No one wants the surprise or headache from cleaning up after a heating oil tank spill.
As we prepare for the extended period of frigid weather, we all have our lists of preventive measures to help guard against unwanted damage:
– Disconnect and drain all outdoor hoses,
– Turn off the water supply to outdoor spigots,
– Stow away the deck furniture,
– Clean out gutters to prevent ice dams,
– Put on winter tires,
– Winterize the boat…
But, there is one important protective measure that is commonly overlooked – Inspect Your Heating Oil Tank !!
December and January are the busiest time of year for heating oil deliveries and, not surprisingly, the time of year for the most home heating oil tank spills. As a public service, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has published a handy Fact Sheet (Tips for Residential Tank Owners) with somewhat easy Self-Inspection Checklists for basement and backyard above-ground heating oil tanks, as well as underground tanks. (We don’t recommend “out of sight is out of mind…”).
Take the time to inspect your tank and associated piping and fittings. If you are not sure how to do this or are not comfortable, have your heating oil delivery company do it. Look for minor drips, or corrosion of the tank legs. Deal with it now so that it doesn’t become a larger, more expensive problem later. Believe us, small indications of problems can become very large headaches before you know it. We know, because we’ve cleaned a lot of them up after the spill. These costly spills are usually not covered by Homeowner’s Insurance.
To view the heating oil spill clean up we have worked on, visit our heating oil projects page.
So, inspect your tank – and have a happy, warm, and spill-free holiday season.
From your trusted friends at Brickhouse Environmental