Protect Your Home and the Environment: Oil Tank Safety Tips for Spring and Summer
Spring and summer bring warmer weather which can have a knock-on impact on domestic oil tanks. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has some helpful advice for householders to help ensure your oil tank is in a good state of repair. This will not only help to protect the environment and reduce the risk of a spillage, but potentially save householders from some hefty expense as clean-up costs can be considerable if something goes wrong, particularly if you have to pay for the clean-up.
During hot weather, the material your oil tank is made from may expand in the daytime and contract in the evening, as it cools. Your tank, and the contents within it will expand and contract at different rates and this can cause older tanks to be damaged and possibly to leak. It is advisable to check your tank frequently during prolonged warm spells.
Be alert to visible warning signs. If you notice any bulging, any minor leaks or, in plastic tanks, any whitening on the material then take action and seek assistance as your tank may be at risk of structural failure.
An annual inspection by an OFTEC-registered technician, or a suitably qualified person, is strongly recommended. A registered technician can identify any faults and suggest remedial measures to help prevent spills. You can find a registered technician in your area here.
Dealing with any issues with your oil tank
If you notice any change in your oil tank’s condition, or are worried that it may fail, or has started to leak, you should act quickly:
- Try to stop the flow of oil, for example by turning off valves.
- Try to stop the oil soaking into the ground or going down drains. Cat litter or sand can help absorb the oil as a short-term solution.
- Contact your insurance company and oil delivery company to arrange for the oil to be cleaned up.
- Report the spill to the NIEA Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 – lines are open 24 hours a day. Early reporting may help to minimize the impact on the environment, and potentially your pocket.
Clean-up costs from an oil spillage can be very high and these costs are not always covered by household insurance policies, so it is advisable to check this.
Further advice on dealing with an oil spill is available on NI Direct and from the Oil Care Campaign.