Heating Oil Spill Cleanup, Remediation, & Prevention Guide for Homes & Light-Commercial Buildings
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Heating oil tank or piping leak or spill prevention recommendations
Heating oil spill cleanup companies, resources, sources of oil spill cleanup and remediation supplies, companies, training, experts
Oil tank leak testing procedures, companies
Oil storage tank regulations pertaining to oil leak or oil spill reporting and cleanup
Questions & answers about oil tank leaks, spills, and leak cleanup

This article describes an approach to prevention of above ground or buried oil tank leaks or leaks anywher in the heating oil tank and piping and burner system. We include lists oil spill cleanup and prevention experts, supplies, training resources, regulations, and technical information. This oil tank leak and leak prevention article series answers nearly all questions about above ground or buried oil storage tanks including oil tank installation, abandonment, removal, leak testing, leak prevention, and regulations.

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Heating Oil Leak & Spill Prevention Recommendations

Photograph of parts this leaking oil tank

Proper installation, inspection, & maintenance of heating oil storage tanks, piping, valves, & controls are the key measures that can prevent both small leaks that lead to heating system operating troubles (or loss of heat or dangerous puffbacks) and larger leaks that lead to costly oil spill cleanup jobs. Here are links to greater depths on the key topics that should be part of a residential or commercial oil leak & spill prevention program:

At OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES we describe the common sources of oil tank damage, leaks, or water entry. We also have some data on OIL TANK FAILURE RATES.
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS and also OIL TANK INSPECTION REPORTS contain suggestions for problems that can alert you to a problem with the oil tank that can contribute to leaks or equipment operating trouble. Above ground oil tanks can also be tested for corrosion, steel thickness (if it's a steel tank) and other defects. See OIL TANK LEAKS & SMELLS and and also OIL TANK TEST ADVICE.
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE - proper installation of the oil tank, for purposes of spill or leak prevention means using the right kind of tank, locating it properly, avoiding damaging the oil tank during transport or installation, knowing soil conditions (soil chemistry can contribute to oil tank corrosion), and periodic tank inspections for water or other trouble signs. When there is a reason for extra concern, such as oil tank age, unknown condition, or discovery of loss of oil or water in oil, the tank should be tested. See OIL TANK TEST ADVICE.
OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS describes oil piping, controls, valves, and equipment inspection & maintenance: as we noted, small leaks mean heating equipment operating problems or even loss of heat while a larger leak means an expensive cleanup job. Oil line safety and fire safety valves include features that can prevent a leak of heating oil from the oil piping, fittings, & controls between the oil tank and the oil burner. See OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES.

OIL SPILL, Oil Tank LEAK CLEANUP - Oil Leak/Spill Cleanup Companies Listing

Indoor oil spills during tank fill or later from a leaky oil tank range from trivial local cleanup and deodorizing efforts to very serious contamination problems if an oil tank bursts during oil delivery (which we suspect is rare) and on occasions when an indoor oil tank has been removed but someone (some fool) has left the oil filler pipe installed on the building, and when subsequently an oil delivery is mistakenly made through the filler pipe onto the empty basement or crawl space floor.

This may sound crazy but it actually happens. At OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE we discuss steps a building owner should take to be darn sure that oil is not accidentally pumped into the building or into an abandoned oil tank.

Sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop.

Outdoor and buried oil tank oil spills occur due to a variety of causes.

In-Tank corrosion of oil storage tanks: Underground fuel or heating oil storage tanks usually fail from rust perforation due to several effects of water inside the tank including, in the case of heating oil, combination of water with sulphur in the fuel, bacterial action, and other factors.

External rust on oil tanks, unless very heavy, isn't highly correlated with internal rust. Leaks can occur due to tank damage or at piping connections.

Oil Tanks in Corrosive Soils: Oil storage tank leaks are more likely if a steel tank has been buried in corrosive soil or if the tank was damaged during installation, such as gouging it or bouncing it off of a rock as it was placed into a hole for burying.

Oil Tank Piping Leaks: Oil tank leaks may occur at buried piping connections as well.

Delivery Oil Spills: occur around the tank fill pipe and range from trivial to more extensive requiring soil removal and cleaning. These leaks are usually obvious at the ground surface around the oil tank or tank filler.

Inadequate fill or vent pipe diameter is blamed by some for leaks at buried or above ground oil tanks, asserting that because oil tanks are filled under pressure from the oil delivery pumper-truck, a corroded, damaged, or poorly-plumbed oil storage tank, or one with a too-small vent opening, may not withstand the pressure of the filling process.

TESTING COs / REMOVAL COs - Oil Tank Testing, Removal, Consulting Environmental Service Companies

Heating Oil Spill Cleanup:

For details on cleaning up residential oil spills see OIL TANK LEAK CLEANUP GUIDE. Also see OIL TANK TESTING COs and OIL TANK REMOVAL COs and OIL TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID links here or at page left to see our most current list of companies providing oil tank testing or oil tank removal/abandonment services.

ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS - inspect oil tanks to notice and correct problems before a costly oil spill occurs in your building
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE - recommendations for evaluating the condition of underground oil storage tanks, leak prevention, leak testing

Heating Oil Tank Testing or Removal

OIL TANK REMOVAL COs lists companies providing oil storage tank location, inspection, and testing for leaks and who also will perform oil tank abandonment in-place, or oil tank removal. Also see OIL TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
OIL TANK TESTING COs lists companies providing oil storage tank location, inspection, and testing for leaks

ATTORNEYS and EXPERT WITNESSES includes environmental experts
FLOATING UP OIL STORAGE or SEPTIC TANKS - a light-weight and nearly-empty buried oil tank may float up from underground during periods of flooding, tearing oil piping and causing an oil spill.
OIL, HEATING, EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS what are the health hazards from exposure to No.2 home heating oil (and automotive deisel fuel)?
- HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS
- MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets - of specific interest to InspectAPedia readers

Oil Spill Secondary Containment and Oil Spill Remediation Products, Services, Advice, Training

Oil Spill Secondary Containment and Oil Spill Remediation
- Bioremediation resources on Internet
- Environmental and Information Resources, Inc. markets a low cost way of cleaning up petroleum hydrocarbon releases called bioremediation using naturally occurring soil microbes. EIR also performs biologically based cleanups of inorganic contamination such as heavy metals and radio nuclides using phytoremediation to uptake contamination from soil or groundwater.
- Spill-911 company provides oil spill containment and prevention supplies - 800-474-5911 - how to prevent oil tank leaks and oil spills from spreading by using secondary containment. Oil Spill Containment items provide storage, secondary containment, protection and response to minimize the impact of leaks and spills. Poly and Steel Drums, Containment Berms and Spill Containment Decks and Spill Pallets.
OIL TANK LEAK CLEANUP GUIDE - detailed cleanup advice for residential oil tank leaks and spills
OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES and OIL TANK FAILURE RATES give insight into the risk of an oil tank leak or spill at your property. The rate or frequency of oil tank leaks or oil storage tank failures, focused on underground storage tanks or USTs, is discussed in detail at TANK FAILURE RATES provides Oil Tank Failure Data - Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors. Also see OIL TANK LIFE their life expectancy and life factors and TANK FAILURE CAUSES discusses the causes of oil storage tank leaks in more detail.

Government Contacts U.S., for oil spil notification and advice - Contact the DEC/DEP/DNR office in your state.

Government Contacts U.S., for oil spil notification and advice - Contact the DEC/DEP/DNR office in your state.
- OIL TANK REGULATIONS - what are the oil spill or leak reporting requirements - variations by U.S. state & Canadian Province?
    OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING BASICS
    OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING REGULATIONS - ALL
    OIL TANK REGULATIONS - CANADA
    OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING in NEW JERSEY
    OIL TANK LEAK & SIZE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
    BULK STORAGE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
  
  Other useful links:

DOE - U.S. Department of Energy
DOT - U.S. Department of Transportation
EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FDA - U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FEMA - U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency
MSDS Search - Vermont SIRI
NIEHS - U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Standards
NIOSH - U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
OSHA - U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Listing submissions welcome, there is no listing fee. Contact Us . InspectAPedia ^® is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information for the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

Gulf Oil Spill Sent Crude Oil Fumes Ashore in Louisiana - Recommended articles on crude oil spill health risks

Workers in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico region during the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill were (and may still be) at risk from exertional heat stroke, and there can be short-term effects from fresh oil-spill fumes: affecting the eye, neurological system, and skin. Short term lung, kidney, and liver functions may be affected. Media reports and studies of oil spills do not address effects of long term or chronic exposure to crude oil spills, but sources indicate that as oil breaks down in water it becomes less toxic over time. - Reuters

OSHA's position and that of other expert sources such as the ATSDR is that modest typical residential exposure to heating oil fumes is a nuisance that may not pose a hazard to a healthy individual. Reuters reported that "Health and Human Services Department officials told a Congressional haring that little is known about the health impacts on people of oil spills." (Reuters, op cit. 6/23/10) We recommend monitoring results of "Assessing the Human Health Effects of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: An Institute of Medicine Workshop", June 22-23 2010. - Institute of Medicine.

While the long term environmental effects of crude oil spills such as the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill are not yet clear, more immediate complaints of oil fumes ashore in Louisiana have been reported. Local health officials in that state have warned people with respiratory illness, asthma, or similar conditions to avoid breathing oil fumes and to "stay indoors".

The oil and oil fume toxicity, safety and MSDS data below provides a summary of possible health concerns from short term, chronic, or long term exposure to refined oil spills such as No. 2 home heating oil. We include links to Material Data Safety Sheets for Crude Oil MSDS as well as home heating oil MSDS where we provide more health related details.

Recommended articles for readers interested in the effects of the gulf oil spill:

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS - Heating Oil Exposure Effects, Exposure Limits, Health Hazards
Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil Combustion Gas, Soot, Flue Gases
Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil Fumes
Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil Liquid
Exposure to Crude Oil or Heating Oil - contaminated fish - eating oil-contaminated seafood
Material Safety Data Sheets for Crude Oil and Refined Heating Oil Products
- Heating Oil Exposure Health Effects - introduction and general health effects
- MSDS Sheet for HOME HEATING OIL - Material Safety Data Sheets for No. 2 Heating Oil
- Exposure Limits for Home Heating Oil - Exposure LImits for Oil Exposure
- MSDS Sheet for CRUDE OIL - exposure hazards, personal protection advice, accidental release guidance
- MSDS Sheets for Gulf Oil Spill Dispersant Corexit - toxicity and MSDS sheets for Corexit®, Dispersit®, and other oil spill dispersants
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE - distinguish between Gulf oil spill odors and other building odor sources
DIRECTORY OF PROFESSIONALS TO INSPECT OR TEST A BUILDING

Details about oil storage tank removal or abandonment methods are at OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE. A brief summary is below.

Details about oil storage tank rules, standards, guidelines, and regulations are at OIL TANK REGULATIONS A brief summary is below. Also see OIL TANK LEGAL ISSUES.

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Questions & answers about oil tank leaks and spills: Oil leaks and spills from residential and light commercial ASTs, USTs, oil tank life, oil tank regulations, leak testing, buried oil tank abandonment, oil tank removal, oil tank leak prevention, spill cleanup, oil piping, oil filters, oil tank regulations

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OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION - see detailed links at page left

Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE - Abandoning Oil Tanks - provides a detailed discussion of Abandoning Commercial vs. Residential Underground Oil Storage Tanks (UST) - Procedures & Regulations
OIL TANK REGULATIONS U.S. State and Federal environmental regulations regarding oil leak reporting, oil and other storage tank registration, oil tank abandonment, tank removal, tank testing, and other storage tanks, U.S. state regulations, and regulations in other countries are discussed in detail at this link where we also give contact information for various federal and state agencies.
NFPA - the National Fire Protection Association can be found online at www.nfpa.org

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
More Reading and advice about oil storage tank leak testing
- ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS - "Visual Inspection of Above Ground Residential Heating Oil Storage Tanks - ASTs" provides photos of common and easily seen tank leaks and defects, and a description of some easy visual checks of the condition of a visible oil tank, things that you can do yourself
- OIL TANK TESTING Oil Tank Testing Methods & Choices
- BURIED OIL TANKS, FINDING How to Find Buried Oil Tank
- OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES Oil Tank Leaks or Oil Tank Failure Causes - oil tank leaks are caused by corrosion, damage, soil conditions, other factors
- TANK FAILURE RATES Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors
- OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION - how to find out if there is problematic water in an oil tank and how to get water out of an oil tank are explained
Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
Abandon a Buried Oil Tank, How To - Abandoning Commercial Underground Tanks, Russ Brauksieck, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, P. 40-41 [Reprint]
Above Ground Oil Tanks: Visual Inspection of Oil Storage Tanks for evidence of leaks, damage, improper piping - photos and text
Above Ground Oil Tanks Checklist, an Oil Company's advice
Above Ground Tanks UL Standards, UL Tank Listing Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
Buried Oil Tanks - Finding How to Find Buried Oil Tanks and "Nearly Hidden" and Leaky Oil Tanks - photos and text.
Buried Fuel tank - Advice - Buried FUEL Tank - GAS or OIL advice for home buyers, home owners, inspection report language for homes where a buried oil tank is or was installed
Environmental Issues & Regulations for Oil Tanks, Registration, Abandonment, Leak Reporting
Home Inspection Report Language Library: Buried Oil Tanks, Buried or aboveground oil tank advice for home buyers and home owners, where a buried oil tank is or was installed, also home inspection report language for oil tanks
Home Inspection Report Language Library: Visible Defects in Oil Tank Installations, Tanks, and Heating Oil Piping
Home Inspection Report Language Library: Gas Fuel Piping or Tank Faults Basic advice - home inspection report language suggestions
Home Inspection Report Language Library: Oil Tanks text file list © Oil and Other Storage Tank Leaks, Testing, Abandonment, Inspection - UST home inspection report language files - Reference List
Indoor Environment Website Indoor Building Environmental Hazard Detection, Testing, Repair, & Prevention - Main Web Page
Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - Advice for Home Owners or Buyers: caused of leaks in oil tanks, oil tank testing alternatives, what to do about leaky tanks: D. J. Friedman, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.2 No.1, Winter, 1992 p. 42-43 Illus
Leak or Failure Rates for Home Heating Oil Tanks
Legal Issues Regarding Buried Oil Storage Tanks K. S. Rea, Attorney, summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
Primer on Petroleum Bulk Storage Tanks & Petroleum Contamination of Property Paul H. Ciminello, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, p 35-39
Petroleum Bulk Storage J. Sibblies, NY State DEC, Advice to Home Owners and Home Inspectors about Oil Storage Tanks - summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
Septic Tank inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair
OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES - Oil Tank Failure Causes - oil tank leaks are caused by corrosion, damage, soil conditions, other factors
Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors
OIL TANK TESTING - - How Oil Tanks are Tested for Evidence Leaks, of Current or Previous Oil Spills
"How do you choose the right tank testing method?", Cynthia Johnson, Fuel Oil & Oil Heat Magazine, November 1995
National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, PO Box 380, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
"Homeowners Guide to Fuel Storage," Agway Energy Products, Verbank, NY, November 1990
Web Link Exchange: Contact Us to list your website or contact information for oil tank testing, tank corrosion research, oil industry experts
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Heating Oil Spill Cleanup, Remediation, & Prevention Guide for Homes & Light-Commercial Buildings InspectAPedia® -

Heating Oil Leak & Spill Prevention Recommendations

OIL SPILL, Oil Tank LEAK CLEANUP - Oil Leak/Spill Cleanup Companies Listing

TESTING COs / REMOVAL COs - Oil Tank Testing, Removal, Consulting Environmental Service Companies

Heating Oil Spill Cleanup:

Heating Oil Tank Testing or Removal

Oil Spill Secondary Containment and Oil Spill Remediation Products, Services, Advice, Training

Government Contacts U.S., for oil spil notification and advice - Contact the DEC/DEP/DNR office in your state.

Gulf Oil Spill Sent Crude Oil Fumes Ashore in Louisiana - Recommended articles on crude oil spill health risks

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Heating Oil Spill Cleanup, Remediation, & Prevention Guide for Homes & Light-Commercial Buildings
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