This photo shows one type of oil tank fill valve.
Signs of underground oil tank leak.
These symptoms may even be worse with long term exposure.
The high concentration of oil vapors that may come with your oil leak can be hazardous to your health.
Contamination may be indicated by signs of a damaged tank or pipe soil that is stained or gives off strong oil odors a sheen on the groundwater or environmental test results.
Approximately 542 000 underground storage tanks usts nationwide store petroleum or hazardous substances.
Below are three tips for being able to tell whether or not the oil tank on your property is leaking.
These will likely be dark brown and smell like oil and seem to appear out of nowhere.
You re noticing that the ground is turning brown.
This indicates that oil is leaking from your underground tank and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible by our professional excavating contractors at a l l.
If the leak is large possible health risks result from exposure to oil vapors including headaches dizziness loss of coordination euphoria nausea and disorientation.
Oil is lighter than water and will float on top of the water.
If your underground oil tank is empty you are dealing with what many environmental experts would refer to as a fire hazard.
Above ground storage tanks asts can also leak but oil leaks from asts are typically sudden and obvious.
Short term effects include disorientation nausea dizziness drowsiness headaches and more.
This can occur when the metal tank corrodes and oil leaks out of the tank into the surrounding soil.
Typical signs of a leak from an ust include discolored soil greenish gray strong petroleum odors and dead vegetation.
Presence of both a gas meter and an oil tank indicate that the tank may be abandoned.
When you have an underground oil tank leak you might start finding stain spots around your property.
Rain water soaks into the soil.
The long term effects to your health as a result of prolonged exposure can be significantly worse.
Even if the oil has all leaked out and the tank is empty and no one has said anything to you about contaminated soil or groundwater you still may be dealing with a fire hazard.
If the buried oil tank has been properly decommissioned they will usually remove or cut the breather tube and fill valve so there will be no signs of an oil tank on the outside of the house.
The oil leaking into your ground will cause damage to the surrounding foliage especially if the tank is under a grassy area.
