What Do I Do With My Oil Tank Filled With Sand?

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What Do I Do With My Oil Tank Filled With Sand?
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• Clients ask us at Simple Tank about their filled
  oil tanks. Most, think that they are meeting
  standard requirements regarding their oil tank.
  However, this is false. When that tank was filled
  in place, most likely, it was not required to
  test the soil around the tank before it was
  filled. A contractor came out ten years ago, they
  cut the top of the tank open, sucked the oil out,
  and filled it with sand. The client is given the
  documentation. However, there is no way to tell
  if that tank is or was leaking.

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Selling A Home With A Filled Oil Tank

• Unfortunately, a lot of clients selling their
  homes will sell them with filled oil tanks. They
  assume that these oil tanks are fine since they
  have documentation. The oil tank filled with sand
  could be still creating problems for the home and
  the soil surrounding it could be contaminated.
  The new buyer will be leary of any potential
  problems that could be happening, and with good
  reason. Every single buyer is going to want the
  tank removed.

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Remove The Tank

• If you are planning on selling a property with
  an oil tank that has been filled with sand, your
  best option is to have it removed. The best thing
  to do is pull the oil tank before the home is
  listed on the open market. This will prevent you
  from being under any unnecessary time constraints
  if you are presented with an active buyer.

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• Homes with underground oil tanks are very
  difficult to sell, due to the complications that
  can arise from them. They will significantly make
  your home less appealing to both buyers and
  realtors. If realtors pull away from your home,
  that means less potential buyers. As someone
  selling your home, you want to get what your home
  is worth. However, keeping an underground oil
  tank on the property will give buyers an excuse
  to make the offer low.

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What To Do As A Buyer

• If you are planning on buying a property with an
  underground oil tank that has been filled with
  sand, you will want to ask the homeowner to have
  it removed. If they are not willing to remove the
  tank, you will want to have a contractor do a
  soil test. It is the most cost effective way to
  find if there has been any contamination.

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• Along with this, you want a contractor who
  offers soil testing with a guarantee. If you buy
  that house without inspection and without a
  guarantee, you will be responsible it anything
  arises. For instance, you could buy the home and
  then pull the tank. You find contamination in the
  soil. The town and the seller are not
  responsible. Protect yourself by doing a soil
  test.

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• Regardless if you are a seller or a buyer, your
  best course of action is to have the oil tank
  removed to prevent any further problems and to
  assess any current damage. You will want a
  quality and professional contractor to come in to
  remove your oil tank. Simple Tank can remove the
  oil tank, as well as provide you with soil
  samples.