Seems this is the week for discussing heat sources, apparently …

Last week, I had the opportunity to listen to a discussion being led by Simon & Associates regarding heating oil tanks.  You know the ones, the big steel tanks often seen on rickety stands around the New River Valley.  They’re called ASTs (above ground storage tanks), but can be USTs (underground storage tanks) as well, and often hold as much as 500 gallons of No.2 fuel oil.  As with anything, regular maintenance can help extend the life of these tanks, and failure to properly maintain them can cause huge problems, including air pollution and soil and groundwater contamination.  The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) estimates there are more than 400000 heating oil tanks in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and most of the older ones are made of uncoated steel – let’s see … exposure to water and the elements + infrequent maintenance = trouble.

That’s not to say every tank is an issue, but when a tank is stored outside, or even underground, and not maintained properly, problems can exist.  If the tank is leaking, you’ll often see:

• failing gauges, valves or fittings,
• increased fuel consumption,
• dark stained soils compared to the surrounding native soils,
• oily rainbow sheen on water beneath the tank,
• heating oil odors in the house or coming up from the ground,
• or staining on basement walls and floors adjacent to the tank.

“What do I do, I have all of those?!” Step one – don’t worry.  If there’s a leak, contact an environmental consultant (like Simon and Associates) and have them take a look at what’s really going on. Sometimes, it’s as simply as replacing the existing tank with a new one; another option is to abandon the tank where it is, emptying it and then filling it with something like gravel, sand, or concrete.  And often the trouble associated with cleanup of a leak can be recouped through the Virginia Petroleum Storage Tank Fund.

What’s that?  Haven’t heard of the Virginia Petroleum Storage Tank Fund?  Yea, I hadn’t either, but apparently the program provides reimbursement for eligible cleanup costs associated with leaking tanks.  It does not reimburse for tank removal, replacement or repair, but it does help with the cost … Simon & Associates can provide all the details.

If you have a tank on your property, whether it’s an AST or UST, you don’t have to do anything.  It’s true – there are no laws that require it’s removal or closure.  But having a tank on the property, particularly one that’s not in service, can cause problems.  I’ve seen buyers pass on a home because a tank was abandoned and we didn’t know the condition of it, and they didn’t want to fool with the potential for collapse, or a leak into the house.  So it’s okay if you don’t want to remove it, just know what your options – and risks – are.