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Heating Oil Underground & Above ground Oil Storage Tank Leaks, Testing, Problems & Solutions Home Buyer's / Home Owner's Guide to Water in Oil Storage Tanks OilTankAPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com This article tells you what to do about finding and removing water from oil storage tanks regardless of whether the oil tank is indoors, outdoors above ground, or buried. Why is water in an oil tank a problem? How water gets into an oil storage tank Assessing the level of water in an oil tank How to remove water from an oil storage tank

Extensive free un-biased oil storage tank inspection and testing advice for property buyers and owners is provided at this website. This document lets you know what to ask about oil storage tanks, what oil tank leak tests to order, how to interpret oil tank testing results, what to do if there is a buried fuel or petroleum storage tank at a property, what to do if there is or was a leaky oil storage tank or petroleum storage tank, and how to reduce the chances of an oil leak or oil spill in the future.

We include detailed information about underground (buried) oil storage tanks (USTs), aboveground oil storage tanks (ASTs), above ground fuel storage tanks, reporting and cleaning up oil tank leaks, and choosing among oil tank leak testing methods.

Home buyers should be sure to review Tank Testing - Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - How Oil Tanks are Tested for Evidence Leaks, of Current or Previous Oil Spills and Tank Legal Issues - Home Buyers and Home Owners Guide to Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - What to Do About & When to Report Oil Tank Leaks. Leaky Heating Oil Tanks. Home owners who have old oil tanks above ground or any age oil tank below ground should also be sure to review Tank Abandoning - Abandoning Commercial vs. Residential Underground Oil Storage Tanks (UST) - Procedures & Regulations A separate website addresses Septic Tanks. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. New York State License # 16000005303. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Resources. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Testing for and Removing Water Contamination from Oil Storage Tanks

Testing for water in an oil tank (above ground oil tanks whether inside or outdoors, or buried oil tanks) is simple and can be done by any service person or even a homeowner. Tank testing methods vary in risk to the tank, cost, invasiveness, length of time to complete, and more. Since water in a heating oil tank can lead to loss of heat and related building damage we want to know if in-tank water is a problem at a given property. There are several steps and test methods for finding water in an oil tank and for determining how much of a problem it is.

Water can enter a heating oil storage tank by several means

Water enters a buried or above ground tank by condensation: as temperatures vary moisture-containing air may be drawn into and then out of an oil tank. Air leaves the tank as oil is consumed; air enters and leaves the oil tank through the oil tank vent. Moist air entering the tank from outside can bring water which, on entering the cooler tank interior, condenses out of vapor form into water droplets which can, over time accumulate. Water enters a tank filler pipe: from roof spillage onto the tank or filler top (particularly and obviously if the filler cap is left off), or from ground or surface runoff entering the oil storage tank (particularly and obviously if the filler cap is near, at, or below ground surface level). Leaving off an outside filler cap for a few days is not itself a likely source of a problem unless the filler was exposed to heavy rain, roof runoff spillage onto the open filler pipe, or surface runoff entering the tank (such as for a filler pipe flush with the ground). Water leaks into a buried oil tank from an actual tank perforation that admits ground water, or from a bad plumbing fitting on the tank. Water is delivered to the oil tank along with the heating oil fuel: This is not common, but it is possible to get a delivery of "bad" heating oil that is water contaminated, especially if the oil truck happens to fill-up at the oil storage depot when an oil barge is unloading oil since during that operation water which is normally kept in the bottom of oil depot storage tanks may be stirred-up. Most oil companies know to avoid this problem and some also have water filters installed at their oil trucks. No oil company is going to admit that they picked up and delivered water-contaminated oil to your home so don't waste time asking them if they are guilty of this crime.

How to Measure the Level of Water Contamination in an Oil Tank

Assess the amount of water in the oil tank (which could have come from condensation, leaks into the tank, or from deliveries of bad oil containing water) by:

Sources for Water Finding or Water Indicating Pastes

• Water finder paste: using a water finder paste on the end of a stick. Water indicating paste also called water finding paste or water finder paste, is coated over the bottom few inches of an oil tank probing stick or onto a string or flexible tape which can be inserted into an oil tank. The water indicating paste changes color (typically white to red, green to red,or pink to white) to indicate the depth of water in the oil tank.
  
  You can ask your oil company to handle this if you don't have a stick, string, or tape or tools to open an access plug on the top of your oil tank. This method works best if the oil filler pipe is a straight shot down into the oil tank, If there is not sufficient overhead room to insert the long stick, such as with outdoor and buried oil tanks you'll need to use a string or tape which you coat with the water indicating paste.
  
  Here is a list of water and oil indicating pastes that will detect water in home heating oil tanks whether they are buried or above ground, outside, or indoor tanks:
  
  
  • Eastern Water Indicating Paste (in a tube, turns red in presence of water)
  • Eastern Oil Indicating Paste (oil finding paste) in a jar, used to indicate the height of heating oil, diesel oil, kerosene, gasoline, etc, turns from pink to white).
  • Kolor Kut water Indicating Paste
  • Sar-Gel gauging paste turns bright red where it contacts water
  • McCabe Gauging Paste  - a water level indicating paste, turns from green to red when immersed in water for 30 seconds or more. McCabe also makes a gasoline indicating paste which is purple and shows a line where gasoline is encountered.  
    
    Here are some online sources where you can purchase these products (we have no financial relationship with any product or service discussed at our website:
    
    
  • www.marineservicesinc.biz/ - Marine Services, Inc.
  • www.wlwalker.com/sites/WLW/sp_products.asp?groupid=GAUGE - W.L. Walker Co.
  • www.lindequipment.net/   - Lind Equipment
  • www.icllabs.com/Gauging%20Pastes.htm - ICL Calibration Laboratories
  • www.china-tapemeasure.com/oil-tape-measure-fibre-glass-tape.htm - Eastern Tape Measure

Other Methods for Detecting Water Contamination in a Heating Oil Tank

• Other water sensing products: Other special products are available such as a sensor connected to a string or wire that can be dropped into an oil tank to check for water contamination. Water alarm devices are also available.
  
  
• Check the oil filter: inspecting in the oil filter at the heating equipment can indicate a history of water passing from the oil tank towards the oil burner. Water in the oil filter, or rust therein, would be an indicator of water passing through the system.

Ask your oil company service technician to check the oil filter for evidence of water or rust, or if you've had heat outages ask if water in the oil could be a contributor or cause.

See TEST FOR WATER for additional discussion of methods of testing for water in oil storage tanks.

How to Remove Unwanted Water from an Oil Tank

Small amounts of water in an oil tank can be absorbed by alcohol products and moved through the heating system by adding "4 in one hot" or similar additives available from HVAC suppliers or through your oil company. Small amounts of water in an oil tank can be removed from an oil tank using products like the H2O Water Worm from H2O Control Products, Inc. Quoting from the company's product literature: The H2OWater Worm is a 36" x 1.5" cloth tube containing a small amount of our water absorbing desiccant. You simply drop the Water Worm into the tank via any convenient opening, being sure to hold onto the attached 7' string. Secure the string outside of the tank. After settling to the bottom of the tank, the Water Worm will absorb any water that collects or has collected in the tank. To check or remove the sock, simply use the attached string to pull the Water Worm out. If it is full and firm, it's spent; if not, put the Water Worm back in to collect more water. [Photo courtesy of H2O Control Products Inc.] Large amounts of water in an oil tank such as several inches or more in the tank bottom (water will stay at the bottom of the tank as water and oil don't mix), have to be pumped out by your oil company. (They will leave the heating oil behind and intact).

More Reading and advice about oil storage tank leak testing

ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK INSPECTIONS - "Visual Inspection of Above Ground Residential Heating Oil Storage Tanks - ASTs" provides photos of common and easily seen tank leaks and defects, and a description of some easy visual checks of the condition of a visible oil tank, things that you can do yourself
TANK TESTING Oil Tank Testing Methods & Choices
BURIED TANKS, FIND How to Find Buried Oil Tanks
TANK FAILURE CAUSES Oil Tank Leaks or Oil Tank Failure Causes - oil tank leaks are caused by corrosion, damage, soil conditions, other factors
TANK FAILURE RATES Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia ^© Website
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. If you just "scroll down" you'll miss some important articles. See links at page left.

More Information About Buried and Above Ground Oil Storage Tanks, Tank References & More Information on USTs

• Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
• Abandon a Buried Oil Tank, How To - Abandoning Commercial Underground Tanks, Russ Brauksieck, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, P. 40-41 [Reprint]
• Above Ground Oil Tanks: Visual Inspection of Oil Storage Tanks for evidence of leaks, damage, improper piping - photos and text
• Above Ground Oil Tanks Checklist, an Oil Company's advice
• Above Ground Tanks UL Standards, UL Tank Listing Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
• Buried Oil Tanks - Finding How to Find Buried Oil Tanks and "Nearly Hidden" and Leaky Oil Tanks - photos and text.
• Buried Fuel tank - Advice - Buried FUEL Tank - GAS or OIL advice for home buyers, home owners, inspection report language for homes where a buried oil tank is or was installed
• Environmental Issues & Regulations for Oil Tanks, Registration, Abandonment, Leak Reporting
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Buried Oil Tanks, Buried or aboveground oil tank advice for home buyers and home owners, where a buried oil tank is or was installed, also home inspection report language for oil tanks
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Visible Defects in Oil Tank Installations, Tanks, and Heating Oil Piping
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Gas Fuel Piping or Tank Faults Basic advice - home inspection report language suggestions
• Home Inspection Report Language Library: Oil Tanks text file list © Oil and Other Storage Tank Leaks, Testing, Abandonment, Inspection - UST home inspection report language files - Reference List
• Indoor Environment Website Indoor Building Environmental Hazard Detection, Testing, Repair, & Prevention - Main Web Page
• Leaky Heating Oil Tanks - Advice for Home Owners or Buyers: caused of leaks in oil tanks, oil tank testing alternatives, what to do about leaky tanks: D. J. Friedman, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.2 No.1, Winter, 1992 p. 42-43 Illus
• Leak or Failure Rates for Home Heating Oil Tanks
• Legal Issues Regarding Buried Oil Storage Tanks K. S. Rea, Attorney, summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
• Primer on Petroleum Bulk Storage Tanks & Petroleum Contamination of Property Paul H. Ciminello, ASHI Tech. Journal, Vol.3 No.1 Spring 1993, p 35-39
• Petroleum Bulk Storage J. Sibblies, NY State DEC, Advice to Home Owners and Home Inspectors about Oil Storage Tanks - summary from ASHI Chapter Seminar.
• Septic Tank inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair
• Tank Failure Causes - Oil Tank Failure Causes - oil tank leaks are caused by corrosion, damage, soil conditions, other factors
• Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Failure Rates - Oil Tank Leak Probability as a Function of Tank Age, Location, Condition, Soil Conditions and Other Factors
• Tank Testing - - How Oil Tanks are Tested for Evidence Leaks, of Current or Previous Oil Spills
• "How do you choose the right tank testing method?", Cynthia Johnson, Fuel Oil & Oil Heat Magazine, November 1995
.
• National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, PO Box 380, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
• "Homeowners Guide to Fuel Storage," Agway Energy Products, Verbank, NY, November 1990
• Web Link Exchange: Contact Us to list your website or contact information for oil tank testing, tank corrosion research, oil industry experts

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