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Having an oil tank inspected may sound expensive, but for Virginia residents, the cost is significantly deferred thanks to a state government program. If you’ve recently purchased a home with an oil tank, now is the perfect time to request a service appointment with Bogue Oil. Now is also the ideal time to have your tank filled up before our busy season. We always strive to ensure our client’s never run low on heating oil with services like our automatic delivery but our schedule definitely gets tighter as the temperatures drop!

Something to Keep in Mind if You’re Buying a Home in the Area or Are Altering Your HVAC System and Its Fuel

Many homes built between the 1930s and 1980s in the Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach area use heating oil stored in large tanks as their source of heat. Typically, these containers are stored aboveground next to the home or underground somewhere on the property. When homeowners make the switch to gas or electric heat, they often shut off the tanks and leave the oil inside. This practice could cause some serious problems for future homeowners if the tank were to spring a leak.

How to Know if Your Home Has an Oil Tank

If you don’t see an aboveground storage tank (AST), don’t assume your home is free of oil storage. An underground storage tank (UST) could be hiding somewhere below your yard. Many times, the fill cap or the vent pipe will stick out of the ground, giving you an idea of what lies beneath.

Home Oil Tank Regulations

According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), “[h]ome heating oil tanks are exempt from the UST Technical Regulation,” meaning homeowners are not required to collect soil samples to test for potential contamination before removing or closing a tank.

State-Funded Oil Tank Removal Assistance

Unlike other states, Virginia has a state cleanup fund to help homeowners deal with leaking oil tanks.

The Virginia Petroleum Storage Tank Fund is used to reimburse property owners for expenses related to cleaning up spills caused by old, corroded or malfunctioning tanks. Unfortunately, the fund does not reimburse homeowners for landscaping or patios that may have been destroyed during removal.

It will, however, pay most or part of the costs for environmental remediation, depending on the extent of the contamination. Over the last decade, the fund doled out $84.4 million for cleanup projects at over 8,000 heating oil sites throughout Virginia.

Call Bogue Oil to schedule a UST inspection or to go over the soil sample or tank abatement process. We will be happy to go over your options with you and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Environmental Dangers

Although oil tanks can last for decades without issue, as the metal ages, corrosion becomes a big concern. Spilled oil can have a profoundly negative impact on the surrounding environment, local wildlife and groundwater supply.

If you have an above ground tank, leaks will be relatively easy to pinpoint, but the same can’t be said for underground tanks. These are a few signs your UST may be seeping oil:

• Discolored soil
• Strong petroleum smell
• Dead vegetation
• Contaminated groundwater

If you believe your home’s tank has sprung a leak, your local DEQ regional office must be notified. The staff will be able to provide you with the appropriate cleanup procedures. Keep in mind that any work performed more than 24 hours prior to reporting the leak to the DEQ or local officials will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Oil Tank Repair and Replacement in Virginia

If your home has an oil tank, our highly skilled and experienced technicians will thoroughly inspect it to accurately determine its condition and structural integrity. If it is leaking or showing signs that it is nearing the end of its functional life, we will work closely with you to find a solution for repair or replacement of oil tanks. Since 1956, Bogue Oil has worked diligently to improve our customers’ quality of life by providing individualized services with a dedication to the health, education and welfare of our community.

Request your service appointment online today or call (757) 419-2734 for more information!