At the price of my oil tank Yesterday there was a strong smell in the basement. I did some investigation today and my oil tank was leaking steadily. I made several calls and found a company that came out to drain my heating oil into a temporary IBC storage tank, and remove the bad tank. It was new to the house in 1966, so it was time. While they were on their way over I had to demolish a section of wall the previous owner built around the tank, so they could gain access to get it out. The timing worked out though. I built a temporary wall after they got the old tank out, since the basement is my stepdaughter’s bedroom. What a day and I haven’t even gone to work yet. They’ll be back in late October to install the new double wall tank and a new line.
Just a heads up, for what it’s worth. My tank was installed new in 1990, in a very dry basement, and still looked brand new. Last year it leaked. My oil guy said I was very lucky since tanks these days are good for maybe 15 years. It seems when the government took the lead out of gasoline they also took the sulpher out of heating oil. The sulpher oil would coat the tank and preserve it. Who would think a can full of oil could corrode heavy gauge metal, but it did. The leak was not on a weld, or a crack, it’s just corrosive now. Not sure if any experts here agree - just my experience.
In VT you have to have your tank inspected every 3 years to get deliveries. One of the requirements is that the line is not touching concrete.
And has to be on a concrete pad and since Irene needs to be strapped so it can’t fall over in a flood.
My house (cape built in 1966) the line was run and buried in concrete when they poured the basement floor. No PVC.
Well I’m glad that’s resolved. I like the new tank. Narrower and taller, taking up less room. Great couple of guys that installed it too.
