How to confirm a buried fuel oil tank

[@rupe53]

Just a heads up... the most common size buried tank for residential use is a 550 or 500 gallon. The larger tank was common prior to the early 70s and the smaller was more common by the mid 70s because they were similar outside dimension, but double walled. It was also common to see buried 275 tanks up to around 1960 or so, especially if the home did not have a basement and was in a colder climate. 330 tanks came into use in the late 80s and look the same as a 275 but are a foot longer. (6 ft instead of 5 ft) By 1990 we were doing either a 330 or a pair of 275s in the basement when we pulled out an in ground tank. The tank sizing depended on how big the home was and how difficult winter deliveries might be.

[@TheshadowofINK]

Looking at a place in Wisconson. Tank in the basement. Looks like it leaked by stains on the concrete... all pipes are disconnected and it is not is use. Do I get a soil test?

[@jonschneck4559]

foam filling has been banned in some locations. grout - concrete without rocks- is required. active tanks need to be tested before buying

[@Punkydoodle007]

We inherited an older home about 13 years ago and always assumed those pipes had something to do with our well and sump (since the sump tank is on the opposite side of the wall in the garage). However, my husband recently unscrewed the cap from the pipe sticking up and it smells heavily of gasoline. We're thinking it might be an old gas tank buried there (we live on an old farm and think perhaps the original owner put it in). We have no idea who to call about this. 😬

[@jpetersonafr]

Bumped into a tank in active use in independence this winter

[@BORICUAMA26]

Excellent video. Thank you!!

[@tmaddrummer]

I greatly appreciate your video....... Thanks and Blessings!

[@frankc.715]

My home is almost 100 years old and there's a fill pipe and vent pipe right next to each other near the foundation. Does this mean there was a tank in my basement? I also have concrete surrounding my whole house with re-bar inside. Metal detector is ineffective in locating tank but I also don't think the original owners would bury a tank like this.

[@JesusisKing03]

Can a tank be buried in the basement? My basement has a strange smell (maybe fuel oil) that just won't leave😢

[@miriamtorres5575]

How do you know what is the size of a tank that is buried.

[@israfil1534]

Help out pls. House I’m buying has a vent pipe for underground oil tank. There’s no fill pipe tho because there’s a new basement tank. Do you think the underground will still be there ?

[@rupe53]

Isra Fil ... wouldn't be too hard to dig next to that vent pipe and see if the tank exists below. OTOH, if the vent is against the house then you'd have to dig and follow the pipe say 10 feet out, which is common for a buried tank.

[@zunedog31]

If there is an above ground tank outside the home, what are the odds there is an older buried one in the yard? 1958 home in Virginia.

[@rupe53]

zunedog31 ... Depends on how old / new you think the above ground tank is. The tank might have ALWAYS been above ground. If you are worried you can probably rent or borrow a metal detector and scan the yard. They are usually a foot or two deep so not hard to find if there is one. BTW, if there was a buried tank there may be lines going through the foundation, which can be seen in the basement. If you find that clue then you best start looking in the yard.

[@zunedog31]

@@rupe53 Good tips, thanks. No basement here but I will keep an eye out when I am next in the crawl space.

[@rupe53]

@@zunedog31 ... spend a few minutes searching the boiler room. Most of the time there's a clue from old fuel lines they never fully removed. It might be a hole (double hole?) in the floor or wall or the ends of the pipes might still be there. If you have a crawl space then search the foundation walls near the boiler room for similar clues. They had to get into the house one way or another and installers seldom use the same hole twice.