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Photograph of - is this heating oil running across the basement floor? Notice the abandoned oil line at the furnace? Underground Oil Storage Tank Life Expectancy
What determines the life of a buried oil tank & how long do they last?

Buried oil tank life expectancy & life determining factors:

How long do buried oil tanks last: UST oil storage tank life expectancy. This article provides estimates for buried oil tanks and above ground oil storage tanks and we discuss the factors that impact the life expectancy of a buried tank. How long an oil storage tank can be expected to reliably contain its oil and not to leak depends on quite a few variables, all of which we describe here.

This article series discusses the typical life of oil storage tanks such as tanks used to store No. 2 home heating oil. Both above-ground oil storage tank life (AST life) and underground storage tank life (UST life) and the factors that determine the life of those tanks are explained.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Buried Oil Tank Life Expectancy of Underground Oil Tanks - USTs

Photograph of - is this heating oil running across the basement floor? Notice the abandoned oil line at the furnace?This article discusses the typical life of USTs followed by a discussion of AST life.

Some things that can shorten the life of an oil tank can be avoided or corrected. The photo shows how a leak develops and appears in an indoor oil storage tank, forming a stalactite of oil and sludge hanging from the bottom of the tank.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Because an oil tank often rusts through from the inside out, the exterior of an oil tank may look fine but in fact it could be paper thin and easily punctured, even by a finger!

The life expectancy of oil tanks is helpful in planning for storage tank testing and storage tank replacement. This is a chapter of our "Heating Oil Underground & Above ground Oil Storage Tank Leaks, Testing, Problems & Solutions, Home Buyer's / Home Owner's Guide" which offers extensive free un-biased oil storage tank inspection and testing advice for property buyers and owners.

While we've found them lasting longer, a common life expectancy of buried oil tanks is 10-15 years.

At about 20 years, the risk of leaks from buried steel oil tanks becomes significant. Leaks can occur earlier if a tank was damaged at installation or was not properly piped.

Even if you think the tank is ok, young, and not leaking, buried oil tanks, should be tested for water in the tank bottom. Water should be pumped out since it corrodes the tank and leads to leaks. Oil tank leaks can also be due to damage at time of installation, improper installation, corrosive soils, or piping defects. If the tank is to remain in use, ask your fuel supplier about using an additive or other methods to help remove water.

Life Expectancy of Buried Oil Storage Tanks - Residential

Buried oil tank schematic Carson Dunlop Associates

In New England for a two year period [1984-5] among customers who had buried heating oil tanks (16% of total customers) surveyors found an average of 1.7 tank leaks per thousand customers.

They also found 2.5 fuel line leaks per 1000 customers.[4] This finding that twice as many heating oil system leaks occurred in the fuel piping is consistent with the Maryland study reported below.

A 1986 Maryland study found a 40% leak rate in petroleum product storage tanks (oil, gas, kerosene, waste oil) of which oil piping caused 82% of all leaks, and location (urban vs rural) and soil conditions were important factors in leak occurrence.[3]

We do not have similar data for buried gas tanks in residential application.

Also see OIL TANK LEAKS & SMELLS. Sketch of a buried heating oil tank installation is provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.

Underground Outdoor Oil Storage Tanks (USTs) and Life Expectancy Factors

Photograph of an oil tank filler pipe placed at grade level.

Question:

(Dec 10, 2014) Anonymous said:
some say that a 2mm tank is not good. but if you have a 2.5mm tank is good. but you need a inspection to get oil delivered. My tank is only 10 years old and it like new in basement.They are telling us that we have to change.What are the by-law on this situation.

Reply:

Anon

If there are "by laws" - meaning regulations that apply to your situation they will be defined by your state, province, county, or town. Start with your state DEP or DEC or your local building department when asking about regulations.

Or in More Reading (links just above) see the article series beginning at OIL TANK LEAK & ABANDONMENT REGULATIONS for details.

I am not aware of law or regulation that describes what you report.

Question:

(May 14, 2015) David said:
I have an existing enclosure above ground that has the following volume space for a residential fuel oil storage tank. The volume dimensions are 32” high, 96” long and 72” wide. I prefer the tank to be lined with a non-rusting material to prevent rusting from the inside out. I need a single fuel oil tank that will fit within the above dimensions. The fuel oil filler and vent pipe fittings need to be placed on the top right hand section within (3” to 6”) in from the edge along the (96”) length dimension and no more than (42”) from the right hand corner.

The tank will need to be adjusted in height to allow for the standard filler and vent pipe installation at the top. The tank will also need to accommodate the standard fuel oil fitting for the furnace fuel line feed at the bottom.

The fuel line feed for the furnace should be located anywhere along the bottom edge of the (72”) length adjacent to the corner of the fuel filler and vent pipe fittings. The tank dimensions only need to clear the enclosure dimensions by (2”) for maneuverability for putting the tank in place. I estimate the tank volume to be approximately 1370 cu. Ft. This amount of volume should be sufficient for one season of heating here in New Hampshire. I will hire a licensed well known fuel oil company for the tank installation.

I would be interested in estimated cost and availability. I would appreciate your feedback on this project. I can send a jpeg file for further clarification if required.
Regards,
David Provencher
dproven1@myfairpoint.net

Reply:

David it would make most sense to get cost and availability data from your local storage tank suppliers. We do not sell any product nor service. Doing so would be a conflict of interest with providing unbiased reader information.

Question:

(May 25, 2015) Larry said:
I have a 275 gallon heating oil tank in the basement that just started to drip very slightly from the bottom of the tank its self in the wall of the tank. Is there a repair kit that I can get to put over that spot till I can use the oil up that is in the tank (yup its full )then I want to convert to gas and get rid of the tank

Reply:

Yes there are some clamp on or epoxy repair kits. Watch out about screwing in conventional tank washers and bolts at leak points as you can create a much bigger faster leak.


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BURIED OIL TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to HEATING OIL, OIL BURNERS, OIL FIRED HEATERS, OIL TANKS

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