What Is An Oil Tank?

An oil tank is a tank that contains large amounts of fuel that homes or other buildings use for heating. The heating system uses the tank of oil, which is located outside the home. Most homes depend on a local utility company to regularly refill their oil tanks. This is particularly true during periods of high use, such as a cold winter. With people preferring alternative forms of home heating, oil tank removal is becoming a regularly requested service.

Are All Oil Tanks the Same?

No, there are different types of oil tanks including:

Bunded Oil Tanks – Bunded oil tanks have two tanks, with one located inside the other. Typically, the outer tank is intended to accommodate 110 percent of the oil contained within the inner one. The purpose of having concentric tanks is for the outer tank to act as a safety catch in the event of the inner tank breaking. In this set up, the inner tank contains most of the oil
Single Skin Oil Tanks – This type of tank is recommended for property owners with a tight budget in mind, as they are less expensive than bunded tanks. Single skin oil tanks are also available in a variety of sizes, allowing the customer to select the tank relative to their expected need
Fuel Bunkers – This type of tank is generally intended for commercial use. It usually includes a delivery hose along with a transfer pump. The owner can distribute oil to more than just the main building if they wish

Why Should I Have My Oil Tank Removed?

People are now converting to alternative methods of fuel for home and office energy in greater numbers, and are no longer using oil tanks. However, unused oil tanks can be hazardous and should be removed if not in use. Common concerns are that an unused oil tank can spill or leak oil. This leaves the homeowner liable for any bio-hazardous material cleanup, which can be costly and damaging. Aside from the danger of tank failure, the homeowner may simply want to get rid of the old tank due to an odor of oil, or because the tank’s current location can be used for something else. Aside from these issues, oil tanks are often considered unsightly and can lower property value.

Vancouver law requires any homeowner wishing to sell a house to remove the existing oil tank prior to listing the property for sale. This includes the British Columbia cities of Burnaby, Surrey and New Westminster.

The city of Vancouver has strict standards pertaining to oil tanks and how they are to be removed, with professional removal being highly recommended. A professional oil tank removal provider will ensure prevention of soil and groundwater contamination. Local Vancouver CERC Oil Tank Removal has been a leading expert in underground heating oil tank removal for many years. Our professional team will help homeowners facing this daunting task to comply with all oil tank removal regulations.

Do All Homes Have Oil Tanks on the Property?

Not all homes have oil tanks. If a homeowner in the greater Vancouver area would like to know if his or her home has an oil tank, there are a few points that will strongly increase the odds of a tank being located on the property, including:

The house was built before 1975
Presence of a fill pipe sticking out of the ground
By tracing the copper pipes in the basement which may lead to the oil tank

How Is the Oil Tank Removed?

The first step in the process begins when a pump truck arrives at the property and completely removes all fuel currently in the tank. A homeowner’s tank is cleaned by a removal company which either owns the pump truck or subcontracts the removal services. The pump truck’s containment system will capture any debris from the oil tank typically ensuring that no oil is spilled during removal. The next step in the process includes three to five removal team members locating the underground oil tank on the homeowner’s property. The laborers then use a backhoe to uncover the oil tank.

If the oil tank is not accessible by machine, the service crew will need to dig the tank out of the ground by hand. Hand digging may take up to three hours. When the property’s oil tank is exposed, the removal personnel cut a hole in its top, remove the contents and clean the interior. Once the tank is cleaned, it is unearthed from the ground and then ready for inspection.

Who Is CERC Oil Tank Removal and How Can You Help Me?

CERC Oil Tank Removal has been serving greater Vancouver residents with their oil tank removal services since 1990. CERC Tank Removal employees ensure that clients enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the removal team guarantees excellent, affordable, and environmentally sensitive removal work.

Canada’s federal government publishes official guidelines on the correct way to manage a property’s oil tank removal. CERC Tank Removal employees respect private property and meticulously follow official guidelines when removing the oil tank.

We serve all areas of Vancouver, including: