Oil Tank Sweep in Morris County, NJ
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Everything you need to know about oil tank sweeps in Morris County.
Oil Tank Sweep in Morris County, NJ
Before purchasing any house that was built in the 1970s, it is critical to inspect if there is a leaking oil tank in the property. The inspection is because, back in the day, many homes used oil for heating purposes as opposed to today, where homeowners use natural gas. However, some new homes may have been built on a location with an underground storage tank. The status of that tank, whether removed or not, should be known and documented through an oil tank sweep process.
The oil tank service is to locate buried oil tanks and prevent the dangers that can arise, as they may still be containing oil or leaking in your property. When you buy such contaminated property, you will incur more expenses in site remediation; hence, the need to conduct due diligence before buying.
Causes of Oil Tank Leakage
An oil tank can leak due to several reasons such as improper installation, corrosion of materials, age of the tank, and mechanical failure. So how do you know if an underground tank is leaking? Here are some of the signs you can look out for:
- Having a strong smell. Having a strong oil smell in an unidentified location can mean that there is a leakage hence should be investigated.
- Lack of vegetation in an area where plants should be present. An environmental expert should do an oil tank investigation to establish if there is any problem.
- Presence of oil in drainage ditches and nearby streams.
- Issues with the taste and odors of drinking water from the wells.
- A sunken area in the compound. The sunken area can be a sign of leakage since an oil tank can collapse after a period due to the weight of the soil and damage.
- Presence of an emergency oil burner switch in the house. The switch was used for emergencies in case of fire outbreak and other disasters.
- Oil leaking through the cracks of the basement.
- The visual signs of an underground oil tank include the presence of copper lines from the foundation wall and a filled tank cap.
There are specialized types of equipment to detect abandoned oil tanks underground. Soil samples can also be investigated further for oil leakages.
Importance of an oil tank sweep Morris County NJ
An oil tank scan in Morris County, NJ is a necessity for a homeowner due to the following reasons:
- It prevents the possibility of fire outbreaks that are familiar with leaking oil.
- Heating oils in the form of vapor may lead to health risks such as respiratory infections and vomiting.
- It helps in preventing environmental hazards caused by leaking oil on water and soil. As the property owner, you’ll be liable for all the lawsuits caused by a leaking oil tank.
- Leaking Oil tanks can undermine the value of your property and may not be covered by insurance.
Aside from the above reasons, an oil tank scan in Morris County is also a requirement for banks to approve your mortgage and loans.
The Process of Performing an Oil Tank Search in Morris County, NJ
An oil tank search in Morris County starts by visible interior and exterior inspection of the property to locate the underground tanks. The technicians then document any clues found, such as pipes exiting the foundation and the possibility of getting the oil tank place. After the inspection, various ground penetration radar and soil probing are used to find the underground tanks.
The ground penetration radar creates an electromagnetic signal that detects buried oil tanks and metal pipes. In case the signal does not sense an object, the electromagnetic signal goes deeper into the ground to rule out the presence of an object. The difference between the readings determines whether there is an underground object. The homeowner then receives a report describing the inspection process.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Inspector
Factors to consider for a home inspection varies from service to service. Below are the considerations when choosing an oil tank inspector.
- The company performing the service must guarantee the inspection since many service providers run away from liability after closing the sale.
- The equipment used. Verify that the contractor has the machinery and skills to run the service. Most service providers can lie about having animals, drones, and other equipment to detect underground oil tanks when looking for a business. Therefore, you should look out for such false statements and avoid such contractors as they can give the wrong report after the inspection.
- Experience. Before choosing a service provider, you should ask them how long they have been in the business and the number of tanks they have worked on before. Experience comes with the quality of work. The technicians you hire should also be well trained to perform the oil tank duties well and within the agreed period.
- Price of the service. It would be best if you went to a company that provides not just cheap, but affordable services of high quality. The company should also have enough capital to cover claims that may arise from the process.
- Ensure that the company you are hiring is fully insured by asking for proof of liability certificate.
- Ensure that the company’s obstructions are listed in their inspections report to avoid missing on many tanks. Obstacles are areas that interfere with detection equipment such as fence and air conditioning units.
The inspection company should not only leave after giving you the inspection report but walk you through the next steps depending on what the inspector finds on the site.
Oil Tanks and Selling Your Property in Morris County
Before selling a property, all potential defects, like the presence of an underground tank, must be disclosed to the buyer. Inspecting your oil tank is vital when you want to list and sell your property, as few buyers will show interest in a house with an underground tank. Therefore, have a professional work on an oil tank sweep before you begin the home sale.
Are you looking for an experienced and affordable oil tank sweep in Morris County NJ, to sell faster? Contact us today, and we will send our experts your way.
Why Use ATS For This Service
20 Years of Experience
ATS has performed more than 25,000 search services for clients in the past 20 years.
Certified and Highly Trained Experts
ATS sends highly trained experts that carry special inductive and conductive locators (sophisticated metal detectors) and probes that can identify tanks buried underground or beneath driveways.
Detailed Reporting
Our report includes detailed site findings and recommends the steps you should follow to avoid inheriting a potential environmental problem. In addition, our field experts will physically mark the area at the property if it presents a potential environmental risk.
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