If the house you want was built decades ago, the question of an oil tank is worth asking early. Here is a checklist that fits into a normal New Jersey purchase. Before you make an offer Ask about heating history. Was the house ever heated with oil? When was it converted? Ask about the tank. […]
Nobody puts up a sign. But houses with buried tanks often leave clues, and knowing them helps you decide whether a sweep makes sense. None of these proves a tank exists, and having none does not prove the opposite. 1. A small pipe sticking out of the ground Look near the foundation for a short […]
Short answer: yes, it can happen, and any company that says otherwise is overselling. A sweep is a search, and searches have limits. The useful question is what those limits are and how to reduce them. What reports usually say Sweep reports commonly include a line saying that no guarantee can be made that every […]
People often ask which tool is better for finding a buried oil tank. The honest answer is that they answer slightly different questions, and the best result usually comes from using both. Metal detectors and electromagnetic locators These respond to metal. A steel tank is a large mass of metal, so it produces a strong […]
If you have never had a sweep done, it can feel mysterious. In practice it is a methodical walk over the property with detection equipment. Here is the usual sequence. 1. A few questions first The technician asks about the house: age, heating history, whether there was ever an oil burner, and anything you have […]
An oil tank sweep is a search of a property for a buried heating oil tank. It is done with equipment that detects things underground, so no one has to dig up the yard to find out. Why they exist For decades many New Jersey homes were heated with oil stored in a tank buried […]
Many leaking oil tanks are found by accident. These are the warning signs listed by the NJDEP in its homeowner guidance. One alone does not prove a leak, but each is a reason to look closer. The nine signs An unexpected jump in oil use. More oil used than the weather or your heating pattern […]
Before you sign a contract to remove an oil tank, verify that the company is allowed to do the work. New Jersey makes this easy, and the check takes a few minutes. Why certification matters According to the NJDEP’s homeowner FAQ, removing an underground heating oil tank requires a closure-certified individual working for a closure-certified […]
Finding a buried oil tank feels like finding a problem. It is more accurately a piece of information. What you do with it depends on whether the tank has leaked, and that is something you can start to find out in an orderly way. Step 1: Look for signs of a leak Before anything else, […]
You bought a house, or you have lived in one for years, and you learn there is an old oil tank somewhere under the yard. It was disconnected long ago. Is it safe to leave it? The honest answer has two parts. What the rules say The NJDEP treats residential heating oil tanks as “unregulated […]