Oil tank split.

bod71

Hi, I just discovered I have 2 inch crack along the top of my oil tank, there’s about 2mm gap in the crack. I have about 800 litres left in the tank, any idea on cost to empty, replace and fill the new tank. Thanks.

Wearb

Contact your oil company or your regular service person. Most tanks that I come across are not installed to code and you might need extra work.

monseiur

bod71 wrote: »

Hi, I just discovered I have 2 inch crack along the top of my oil tank, there’s about 2mm gap in the crack. I have about 800 litres left in the tank, any idea on cost to empty, replace and fill the new tank. Thanks.

No need to panic. Seeing that the crack is on top of tank I would suggest sealing off the crack temporarily with good duct tape or similar, when the tank is near empty get a few 25 Liter drums and drain what's left into them - very easy to do if filter is at tank. You may have to lift the tank at back end to get the last of the oil out, do NOT re use this last drum of oil. Then fit new tank and make sure it's well supported.

jimf

monseiur wrote: »

No need to panic. Seeing that the crack is on top of tank I would suggest sealing off the crack temporarily with good duct tape or similar, when the tank is near empty get a few 25 Liter drums and drain what's left into them - very easy to do if filter is at tank. You may have to lift the tank at back end to get the last of the oil out, do NOT re use this last drum of oil. Then fit new tank and make sure it's well supported.

under no circumstances follow this advice

you need to empty tank asap there is a danger that this crack will get worse at any time and split completely

not alone will you loose your oil but could also be getting a visit from your local epa official

tank pump out and fit new tank approx 2 hours work if your base is good

also remember the full base of the tank must be supported

cost approx 7/8 hundred eu

Slightly off topic but what are common problems with tank installs?
I'm going to replace mine next summer.

jimf

biggest problem usually not supported properly

tank base has to be fully supported

if sitting on piers you need to use lintels across the full len and depth of tank

glwaymiko

Happened to me a few years back, got my regular oil truck to come sucked it out measured it
came back when I had new tank ready &put oil back ,maybe times have changed....

paintinglasses

This happened us recently (on a Saturday of course) , got a crack in the seam at the bottom of the tank. We panic rang the oil company, said rub a bar of soap on the crack to stop the leak until Monday. They gave us a number of a guy who came and emptied our old tank into a tank he had on his truck , fitted a new tank and then put our oil back in. Cost €720 and took water from the oil too. Sorted. Only took about 90 minutes.

looksee

I had this problem but the tank split along the side. I was able to put pressure on the split with some lengths of timber and called out an emergency tank replacement person - I think it was the oil company who gave me the name. This of course was 5pm on a bank holiday weekend Friday! He came, pumped the oil into a spare tank, swapped over the tank for a new one and pumped the oil back again. Very quick and efficient and not particularly expensive.

When I originally got the tank (only some maybe 5 or 6 years earlier) I had been getting the tank moved to a more convenient spot and the guys doing some building work built up the piers and put on some sills - but only about 4 sills. They were most offended that I insisted the surface should be completely covered with sills, but I insisted, I had seen the result of an oil spill beside and under a house. That job took the family out of the house for nearly 12 months while it was cleaned up.

Now in another house and another moved tank, but this time I got a bunded tank and its well worth it for peace of mind.

HarrietD

Same thing happened to me recently. Full of oil. I thought it would cost more to replace when full but was nervous heading into lockdown. It wasn't. Got supply and fit with a 1100L tank. Old tank removed, made sure heating was working etc for €795.

MOD SNIP. Company name used.

Wearb

Most if not all county council's have contacts for such an emergency.

bod71

I’ll get onto this first thing tomorrow, thanks for all your replies.