Buried Oil Tanks in Florida

Up until the 1960s many Florida homes used oil as a heat source. Subsequently, many had oil tanks buried on the property. These days, these tanks are no longer in use. However if you're buying a home with a buried tank on the property, there can be a substantial cost to having the tank removed or decommissioned.

You'll want to speak with the seller of the home to ask if a tank is present on the property. If there is one, you want to ask if the tank has been properly decommissioned. If not, the tank may still be holding fuel. There's a substantial cost associated with removal of fuel and filling the tank or removal of the tank altogether. Specific environmental procedures must be followed dispose of fuel. If the tank is going to stay on the property and not be removed, tank will need to be filled so that it does not collapse overtime.

The problem with leaving an old oil tank in place, is that it can rust out and leech oil into the soil. This can affect the groundwater and potentially leach fuel into your neighbor's property, causing a potential conflict. Also the tank can collapse which is an obvious hazard.

There are several indicators that there may be an oil tank present on the property. You may see an oil fill cap or fill valve on the ground. Also, you may see older galvanized piping coming out of the ground at a random location. Another indicator can be unidentified smaller split copper lines at the interior or exterior.

Regardless of which indicators are present, you will want to have the oil tank properly decommissioned or removed so that it does not pose a future safety or environmental hazard. A local plumber should been contacted to properly process the tank, by decommissioning and filling or by removing the tank.