, or liquid gasoline. On 7 May 2015, two workers who were removing the tank, located in Hastings-on-Hudson, were killed as the tank exploded and flew 75 feet through the air.
An environmental consultant cited in a New York Times report posed that the tank probably contained gasoline and that explosive fumes may have been ignited by a spark from a hand-tool or by static electricity during the tank removal. - The New York Times, 8 may 2015.
Beginning at OIL TANK, BURIED, FINDING we provide a series of articles explaining how, beginning with a visual inspection and a review of the history of a building's heating equipment, an inspector or property owner can find evidence that there is or was a buried oil storage tank, also known as underground storage tank or UST, at a property.
Some visual clues can provide compelling evidence that a UST is or was at a property, such as the cut-off abandoned copper tubing oil lines a foundation wall such as in the photograph above.
[Click to enlarge any image]
The presence of these abandoned copper pipes does not tell us whether or not the underground storage tank has been tested, abandoned in place, or removed.
The oil filler pipe found on the property shown at the top of this page is firm evidence that the underground oil storage tank is still in place - it would be improbable that a buried oil would or even could be removed while leaving its filler pipe in place.
In fact home buyers need to be alert for the opposite possibility - that a buried tank remains in place, without proper abandonment, but someone has simply unscrewed and removed the oil tank fill and vent piping that previously were visible above ground.
Sample oil tank inspection report language for buried oil tanks where an oil tank sweep was not performed
Here are some example inspection report statements useful if an inspector sees evidence that could or does point to a UST having been at a property.
A buried fuel tank [heating oil storage tank] [LP gas storage tank] [unknown type of fuel storage tank] is [was, or appears to have been] installed at this property. Such components are not inspected during a home or building inspection unless specific prior test arrangements have been made for advice by an appropriate expert. Some general advice is below.
[For clients in New York, you should call the US Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for advice in this matter. The Southern New York area office is in New Paltz, NY, at 914-255-5453. For clients in other states or provinces, call your local department of environmental protection for advice.]
Other inspection report language where evidence of a UST is visually apparent:
A buried oil tank is installed, appears to still be connected to oil burning equipment, and could not be directly inspected.
We saw the following evidence that a buried oil storage tank is or was in use at this property:
Oil tank tank piping connected to oil burning equipment exits the building through a floor or wall, as we found at ...
Oil tank fill and vent piping were observed outside the building on the surrounding property, as we observed at ...
Before completing purchase of a property that has or had a buried oil tank, to avoid what could be a very significant oil tank removal or oil spill cleanup cost, you need to have satisfied one of the following: conditions:
What to do if a buried oil tank is or was present but is no longer in use
Photo: a large underground oil storage tank (UST) being removed at a property during other construction work.
- Obtain written documentation from an accountable and qualified party certifying that the buried oil tank or tanks at the property has (have) been properly and legally abandoned in place, including any soil testing for oil leaks spills that might have been reported
See details at OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE - Obtain written documentation from an accountable and qualified party certifying that the buried oil tank or tanks at the property has (have) been properlhy and legally removed and disposed-of, including any soil testing for oil spills that might have been reported
Watch out: Even if we are told that a tank has been "removed" or "abandoned" we need to review the documentation to gain confidence that the tank abandonment in place or tank removal were done properly and that proper inspections and (where appropriate) tests were performed to assure that the site is not contaminated.
Ultimate cleanup costs where buried oil tank leaks were discovered at properties we have examined have varied between $8,000. and $675,000. in site cleanup costs. We issue a warning to the property buyer or owner. This warning has led to further site investigation, tank testing, and savings in avoiding costly surprises for our clients.
What to do if a buried oil tank continues in use
- Obtain written documentation from an accountable and qualified party certifying that the buried oil tank has been properly tested for evidence of leakage and has been found to be in good condition, not leaking, and suitable for continued use
- Obtain written documentation from an accountable and qualified party certifying that the buried oil tank is or has leaked, is not suitable for continued use, and that proper removal and site-cleanup are or are likely to be required.
At end of the day, you need reliable documentation that shows that either there has been no leakage and a proper tank abandonment has been performed, or if there was leakage, that a proper cleanup has been performed.
If the oil storage tank is a newer buried model (perhaps a fiberglass or multi-walled oil storage tank) and if the oil tank is in good condition it may not need to be abandoned.
But if older oil storage tanks were used, were removed, or remain abandoned at the property you still need to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph. The discussion which follows explains the risks and gives detailed advice about what to do about buried or above ground oil tanks and tank leaks.
Also see text and oil tank defect photographs at ABOVE GROUND OIL STORAGE TANK (AST) INSPECTION
- Before buying a property test for leaks at buried oil tanks:
where there is evidence or suspicion that a buried oil storage tank is or may have been installed, BURIED OIL TANKs should be tested for leaks since costly environmental cleanup can be required if the tank has leaked into surrounding soil.
Perform this test before purchase of the property.
See OIL TANK LEAK TEST METHODS for oil tank leak test options.
Also see BURIED / UNDERGROUND OIL TANK (UST), LOCATION METHODS for f etails on what to do if you own or are buying a property that has or might have a buried oil tank or underground storage tank (UST) on the land.
If the oil tank needs to be abandoned or removed, see OIL TANK REMOVAL COs. - Test in-use oil tanks for water:
It is also diagnostic to test the amount of water present in tank bottom; and water should be pumped out. Water mixes with sulphur in the fuel, forms sulfuric acid, and corrodes through the tank. While we've found them lasting longer, a common life expectancy of buried tanks is 10-15 years. Ask your service person about using a fuel additive such as 4-in-1-Hot™ to help remove water.
See TEST OIL TANKS FOR WATER for simple oil tank test procedures for water - steps that can be taken by your oil heat service technician. - Oil tank registration in some states
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES CONCERNING BURIED OIL TANKS: the NY Department of Environmental Conservation has a program registering buried oil tanks at any site storing more than 1100 gallons of heating oil.
See OIL TANK LEAK & ABANDONMENT REGULATIONS. - Oil Tank Failure Rates
Oil storage tanks usually fail from rust perforation due to combination of water inside the tank with sulphur in the fuel oil. External rust, unless very heavy, isn't highly correlated with internal rust. A new tank can involve significant expense. There are also proper methods of "abandoning" old unused buried tanks without removing them if the tanks have not leaked. Consult your heating company or local DEC officials if you have questions regarding this topic.
See OIL TANK LEAK / FAILURE CAUSES
and OIL TANK LEAK / FAILURE RATES for details.
OIL TANK LEAK FAILURE DATA: In New England for a two year period [1984-5] among customers who had buried tanks (16% of total customers) surveyors found an average of 1.7 tank leaks per thousand customers. They also found 2.5 fuel line leaks per 1000 customers. Source: Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, August 1985 p.18.
Should and can a home inspector report casually-observed clues pointing to a buried oil tank?
In our opinion, a home inspector should report the observation of these visual clues, even when she or he was not hired to perform an actual inspection for the presence of a UST, also known as an oil tank sweep - a procedure that we describe separately
at BURIED / UNDERGROUND OIL TANK (UST), LOCATION METHODS.
Really? OPINION: Some inspectors take the position that they don't want to report on visually obvious clues indicating a possible environmental problem or expense because they fear opening the door to liability for having done an environmental inspection for which they were niether hired nor paid. I [DF] disagree.
The appreciation expressed by inspection clients for an inspector who provides more than the bare minimum rquired and the reputation as someone who truly works for his or her clients' best interest rather than only for speed and maximum income (by doing the minimum work) is a reputation that pays for itself many times over.
Simply including a statement that the inspector was not engaged to perform and did not perform an environmental-hazard inspection is sufficient.
COPTRIGHT & RE-USE NOTICE: while example report language is provided here, reproduction of this or any of our web pages or their contents online at other websites or in printed documents for sale is prohibited. Readers are welcome to use the text directly in home inspection reports, with citation of the website source.
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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs
On 2020-08-08 - by (mod) -
Oliver,
I add that that plastic tubing is certainly a very modern product - nothing from the 1950s.
On 2020-08-09 by Oliver
Thanks! No documentation can be given by the seller since the pipes were there we he puchased the house and the previous owners are now dead. We do not know if a tank was buried underground in the past, if a tank is still there or if the soil is contaminated. What tests do you recommend before buying the house? A soil test for contamination? But this will not tell us if a tank is still buried and could leak in the future?
On 2020-08-08 - by (mod) -
Oliver, those oil lines usually indicate that there is or was a buried oil tank at the property. When an oil tank is removed it would be common to leave the abandoned oil lines at the foundation wall or floor slab, as removing them is unnecessary and worse, is a terrible project requiring drilling and chopping concrete or other masonry.
Most technicians will crush and bend over the copper tubing to be sure that in the future it doesn't serve as a point of water entry, and also to make clear that the line is no longer in use. If one of those lines is just plastic, that's not an option.
In any event, As buyer of a property where an oil tank was removed you would either get satisfactory documentation from the seller that the work was done properly and that testing either showed no leaks and no oil spill cleanup required or that any leaked oil was properly cleaned up and contaminated soil removed.
Without that documentation, in my OPINION, no reasonable amount of escrow could cover the worst case of future discovery that an oil spill cleanup is needed, so you'd proceed with the purchase with the understanding that you could face such costs.
On 2020-08-08 by Oliver
We are about to buy a house built in 1951. The current owner removed an interior oil tank in 2007 but an inspector found two pipes in the foundation. The pipes are in plastic but can it be a sign of an old underground tank? See image.
On 2020-06-29 by willie
need documentation on oil tank removal from thr corner of rosewood rood and perkins mill road road goldsboro, nc
On 2019-02-26 by jacqueline stein
I had oil to gas in 1995 ish. Need documents asap to satisfy a buyer for my house
On 2018-05-15 - by (mod) -
Matthew
With the apology that of course neither of us has x-ray vision, the pipe looks too small to be an oil tank vent and certainly too small to be a tank filler. It looks like an old water stand pipe. Before doing much digging I'd look for pipes leaving the building that head in that direction, say from a basement or crawl space, and that are of similar material. Let me know what you find.
On 2018-05-15 by Matthew Maynard
Trying to figure out what this is and what's underneath
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2018-03-11 - by (mod) -
I can't rule out an above-ground oil storage tank, although those two copper pipes make no sense to me.
On 2018-03-11 by RS
Hi, Hoping to find any inputs regarding our situation - we are in the inspection stage of buying a home. The oil tank sweep found a wooden box filled with gravel but caused the metal detector alarm to go off.
This is in the utilities basement. We see copper pipes going down into th box but no other evidence of UST. The problem is since the box is covered with gravel and shut we can’t access and check this out.
Could this be an oil tank?
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.
On 2017-10-14 - by (mod) -
Court
At OIL TANK LEAK & SIZE REPORTING -https://inspectapedia.com/oiltanks/Oil_Tank_Leak_Reporting_Laws.php we summarize regulations requiring the presence of USTs and for reporting leaks. Yes depending on oil storage tank size, and depending on where you live and thus what regulations pertain, reporting of underground oil storage tanks (USTs) presence may be required.
On 2017-10-14 by Courtmarie
There is a pest control business that has buried oil tanks that are not reported. Is this something that should be reported for safety concerns? And who would I call?
On 2017-02-25 - by (mod) -
Oil tank locating companies use ground scanning radar that can find such objects underground.
On 2017-02-23 by Amy
Is it possible that tanks could be located under a home renovation? We are looking to close on a home, but they cannot provide proof of the abandoned tank. The oil tank company has gone to the property several times and cannot find it. Is there any way to confirm its not under the house or another way to see if there is documentation?
On 2016-09-28 - by (mod) -
Charles, I would call the Call New York DEC'S Helpline at (518) 402-9543
On 2016-09-24 by charles
Someone told me there is an environmental website that lists failures of underground oil tanks in Westchester county ny. Do you know what that site is?
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Continue reading at BURIED OIL TANKS, OUTDOOR CLUES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
Recommended Articles
- BURIED OIL STORAGE TANKS (UST) GUIDE - home
- OIL TANKS - home
- OIL TANK LEAK & ABANDONMENT REGULATIONS
- OIL TANK LEAK / FAILURE RATES
- OIL TANK LEAK TEST METHODS
- OIL TANK TESTING & REMOVAL COs
Suggested citation for this web page
BURIED OIL TANK REPORTS 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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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- [1] FUEL STORAGE TANK CORROSION STUDY, U.S. EPA report on gasoline and oil tank corrosion, James H. Pim, P.E., John M. Searing, Suffolk County DOHS, 15 Horseblock Place, Farmingville Long Island, NY 11728, November 1988, for the Office of Underground Storage Tanks, U.S. EPA. ATTN: David O'Brien. The report presents a study of 500 underground storage tanks spanning 24 February 1987 and September 1 1988 and summarizes earlier reports on this same study. Tank sizes ranged from 175 gallons to 50,000 gallons, and oil tank ages ranged from two years to 70 years old. All 500 oil storage tanks were constructed of welded steel, and 12 other tanks that were other than plain steel were also examined. Summary [with minor edits for clarity by DJF]
- [3] "A Case Study of a Large Scale Precision [oil or fuel] Tank Testing Program", Diane H. Heck, Tetra Tech Richardson, Newark, Delaware, web search 4/27/12, original source: http://info.ngwa.org/GWOL/pdf/870143411.PDF, copy on file as /heating/OIl Tanks UST/Tank_Test_Heck_870143411.pdf
- [4] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, August 1985 p.18. Fuel Oil & Oil Heating Magazine, 3621 Hill Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054, 973-331-9545
- [7] "The Interim Prohibition Guidance for Design and Installation of Underground Oil Storage Tanks", U.S. EPA, EPA/530-SW-85203, Office of Underground Storage Tanks, Washington D.C.
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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