Having an underground oil tank on your property was once commonplace for residential homes, but now that they’ve been deemed inefficient, costly to upkeep, and dangerous to the environment, many homeowners have since called in experts like the team at Waterline Environmental for safe underground oil tank removal.
But what if you still have one on your property? How do you know if you’ve got an oil tank leak? Well, here are four ways to spot a leak.
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1. An increasing heating bill.
Knowing your underground oil tank has sprung a leak can be tough to tell at first. While many things can cause an oil tank to leak, it won’t be something dramatic that tips you off; instead, it will become evident over time. One of the first things you’ll start to notice is that your heating bill will increase.
If you use your underground oil tank as your heating fuel source, then you will have some idea of what your consumption (and the cost!) should look like throughout the year, but if your oil tank is leaking, the amount will be higher than usual. This is especially true in the summer months when you don’t typically require additional heating. Try comparing your heating bill over a few months to see if something is amiss that requires either repair or oil tank removal.
2. Dying vegetation.
When an underground oil tank leaks, toxic materials seep into the ground and soil around it, poisoning anything that would normally grow. If you are noticing dead vegetation in the area around the location of your underground oil tank, that’s sure sign your oil tank is leaking, and you need to act fast.
Leaking oil tanks pose a significant risk to your and your neighbour’s property, the local environment and the nearby water supply, too. So, don’t hesitate to call in an experienced team like the professionals at Waterline Environmental to carry out an oil tank removal.
3. Oily or bad-tasting water.
As you can tell, when an underground oil tank starts leaking, it affects almost everything in its immediate surroundings, including water. Whether it’s the groundwater on your property or the water from your tap, your water can signal that your oil tank is leaking.
Walk around your property and check the groundwater, if you notice there’s an oily sheen to it and a bad odour, then chances are you’ve got a leak that will make oil tank removal all the more necessary. When it comes to the water coming from your taps, if you’re on well water and the leak reaches it, you will see, taste and smell it coming through the taps.
4. Foul-smelling, dark-coloured patches on your property.
Another way to tell if there’s an underground oil tank leak is to walk around your property and check for dark stains or patches. These dark patches will often emit a foul odour and will be greasy as well, tipping you off there’s likely an oil tank leaking underground that will need to be removed.
It’s important to note that if your underground oil tank has substantially leaked into the surrounding environment, you will likely need soil remediation and possibly foundation underpinning completed after the oil tank’s removal.
Is your oil tank leaking? Call the experts at Waterline Environmental to schedule an evaluation and oil tank removal!
Knowing if there’s an oil tank leaking on your property is important if you want to protect your property value and the environment around your home. If there is a leak, you’ll need to promptly schedule an oil tank removal with a licensed and reputable company like Waterline Environmental.
Contact us today by calling 905-876-8298 to learn more about how we can help! Or fill out our form.
Contact Waterline Environmental
President: S.A. (Stu) Ferguson
Email: waterline1943@gmail.com
Direct: 905-876-8298
Office: 855-333-6604
