How Oil Tank Removal Can Affect Your Property

Buried oil tanks have long been a problem for houses in the Greater Vancouver and surrounding areas, as any tanks found under your property should be removed as soon as possible.

Here is how an oil tank removal can affect your property.

Stopping you from selling your home

Depending on the area that you live, an oil tank removal can get in the way of selling your home, if there hasn't previously been a scan giving your property the all clear. This can clearly become a major issue if you do decide to sell your home, which makes having an oil tank scan an important task for those not in the know.

Unable to expand your property

Those property owners who are planning to expand their home may also be affected by an oil tank removal, as the area they are residing may require them to undergo an oil tank scan. If this comes up with a tank found buried on the property, an oil tank removal will need to be completed before planning permission is granted.

This can often come as a shock to those not knowing about oil tank removal, or who were not aware of the possibility of a tank being under their home.

Contamination problems

One of the biggest problems you can face, requiring an oil tank removal, is if you start to notice any soil contamination. This is also the case if your neighbours notice any issues too, as you will be held liable for any damage caused from the buried oil tank, even if you aren't aware of its existence.

While this may sound unfair, it means conducting an oil tank removal at the earliest opportunity is highly recommended, or you may be left with a hefty bill.

Getting in contact with a professional

If you are concerned about the existence of an oil tank on your property then why not speak with a professional today, as they can help explain the scanning process, along with helping with an oil tank removal if required.

In case you hadn’t dug up & removed your oil tank yet

Contemporary need of having a heating system installed in your house isn’t a newer pop-up of time. In the old times, commercial establishments in Vancouver had used furnace oil when there was no gas available for this purpose. With the advent of newer means of resources, furnace oil was replaced with natural gas. But people hadn’t preferred to dispose the oil tanks off which were taken in use before. Those oil tanks which were located underground were either filled with sand or land filling materials or covered from the upper side.  

By treating those tanks like this & not opting for commercial oil tank removal in Vancouver, they have actually set a future disaster which may happen at any time ahead & affect them negatively. The indisposed oil tanks begin to get corroded with time inside the land & favor rusting. The smaller remaining amounts of oil can then leak out in the soil & reach the whole of base of the property & even those of the neighbors. It can also affect drainage system installed by creeping into them. Such contamination consequences not only affect the quality of life of people living on that property, but also have an adverse affect on the market value of the property. There are several laws for which the property can be sued legally.

It has been given in the British Columbia Fire Code & bylaws that the underground oil tanks which are not being taken in use should be removed along with contaminated soil around. The place should be refilled with clean & uncontaminated filling material. The owner should use advanced engineering practices for this purpose at their own expense provided through a licensed contractor & not opting for compromises.

If you are planning to buy a new place, make sure that it does not have an underground oil tank in some region which may hit your pocket to a well-off extent as the responsibility of such activities lies on the current owner.