Property owners

In New Brunswick, many people use oil as their principal source of heat. If you own a home heating oil tank, undertaking preventative measures for your oil tank are recommended to help safeguard your family, your home, and the environment. Nearly 40 percent of all oil spills reported to the Department of Environment and Local Government annually are from domestic oil tanks at private homes.

As an oil tank owner, it is your responsibility to protect your property by having your tank correctly installed and looked after. Maintenance of a home oil tank should begin at the time of purchase and end when the tank is disposed of properly.

Take the time to learn about oil tank maintenance. Become aware of signs that may indicate a problem. A leaking oil tank can become a serious fire and environmental hazard. Whether the tank is located inside or outside the home, a spill can contaminate soil and groundwater and affect drinking water wells. The removal of oil from a basement and the related cleanup of contaminated soil and water can be difficult and very costly.

When purchasing an oil tank, it is important to ensure that the tank has not been previously used. A good indication of tank reliability is the presence of a label that indicates the date the tank was manufactured and that it meets Underwriters Laboratory of Canada ULC standards such as CAN/ULC – S602.

The following points should be considered for purchasing and installing a tank:

• Hire a licensed oil tank installer to purchase and install the oil tank.
• Research warranty options on oil tanks and contact an insurance provider concerning coverage.
• Verify that the tank is made of 12 gauge steel. A corrosion resistant coating is also recommended. For outdoor installations, select a double wall tank with an inside plastic liner or a double wall fiberglass tank to avoid corrosion.
• Identify a clean space for the tank, accessible from all sides for inspection.
• Install the tank on a poured concrete slab. This provides a solid, non-flammable base.
• Slope the tank toward the discharge outlet to allow water in the tank to automatically exit. For each foot of tank length, slope the tank a 1/4 inch.
• Ensure that vent and fill pipes, as well as supply lines are made of metal. Existing copper supply lines should never be reused.
• Do not allow used oil to be transferred from an old tank into a new tank. This can cause contamination by introducing water, sludge and bacteria, thereby accelerating internal corrosion of the new tank.
• Use flexible piping to encase the burner supply line. This will act as a temporary containment sleeve in the event the copper line develops a leak.
• A spill containment dyke is recommended for indoor tanks to help prevent the oil from spreading throughout the basement and damaging the home or escaping through a floor drain. A Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved leak detection alarm is also a good investment.
• Dispose of old tank contents at approved tank decommissioning sites. Call your nearest Regional Office of the Department of Environment and Local Government for approved locations.

If outside tank installation cannot be avoided, have a licensed installer locate the tank on the north or northwest side of the house to reduce condensation due to weather exposure. Use a double wall tank with an inside plastic liner or a double wall fiberglass tank to avoid corrosion. Be aware that an outdoor oil tank is at greater risk of being unstable due to ground heaving caused by changes in weather. There are also greater operational problems with outside tank installations. Remember to perform regular checks as an outdoor tank will corrode much faster from condensation.

Also consider the following points for outdoor tank installation:

• Consider securing an outdoor tank with a rubber backed metal strap around the mid-point. Attach the strapping to solid structures on either side of the tank, e.g., wall studs.
• Loop the burner supply line horizontally between the filter and the building to allow for frost heaving.
• Protect the tank from the weather with a roof like structure and keep the tank and pipes clear of snow and ice. A sturdy cover should be placed over the supply line and filter to prevent damage from falling snow and ice.
• The positioning of a containment tray or dyke under and around the tank can help to collect the leaking product and may prevent the discharge of the product to the environment. However, if the dyke or tray is not kept free of rain, snow or other obstructions it will not have the capacity to contain the oil product when the leak occurs. A Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved leak detection alarm is also a good investment.

Oil tank owners living in areas protected by the Wellfield Designation Order, an order that works to protect regulated drinking water supplies, have special considerations regarding maintenance and installation of oil tanks. For more information visit the wellfield protection page or contact your nearest Regional Office.

Have your oil tank inspected annually by a licensed installer. The installer should check the fill and vent pipes for damage, change the filter, test the vent alarm and oil level gauge, perform an overall inspection of the tank, as well as test leak detecting devices. If no such devices are present, consider the available options. Additionally, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home can help protect your family from the accumulation of harmful, hard to detect CO fumes that are emitted from the use of home heating oil.

As a rule, be aware of the condition of your tank by performing regular checks. Carry out a detailed visual inspection of the tank and its components. Cautiously examine for damage such as dents, cracks, and rust blisters, but don’t push on any fragile areas. Weak areas of a tank can be punctured, causing a leak or spill.

Examine your oil tank for signs of condensation, such as water in the filter. Condensation can be problematic because it can cause corrosion (rust), which can weaken the walls of your tank. Similarly, the presence of sludge, or sediment, in an oil tank should be addressed. Sludge can prevent a heating system from running efficiently. If you suspect sludge or water is present, contact a licensed installer about removal options.

Additionally, inspect the ground beneath your tank for a darkened surface or staining. This may alert you to a spill or leak. Let your nose be your guide. If you smell a stronger than normal oil smell, it warrants further inspection. Keep in mind that having your oil provider top-up your tank to a safe level for the summer months will help prevent condensation in the tank. Lastly, familiarize yourself with your oil tank and its components in general. This can help spot, and act, on potential problems.

Spill prevention is essential to protecting your home and the environment. Make the annual professional inspection of your tank and regular homeowner checks a priority. Have an awareness of the age of your oil tank. It can be difficult to identify a specific number of years as the lifespan of a tank and, depending on where it is installed, the replacement age may vary. Checking the condition of your tank, acting on your observations, as well as following feedback from the annual professional inspection should signal whether or not your tank requires replacing and may help avoid a spill.

Preparing your oil tank for extreme weather events such as floods could avoid leaks and spills. Oil tank owners living in areas prone to flooding should take necessary precautions such as installing strapping to secure the tank in place or having a licensed installer temporarily remove the oil from the tank prior to the weather event.

If you know or suspect you have had a spill or leak of home heating oil from your tank, visit the reporting a contaminant release page for information on how to report the spill or leak to the Department.