The Finer Points of Removing an Oil Tank
On May 1, 2022 by Walter PowellWhen buildings are updated, sometimes big appliances need to get hauled away. This is fairly easy when it comes to a refrigerator or an oven. Removing an oil tank, however, comes with issues that removal specialists, rather than movers, must deal with.
Why Remove an Oil Tank?
There are lots of reasons why an oil tank might be removed. Oil tank removal Duchess County NY happens all the time. Often, they are old and with the paint peeling, and their integrity is at risk. An oil tank can last for between 15 and 20 years, generally speaking. Dents and rust are two prominent signs that a tank is nearing its end. One might also be upgrading to a different system, such as exchanging oil for natural gas. In another scenario, the building itself might have fallen into decay, at which point the tank might be removed.
How Is an Oil Tank Removed?
Removing an oil tank is something that must be done by a certified professional, as there are governmental regulations for the procedure. This is due to the significant risk of an oil spill and the cost of cleaning it up, as well as potential damage to the environment. In some cases, the local fire department must issue a permit for this kind of work.
The first steps to removal are to drain the tank and then cut a hole into it. Because fuel oil has a high flashpoint, there is no risk of sparks leading to an explosion. Once the tank has been opened, the technician will scrape the top and the sides to the bottom, removing all remnants of sludge that has accumulated, before taking it away for recycling in 5-gallon buckets.
To avoid future accidents, when dealing with a basement tank, most will cut the pipe that leads to the tank and seal the end with a concrete-patching compound. At that point, the tank, now emptied and effectively cleaned, is ready to be carried away.
Archives
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- July 2020