InspectAPedia ®

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice
InspectAPedia
Home
| Air
Conditioning
| Electrical | Indoor
Environment
| Exteriors | Heating | Home
Inspection
| Insulate
Ventilate
| Interiors | Mold
Inspect/Test
| Plumbing
Water
Septic
| Roofing | Structure | Contact Us
Directory of Professionals to Inspect or Test a Building


OIL TANK HOME
  HOME BUYERS GUIDE TO OIL TANKS
ABANDONING OIL TANKS
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
  ABOVE GROUND OUTDOOR OIL TANKS
  INSPECT VISIBLE OIL TANKS
  OIL FILL & VENT
  OIL TANK HISTORY REVIEW
  OIL TANK SUPPORT
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED OIL TANKS, FINDING
FLOATING UP OIL STORAGE or SEPTIC TANKS
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS
HEATING OIL SHELF LIFE
OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE
OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES
OIL TANK FAILURE RATES
OIL TANK GAUGES
OIL TANK INSPECTION REPORTS
OIL TANK LEGAL ISSUES
OIL TANK LEAK ADVICE
OIL TANK LIFE
OIL TANK PIPING DEFECTS
OIL TANK PRESSURE
OIL TANK REGULATIONS
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING BASICS
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING REGULATIONS - ALL
  OIL TANK REGULATIONS - CANADA
  OIL TANK LEAK REPORTING in NEW JERSEY
  BULK STORAGE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
OIL TANK REMOVAL COs
OIL TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
OIL TANK SLUDGE
OIL TANK STANDARDS
OIL TANK SUPPORT
OIL TANK TESTING
  PRESSURE TESTING OIL TANKS
  SOIL TESTING FOR OIL TANK LEAKS
  TEST OIL TANKS FOR WATER
OIL TANK TESTING COs
OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION

More Information

InspectAPedia.comInspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map
InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates
Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure
Accuracy & Privacy Policies
Contact Us



Photograph of a in-home oil tank - notice the small diameter vent line?

Visual Inspection of Above Ground Residential Heating Oil Storage Tanks - ASTs for Evidence of Oil Tank Leaks
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • How to inspect above ground indoor oil tanks
  • How to inspect outdoor oil storage tanks
  • Common oil tank and oil piping defects and leak risk points
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.

The article and photographs below give advice and example photos for the visual inspection of above ground oil tanks for leaks and damage including damaged or leaky oil storage tanks, improper oil tank piping, valves, and indoor-type oil tanks located outdoors.

Here are a some important indicators of tank condition that any home owner or home inspector can examine when an oil storage tank is visible and accessible inside or at a building.

Also see additional visibly detectable oil tank defects listed at Home Inspection Report Language Library: Visible Defects in Oil Tank Installations, Tanks, and Heating Oil Piping.

© Copyright 2010 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

INSPECT VISIBLE TANKS - Inspecting the Oil Storage Tank Exterior

If an oil or other fuel storage tank is above ground and accessible for visual inspection it can and should be inspected for evidence of leaks or damage. Here are some inspection pointers for heating oil tanks.Is the tank exterior sound, without leaking seams or excessive rust? Is there a patch or other evidence of a history of leaking?

In the photos below, note the wet bottom of the tank? The inspector needs to decide if the oil on the tank exterior is from weeping at the fill or vent pipe fittings, from leaks at the oil line exiting the tank. We were concerned about the evidence of seepage around the bottom left on this tank. That oil stain does not seem to connect to the tank fill and vent fittings. The tank may have a perforation or an opening seam.

What about the next photo? a leak at fuel line or at the Fire-o-Matic shutoff valve, or perhaps due to an actual tank perforation? The size and wetness of the oil spill on this basement floor is a bit large to blame on a drippy fire safety valve. But notice that in the upper portion of the photo the oil tank itself looks new. This oil spill was from the previous oil tank installed in this location.


This last photo shows an actual tank leaking at its bottom from a perforation. Memorize this photo and look under oil tanks when you're inspecting above ground indoor oil storage tanks.

 

What are the Clearance Distances Required for Indoor Oil Storage Tanks?

Oil storage tank clearance distances requiredFor fire safety indoor oil storage tanks should not be located too close to oil burners or other heaters. Typical indoor clearance requirements specify that the oil storage tank should be 10 feet from the oil burner. Some communities permit the oil tank to be located closer, just 5 feet away from the nearest oil burner. You can see this design in our sketch at left, provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop.

If you cannot meet this distance requirement your local building officials or fire officials may approve the oil tank installation if you provide a fire barrier between the oil tank and the burner.

Tanks should also be located where they will not be damaged, such as by being struck by a vehicle entering a garage.

In some communities indoor oil storage tanks located in a garage must be protected against possible vehicle damage by steel posts or similar means.

In some communities indoor oil storage tanks must also be secured against possibly falling or tipping over, such as by using angled steel piping set into the floor and ceiling or floor and wall around the oil tank.

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

OIL TANK HOME
ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS
  INSPECT VISIBLE TANKS
  OIL FILL & VENT
  OIL TANK SUPPORT
  ABANDONED INDOOR OIL TANKS
  ABOVE GROUND OUTDOOR OIL TANKS
BURIED OIL TANK ADVICE
BURIED OIL TANKS, FINDING
FLOATING UP OIL STORAGE or SEPTIC TANKS
FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS
HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS
OIL TANK ABANDONING PROCEDURE
OIL TANK FAILURE CAUSES
OIL TANK FAILURE RATES
OIL TANK GAUGES
OIL TANK INSPECTION REPORTS
OIL TANK LEGAL ISSUES
OIL TANK LEAK ADVICE
OIL TANK LIFE
OIL TANK PIPING DEFECTS
OIL TANK PRESSURE
OIL TANK REMOVAL COs
OIL TANK REMOVAL FINANCIAL AID
OIL TANK REGULATIONS
OIL TANK SLUDGE
OIL TANK STANDARDS
OIL TANK TESTING
OIL TANK TESTING COs
OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION

Above Ground Oil Tanks Inspection Checklist, an Oil Company's advice

  • Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.

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

  • Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
  • ...
OIL TANK HOME

More Information

InspectAPedia.comInspectAPedia ® Home & Site Map
InspectAPedia Blog - News Updates
Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
Bookstore
Electrical
Environment
Exteriors
Heating
Home Inspection
Insulate Ventilate
Interiors
Mold Inspect/Test
Plumbing Water Septic
Roofing
Structure
Accuracy & Privacy Policies
Contact Us

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

InspectAPedia.comInspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.
GO TO the MOLD and INDOOR ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION CENTER for in-depth advice on avoiding testing for or cleaning up mold and other indoor environmental hazards, odors, gases, contaminants
The Mold Information Center:
What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
GO TO MOLD TEST KITS: This expert-recommended mold test kit is cheap and yet top performing *IF* you use a competent analysis laboratory!
Use this simple, economical mold test kit
by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab
GO TO IAQ/MOLD-TEST LAB SERVICES: Mold, Pollen, indoor air quality, field and laboratory services by an expert.Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.
GO TO our PRE PURCHASE BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES: Authoritative information for home buyers and home owners is included with your inspection.
Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis
, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

CONTACT Daniel Friedman - Dan is a senior ASHI home inspector, nationally recognized expert on building inspection, building failures, and sick building investigation
Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

10/25/2009 - 04/22/1995 - InspectAPedia.com/oiltanks/tankvisib.htm - © 2010 - 1988 Copyright Daniel Friedman All Rights Reserved - InspectAPedia® is a Registered U.S. Trademark