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Guide to Indoor Residential Heating Oil Storage Tanks - ASTs Inspecting for Oil Tank Leaks
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Indoor oil storage tank inspection guide: advice and example photos for the visual inspection of above ground oil tanks for leaks and damage, improper piping, wrong location, bad fire clearances, including these details: damaged or leaky oil storage tanks, improper oil tank piping, valves, and indoor-type oil tanks located outdoors. Here are photographs & explanation of some important indicators of oil storage 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.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
How to Inspect Indoor Oil Tanks
Inspection of the Oil Storage Tank Exterior
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 To complete the oil storage tank and oil piping visual inspection topics, see OIL TANK WATER CONTAMINATION and OIL TANK LEAKS & SMELLS and OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS. Also see OIL BURNER INSPECTION & REPAIR.
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 photo at above-left, 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 oil tank may have a perforation or an opening seam.
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 What about the next photo shown at left ? 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.
Also look for water entry around the oil tank and don't confuse a water leak for an oil leak. Or more difficult, both leaks may be occurring at the same location. Look closely, and if necessary, touch, sniff, and sample the leak substance.
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Leaky Oil Tanks That You Should Not Touch
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.
If you see a tarry "stalactite" drip formation on the bottom portion of an oil storage tank, the tank is leaking, has perforated, and can leak catastrophically at any moment.
Watch out: do not pick, poke, or even touch an oil tank that looks like this. The risk is that you perforate the already thin tank bottom, leading to a much bigger and more costly oil leak mess. |
What are the Clearance Distances Required for Indoor Oil Storage Tanks?
 For 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Questions & answers or comments about indoor home heating oil storage tanks: installation, inspection, leaks, piping, troubleshooting
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Above Ground Oil Tanks Inspection Checklist, an Oil Company's advice
- Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
- John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
- 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.
- "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
 Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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