Short version: My landscaper found an old oil tank beneath the spot where I had hired him to put in a new patio. I had the tank pulled out Monday. The tank was riddled with holes and obviously leaked out its contents. I've contacted my insurance agent and my lawyer. If the water has leaked into the ground water then the insurance will cover the cost of the cleanup, but it will take many months. If it has not contaminated the ground water then it may cost me up to 10k out of my pocket to clean it, but should take less than 30 days to clean up. Either way my great plans for a new patio in the back for the summer are Fvcked up.

Anyone know anything about old oil tanks??

-- Tom

Long version: I bought a nice old house ( 70+ years old )last June. Before closing I had the existing oil tank checked for leaks. Turns out that it was leaking. I held up closing till the tank and the soil was properly cleaned up and I received an all's clear from the DEP. A new tank was put in above ground and I moved in.

This winter I decided that I wanted to clean up my property, including removal of old trees and junk bushes and to put in all new stuff including wood-on-wood fences and a nice big brick paver patio. Estimated cost 20k. A couple of weeks ago the project started. Last week they discovered the oil tank that is now causing the problem. Nobody knew that there was this second older inactive tank in the ground. Now I've got all sorts of problems.

As I asked earlier, anyone have any similar experiences?

-- Tom

 

I have been trying to get rid of the oil tank.
Every handyman (heating people) told me to leave it alone and continue to use oil for heat. They think it's too much trouble to deal with it.
I guess they are afraid that I would run into the problems that you are running into right now.
As much as I hated my oil furnice, I think I can live without the problems you are having for now.
Sorry to hear about the delay of your plans.....

 

you guys have oil tanks on your property? what in the world for?

 

Heat. Many of the older and some newer furnaces burn home heating oil rather than natural gas.

 

OH! Doh! I keep forgetting it gets cold over there...

 

Short answer it depends. Long answer below.

I have delt with USTs at different warehouse sites. Remediation is usually up to the state EPA. In Missouri we didn't have to pull the tank but filled with concrete. In LA. we had to remove the tank and put the dirt that was contaminated in the sun for 30 days and refill the hole. I didn't ask how the sun removed 15 years of old oil.

 

Coal. Yes coal is what I use for heat.

I have an old Federation (circa 1901) house and, even though it has a climate controlled server room with over a dozen servers running 24 hours a day, it also has 4 working coal burning fireplaces. So once a year I have 400Kg of rich black rock delivered and smoke up the neighbourhood all winter.

The GF thinks it's romantic, but she's not the one who has to lug 40Kg bags of coal around and get covered head to tow in coal dust.