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Oil Tank Inspection
Three year old oil tanks have been known to leak, and almost all fail after 30 years. The average cost of cleanup is $11,000, and could go to over $300,000. The cost of replacing an oil tank is $1,000 to $1,500. A Hearth and Home Inspection will determine if a TankSure Program inspection of your oil tank by your local oil company is warranted at no extra cost.
Benefits of having a TankSure Inspection to the home buyer and homeowner:
- Up to $1,000 toward oil tank replacement
- Up to 5% discount on homeowners insurance rates
- Certificate of Inspection for the homeowner
Under the Boston Environmental TankSure Program, a safe and non-invasive test uses sound waves to determine the thickness of the tank's metal. Boston Environmental has set the industry's standards for using this technology to predict tank failures due to corrosion.
The Hearth and Home inspector is TankSure® Program trained, a NORA Certified Training Course. This is the same training provided to oil service technicians. The oil company will conduct the sound wave test is needed after the initial Hearth and Home Inspection (see 35 point inspection below).
The TankSure Program is the only proactive residentail tank replacement process using EPA and Amercian Petroleum Institute approved ultrasonic testing technology. "We truly believe that TankSure is an unbiasd, scientific approach which is far superior to traditinal manual inspection and will assist us in better managing our oil tank exposure." ING Insurance, August 21, 2006
The 35 point Hearth and Home Inspection is fill pipe to furnace:
- Tags indicating year of manufacture and manufacturer _________
- Damaged tank or lines: dents, pinched lines, broken or cracked fill gauge, cracked or weeping weld seams ______________
- Cat litter = signs of leaks __________
- Tilt (.25”/ft) to drain water ________
- Water is delivered with oil: condensation, rust, leak ________
- Weeping = internal corrosion __________
- Move than 5’ from fuel fired heating appliance __________
- Fill pipe 3’ above grade _________
- Vent pipe 6” above fill pipe and 1.5 to 2” diameter _________
- Vent whistle or alarm in fill pipe to prevent overfilling (ask oil company if silent when filled) ___________
- Vehicle hazard (garage tank) ___________
- Oil safety valve (prevents gravity from discharging oil), only opens when heater on which creates vacuum and closes when heater off, law in MA legislature by 2009 – 5% ins discount ___________
- Fuel gauge cracked, frozen, signs of oil around it __________
- Vent line properly capped with a screened weather resistant cap to prevent water entry or clogging by mud or insects ___________
- Evidence of patching __________
- Legs sound and firm _________
- Tiger loop – deaeration (remove air from oil), return to tank _______
- Compression filtering on oil lines __________
- Visible clustering on raised rust blisters on lower quarter (too rusty for sonic sound test) _________
- Patches or repairs ___________
- Drip pan under filter and line __________
- Seal any drains, sumps, etc near tank _________
- Tank well supported and stable, 4” from 2 walls, 18” from other walls, 4” from floor ___________
- Tank accessible ____________
- Limbs over outside tank _________
- Oil lines protected __________
- Oil lines buried in concrete or near concrete wall (copper reacts with concrete) ___________
- Granby won’t make 14 gauge __________
- Date of manufacture on tank over 15 years old ___________ (Mandatory replacement in Canada after 15 years, 10 for outside tank)
- Proper feed under tank __________
- Outside tank facing south = fast water accumulation ________
- Concrete floor or pad under tank ___________
- Fill cap tight ___________
- Oil line shut off valves at tank and furnace/boiler present and functional ________
- Fuel pump strainer, nozzle and oil filter serviced within 12 months ________
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