Oil Tank Removal: Top 5 Reasons To Hire A Professional Oil Tank Removal Company

Hiring a professional oil tank removal company can save you thousands of dollars and save you from further issues down the road.

Occasionally we receive calls from panicked homeowners or confused contractors who have decided to remove an oil tank on their own.  

Often they have ruptured the oil tank, or have come to a point where they have realized that they may have underestimated what is actually involved in the proper removal of an oil tank.  

For example, the picture below shows an oil tank on a property that has been mishandled by a non oil tank removal related contractor.

A frantic demolition company called us out to do an oil tank removal quotation and this is what we found…

As you can see, this oil tank had been severely crushed and discarded to the side before our arrival.  

There were signs of oil throughout the excavation when we arrived.

This is probably because the oil tank was most likely not pumped and/or cleaned properly before it was extracted.  

It is extremely important to follow the proper procedures during an oil tank removal.  The improper handling of an oil tank removal can dramatically change the scope of work on your property.

If your oil tank is not removed properly, your oil tank removal can go from straight forward oil tank removal to contaminated property within minutes.

On the other hand, some oil tanks were removed successfully years ago;however, often permits were not obtained, proper procedures were not followed and there is no documentation available.

This can situation can create issues down the road because even though your oil tank has been removed, without the proper final documentation it will be difficult to prove that your oil tank has been removed properly.

1. Safety

Safety should be the number one concern when removing your oil tank and hiring an oil tank removal company.  

If you hire an inexperienced contractor or try to do it yourself, there is an elevated risk that a dangerous incident or problems may arise.

 
The lack of knowledge and experience can lead to:
• Fires
• Explosions
• Environmental issues
• Cave-ins
• Structural issues
• Injuries or even death

2. Insurance Coverage

Your contractor may say that they have removed oil tanks before, but how much knowledge do they truly have?  

Even if they have removed a couple of oil tanks, do they have the proper insurance coverage?  

It is very important that your contractor has the proper coverage for the work that they perform on your property.

Otherwise, you may end up with a bigger problem than just your oil tank.  

It is important to note that just because an oil tank removal company specializes in oil tank removal, it does not necessarily mean they have proper insurance coverage.

When hiring an oil tank removal company it is important to ask if they have insurance coverage and ask for copies of thier valid insurance paperwork.

3. Oil Tank Removal Experience 

We have been called to many jobs where a homeowner or contractor is in a panic because the contractor has damaged an oil tank while excavating.  

Rupturing an oil tank can become a big issue because it may contaminate the surrounding soils on your property.

Sometimes this was due to not having an oil tank detection before planning a renovation or demolition.  

But other times it is the case of a non oil tank removal company trying to keep their project moving and stepping into a situation where they have little to no experience.

It is important to note that if your contractor does not follow the proper procedures to remove your oil tank, such as permit applications, inspections, and proper disposal of your oil tank or soil, you may face fines or even end up with legal issues in the future.

4. Contaminated Soil Mismanagement 

Hiring a oil tank removal company with knowledge and experience is an important factor when dealing with oil tanks and hazardous materials.  

If the process is not done properly you may end up with a bigger problem than when you started.

If you hire a contractor that does not have experience with soil contamination you may end up with soil contamination left on your property after they are finished or they may take soils that never needed to be removed in the first place.

A lot of times, the reason a non-oil tank related company is hired to remove an oil tank is because they were in the middle of your current project and came across an unpleasant surprise.

Many times they will not pay as much attention to the oil tank removal process because there are focused on their original project and will try to simply make the oil tank disappear.

This may seem like a good solution at the time but there are many scenarios how this can haunt you in the near future:

Improper Disposal

If the contractor disposes of the contaminated soils improperly you can potentially face fines.

Missed Contaminated Soils

If the contractor misses contaminated soil, it may spread further throughout your property or even onto your neighbours property.

Additionally, if you built any new structures in the contaminated area it may be more difficult to access the area in the future and therefore more expensive to remove the contaminated soils.

Furthermore, the newly constructed items in the area (decking, concrete, additions) may be affected during the soil contamination removal process and may cost you more money to replace or repair.

Contaminated Soils Migrating To Neighbouring Property

If your soils contaminate a neighbouring property, that neighbouring property may pursue legal action in the future if it is not dealt with at the time.

If the proper procedures are not taken at the time, you can end up with issues down the road once the contractor is long gone.  

Final Report

Finally, if anyone requests a report indicating that your oil tank was removed properly, you will most likely not have the proper documentation they require.

5. Final Reports And Documentation

Your oil tank removal final report confirms and documents that a qualified oil tank removal company has removed your oil tank properly.  

As an oil tank removal company, we know that your final report is a very important part of the oil tank removal process.

Without this report you may have issues in the future when selling your property, renewing your mortgage or renewing your insurance.

Even if a non-oil tank related contractor was able to put together a final report, potential buyers, lenders and insurance companies put  more confidence in a report from a professional oil tank removal company.

Many times in property transaction contracts or insurance/mortgage applications, they may note that the oil tank removal has to be done by a qualified oil tank removal company.