You have found a nice home, but it is heated with fuel oil (or “oil”), be careful! This method of heating can cause contamination of your property, which would greatly reduce its value.
There are two types of reservoir: above ground and underground. The above ground tank is usually located in the basement of the building, or along an exterior wall. The underground reservoir is by definition buried. The above ground tank can be inspected more easily – if there is a leak, it is usually visible. Be careful though, sometimes part of the plumbing is underground. Leaks can occur from this piping and contaminate the property.
The underground tank cannot be inspected visually. Since most tanks are made of metal, once in the ground, the phenomenon of corrosion, from water, oxygen and bacteria takes its course, to the point of forming holes in the walls of the tank. Leaks can happen for years without anyone realizing it.
Even though a homeowner does not have a legal obligation to decontaminate their property, they still own the contamination. Thus, if it migrates to a neighbor, you may have to pay for the decontamination of the neighboring land. In addition, fuel oil can migrate under the residence. If your slab is cracked, fuel oil odors can enter your basement.
To find out, you can contact Savaria Experts-Conseils. We can help you with contaminated soil, locating an old tank and removing a tank that is no longer in operation.