If you’re a homeowner, oil tanks are not something you think about — unless you have a refinery in your backyard. However, for many people in New Jersey, oil tanks are a hazard. There is a state law that requires property owners to check for oil tanks and remove them if found. If you are a homeowner in New Jersey, you may have some questions about oil tank removal. Here are the four most common oil tank removal questions homeowners have.
1. What Oil Tanks Could Be on My Property?
Many people think of oil tanks as large structures that can hold thousands of gallons of oil. You know the ones. You can find them at oil refineries. However, there are many smaller oil tanks scattered throughout New Jersey. That’s because of the way people heat their homes during the winter. In the past, people heated their houses using home heating oil stored in underground tanks. Researchers estimate that around 5 percent of houses nationwide have furnaces that use home heating oil. You won’t find this kind of home heating unit in the South or the West. Instead, most of the houses that use home heating oil are in the Northeast. Before the 1980s, people bought houses with home heating oil. Since then, many houses use central air and heat. Researchers estimate thousands of houses in New Jersey use home heating oil.
2. How Will I Know if I Have an Oil Tank on My Property?
There are so many tanks buried underground, there is now a law about oil tank removal in N.J. Every time a person buys or sells a home, he or she must check for oil tanks. Oil tank removal companies in N.J. can locate buried oil tanks on your property and remove them. Companies must have N.J. oil tank removal certification to remove tanks from private property.
To find one, an oil tank removal company will conduct a tank sweep on the property. Often, the company uses a metal detector to see if there is any metal buried underground. A company can also use radar to find buried tanks.
3. What Are Some Clues I Might Need an Oil Tank Removal Near Me?
There are signs you may have an oil tank buried on your property. Usually, houses built before 1975 had home heating oil tanks buried underground. Also, in the past, people began using aboveground tanks for heating oil. That may mean you also have an underground tank. Do you have pipes sticking up at the end of your driveway or at the end of your yard? If yes, you might also have a tank.
4. How Are Oil Tanks Removed?
Once you discover an oil tank on your property, an oil tank removal company can remove it. Usually, the company locates the tank and removes it by digging it up. If there is soil contamination, the company will also remove the soil. Once it has removed the tank, the company will, then, fill the hole with sand or gravel and smooth it over. Then, you will be able to plant grass over the top of the hole.
If you are worried that you have a buried oil tank on your property, contact All American Environmental. We will be able to come and do a scan of your property to determine whether you have a tank. If you are buying a property, you can contact us to scan the property to make sure there’s no tank. Give us a call today and let us relieve your worries.
