Oil Tank & Soil Remediation

Vancouver residents considering selling a home may not realize they're facing a large, potentially expensive issue: oil tank removal. Heating oil tank removal in Vancouver has become one of the most misunderstood and confusing issues for anyone about to sell an older home. CERC helps homeowners deal with this problem before the home is sold.

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Identify

How to identify an underground tank

Underground tanks sit beneath the yard's surface, you can't see them, so you have to look for clues. Here are signs your property may have one:

Any home built before 1975 may have an underground tank.

A fill pipe sticking out of the ground 4–6 inches above the surface, usually 6–12 feet from the foundation and about 2 inches in diameter. Typically capped.

A one-inch steel vent pipe near the foundation — usually capped, 7–8 ft long — that normalizes pressure in the tank.

In the basement, look for two ¼-inch copper tubes near the furnace area used to supply oil from the tank.

The Requirement

Do I have to remove my oil tank?

Underground soil contamination is a major reason many homeowners remove underground heating oil tanks in Vancouver. Old oil tank removal in Vancouver is required if you're going to sell your home. Because it's such an important part of the home's sale process, it's crucial to find a professional who can safely and effectively remove your home's old underground tank system.

If you're wondering why you have to remove the tank, think about the environmental implications. Old oil tanks contain air, which contains moisture. The tank's position underground provides a cool environment in which this moisture condenses, dripping down the walls of the tank and leading to corrosion. Over time this can produce hydrogen gas, which creates acids that eat away at the tank until oil seeps out into the groundwater and soil.

The CERC Process

CERC underground tank removal

The Canadian Government publishes guidelines on the right way to approach underground oil tank removal. Our crews respect homeowner property and follow the approved guidelines on every job.

Assess & remove remaining oil

Crews assess the job and carefully remove any remaining oil to minimize the chance of leaks into surrounding soil or water.

Excavate the tank

We hand-dig or machine-excavate the tank with care — watching for potential problems and leaks the whole way.

Clean, cut & scrap

Once above ground, the tank is moved to a safe storage facility, cleaned, cut and scrapped for metal in full compliance with regulations.

Backfill & restore

We backfill and compact the hole properly to prevent sinkholes, then cover the area with sod or ground cover — neat and presentable.

Decommissioning Certificate

You receive a Decommissioning Certificate as proof the oil tank has been removed — required when you decide to sell.

Several Vancouver residents have recently discovered underground oil tanks on properties they inherited — leading to unexpected removal expense. The best thing you can do is have your underground heating oil tank removed as soon as you realize it's there, thereby saving yourself or your family many hours of future frustration and large costs. CERC employs experts in oil tank handling and can help you lower underground oil tank removal cost in Vancouver while still complying with all regulations and bylaws.

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