Heating oil tanks are built to provide warmth to your home for years, but they will not last forever. Leaks are one of the most common issues, and the spilled fuel can pollute the environment inside and around your home. If your suspect your oil tank is leaking, here’s how to deal with the situation. 

What to Do if Your Heating Oil Tank Leaks

Identify the Leak

Heating oil tanks can be stored either above ground or below ground on the property. You can tell the heating oil is leaking from the strong odor the fuel emits.

If you smell the oil, you will need to inspect the tank and check for leakage beneath it immediately. In-ground tank leaks are harder to detect because you won’t smell anything. However, if you notice your heating bills are steadily rising, and you have to call for fuel delivery more often than usual, your tank may have a leak.

Addressing Above-Ground Leaks

If your tank is leaking above ground, you must immediately notify the local fire department. Heating oil is extremely combustible, and they need to be informed of potential fire hazards. Once you make the call, ventilate the area around the tank by opening windows and setting up fans to clear the fumes away.

Next, contact an oil cleanup contractor to clean the spill and repair the tank. Finally, you need to protect your family from the oil vapors. They can cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea. You may need to leave home for a couple of days until the oil cleanup contractor finishes the job.

Addressing In-Ground Leaks

For a definitive answer as to whether your in-ground oil tank is leaking, you should have an environmental expert take a soil sample around the unit to detect traces of fuel. If the oil is present in the dirt, the next step is to contact a professional to remove the heating oil tank from the yard.

The ground must be dug up so that the contractor can access the tank. Afterward, you must notify local authorities because the leakage could have contaminated nearby water sources. You should also contact your insurance company to see if the costs of the tank repairs and soil cleanup are covered. 

If you need heating oil for your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to Monroe Oil Company in Rochester, NY. As the leading supplier of house heating oil and kerosene throughout Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties for over a century, this dependable company offers superior fuel management and tank services, including fuel delivery. To learn more about their services and products, call (585) 244-4080 or visit them online.