Frequently Asked Questions
Should I test or remove the tank?
Our experience has shown that it is best to have the tank removed from the ground completely. By testing your active tank you take the risk of future problems since testing has shown not to be 100% accurate. Your tank test may pass today and is not a guaranty that it may leak oil into the ground after the test. Due to the age of most underground tanks, it is only logical that they will eventually rot through. This may cause an expensive clean up cost to you as a homeowner. You can avoid this liability by simply removing the tank from the ground and installing a new above ground tank in your basement or back yard if needed for heat.
What about soil samples taken in the location of the tank?
There are many requests for soil sampling to be taken around the perimeter of the tank.
This can be completed by Tank Solutions with results being issued within five business days after the sampling event. You may have the option of having four samples taken from the four corners of the top of the tank (approximately 8 feet in depth) and submit all four samples to a licensed laboratory, or submit one composite of all four samples. However, you must keep in mind that the samples cannot be collected beneath of the base of the tank and does not guaranty that you may not have a leaking oil tank.
Should I remove or sand fill my tank?
If possible, you should always remove your tank. With the tank out of the ground, it will give you as a homeowner peace of mind. If it becomes your choice to leave the tank in the ground filling it with sand, it may present problems in the future. Industry has shown that previously filled tanks are now being removed due to requests by buyers and/or buyer's attorneys, insurance renewals and refinancing of their home. As a homeowner, you have already paid once to have the tank closed and the last thing you want to do is deal with it again. With the tank on the property, it will always be looked at as an environmental liability by others.
I am thinking of selling my house, what should I do with my oil tank in the ground?
If you are thinking about selling your house, you should remove your tank prior to placing your home on the market. This will help expedite the selling process, saving money in legal costs during contract negotiations and attorney review. Buyers and their attorney worry about buying someone else's preexisting problems.
With the tank off the property, your new buyer will have no problems receiving homeowners insurance or a mortgage. As an alternate source of heat, we can install an above ground ROTH tank (roth-usa.com) in your basement or backyard which comes with a million dollar insurance policy and a lifetime warranty. This will be a great selling point for you house.
What happens if my tank has holes in it?
Upon removal of your tank from the ground, a township official from your town will come to your property and inspect the tank and excavation area. He will inspect for holes in your tank, stained soils, soils with an odor, or any free floating product. If he sees any one of these four issues, he will fail the inspection of the tank. Tank Solutions will then be required to contact the NJDEP to receive a case number and must report this number to the township official.
How do I close out an open case with the NJDEP?
In order to close out an open case with the NJDEP, you must hire a licensed NJDEP environmental contractor, such as Tank Solutions, to return to the property for clean up of your site. Tank Solutions, together with its subsurface investigator (geologist), are both licensed with the NJDEP.
The geologist will direct this cleanup project and will screen the excavated soils with an organic vapor meter (OVM). The OVM allows the geologist to make an informed decision regarding excavating of soils. Soil samples from the clean site will be submitted from the site to a licensed laboratory for analysis. This sampling event must meet the cleanup criteria of the NJDEP. Thereafter, a Remedial Action Report together with all documentation will be submitted to the state for review. After review and acceptance of the report, a No Further Action letter will be issued closing out your open case.
What methods of payment do you except?
We accept checks, cash, money orders, Visa, MasterCard and Discovery credit cards.
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