leaking oil tank, a few questions, repair, replace ,relocate

[Stevet284]

Hi,

I just noticed yesterday that our oil tank has started to leak, just slightly, from a patch of rust on the underside.

I'm worried that replacing it with a new one will be very expensive.

The current one is more than 1800mm from the house, but it is next to the garage wall. so I think that is not allowed anymore. Can I put a new tank in the same location, or would it have to be as per the new rules and 1800mm away from any building ?

the current tank is 2000 litres, we don't really need one that big, i think 1300 litres would be o.k. It is about a metre away from a drainage ditch, does that mean a new one should be bunded ?


Finally, i am thinking on a short term repair so that I can postpone replacement until next summer, I was thinking about sanding off the loose rust & paint, then patching with glass fibre, please let me know your thoughts on this idea.


Many Thanks in Advance
Steve

 

[Agile]

I will avoid answering some of the more problematic questions as getting it wrong would be very expensive. I would also advise checking any answers you receive here as the costs concerned will be very high is wrong and as anyone can give advice and remain anonomous they have no liability for wrong advice and they dont have professional negligence insurance either!

I dont advise trying to repair a leak as you suggest. Its likely to fail and leave you without anything. If you did try it then you would have to turn the tank or empty it.

My advice would be to get a tank to hold about 18 months supply if possible if you are in the habit of buying during the summer when its cheapest. If you just buy 400 litres whenever then I suppose its not so important. A larger tank is proportionally cheaper.

Tony

 

[kidgreen61]

If I were you, I would ring your oil supplier & tell them about your problem. In my area, they are very helpful, will empty old tank, install new one, and dispose of old tank.

 

[Agile]

All at a cost though!

If you are truly unable to pay for a new tank I think that some oil suppliers will provide a tank on a "free rental" althogh obviously you are tied to getting your oil from them!

Tony

 

[simond]

To answer the questions directly;

You will need a bunded tank either metal or plastic due to the drainage ditch

It can be sited next to a garage wall providing that wall is fire resistant and there are not combustible eaves.

If you have a combustible wall or roof overhang an alternative is creating a fire barrier between the tank and the combustible material

You can site a plastic or a metal tank close to a wall (100mm or a minimum to enable an inspection/painting in the case of a metal tank)

Reducing the storage capacity of the tank does not help you with meeting OFTEC regs but will raise your cost in terms of oil pence per litre


Fianlly, a couple of observations. I don't know anyone who has a tank big enough to go 18 months between fills. And if you leak even the slightest quantity of oil into that ditch or surrounding ground and the EA get wind of it, you will regret it. It will cost £1000s to remove the contaminated soil etc and the EA take no prisoners. You could easily pay £10K and still need a new tank.

You need to find the money or get the tank emptied.

 

[Stevet284]

Thanks for all the replies.

The garage has a pitched tiled roof, so the eaves and the soffits are wooden.

Today I cleaned the underside of the tank, and 2hrs later there is no sign of any oil, so it is a very,very slight leak. So I may still try a temporary repair.

I got one quote from a local tank company - £1600 for a 1800 Ltr bunted tank including installation, removing the old tank e.t.c.

I doubt if i will be able to get it much cheaper than that, as the tank itself is near enough £1000.

But if I can repair it I could run it low over the winter, Install a new bunted tank in new position myself, then get my friendly, local OFTEC registered heating engineer to commission it.


Deposing of the old steel tank might be an issue though, I don't know if the local dump would take it.

 

[numpty1]

first bit of advice is replace the tank before it spills its contents,second bit of advice is rub some soap over the affected area.

 

[gremlin16]

Might be worth you reading this

http://www.oftec.org/documents/EG_dom_oil_storage_aw.pdf

God help you if your tank contaminates adjoining ground or water course, like simond said the EA will tear you to bits.

Temp repair on your steel tank is not an option. A reputable Oftec engineer will advice you of the correct location of a new tank and should provide with a copy of a risk assessment that will determine if new tank installation complies with regulations.

GSR or (old corgi) engineers are not registered to work on oil systems and their comments should be viewed with caution.

As for buying in the summer 'coz it cheap
Thats total carp, oil price fluctuate all year round, and there is no best time to buy. Just keep an eye on prices and buy when you think its cheapest

Eg last week it was 36 pence /lt where in March we could get it for 31 pence.

 

[AlanE]

Deposing of the old steel tank might be an issue though, I don't know if the local dump would take it

Doubt it for one moment. They are regarded as hazardous waste so you would be breaking the law transporting it.

 

[Richard C]

I’m sure the OFTEC link will tell you the same but DIY replacement of an oil tank is notifyable work unless you use an OFTEC registered installer. You will need to submit a building notice & pay a fee for inspection in order to (hopefully) get your compliance certificate. You WILL need to produce the compliance certificate when you sell up or it will cost you even more money for a survey + any remedial work needed for compliance; the OFTEC guy that replaced mine said he spends a lot of his time post inspecting DIY installs & doing remedial work in order to progress a property sale; nice little earner he said.

I had a standard 1450 litre tank relocated (the old one was actually inside the house!) & installed & the best price I could get at the time was £650; but that was nearly 4 years ago. Halving the size of the tank won’t halve the total cost; it’s disproportionate because of the installation cost & the requirements of current regulations. If the tank is near (can’t remember exact distance) a foul drain cover or a natural water course (ditch) or you go over 3000 litres, it has to be bunded which will cost more as they are roughly twice the price of ordinary tanks.

 

[glasgowgas]

re getting rid of your tank.

a couple of ****** would lift it, no problem.

as for price fluctuation of oil prices........

with 22,000 posts its obvious Mr Tony Glazier talks shheeite!

 

[simond]

Beware there is a fair deal of nonsense being peddled as fact on this post.

As Gremlin16 points out, it is OFTEC that define the minimum standards here, not a load of heresay.

One loophole you may be interested in. An oil tank ceases to be classed as one when a corner is cut off. Might be of use

 

[Richard C]

Beware there is a fair deal of nonsense being peddled as fact on this post.

Really, can you enlighten?

As Gremlin16 points out, it is OFTEC that define the minimum standards here, not a load of heresay.

Can you be more specific about what you think is “hearsay”? OFTEC is recognised by the Government as the licensed trade body in the same way as all the others, it’s Building Regulations that define the requirements for domestic oil storage & heating appliance installation. There is no obligation to use an OFTEC installer to replace your tank although in most cases it will probably be easier & far less hassle if you do. You can easily go the DIY route & as long as the installation complies with Building Regulations, your LABC will issue a certificate of compliance.

One loophole you may be interested in. An oil tank ceases to be classed as one when a corner is cut off. Might be of use

Interested to hear how that one works?

 

[simond]

Nonsense such as a tank typically holding 18 months of oil. Nonsense such as the domestic limit being stated as 3000 litres (you wrote this one). It's 3500.

The Building Control option is fine but it is not free, they will typically hire an OFTEC qualified person to inspect the tank and pass on the cost. Chances are they will find something non compliant, note it on the OFTEC600 and you will have to get it reinspected.

I am an OFTEC installer, rather than a member of the public who happens to have had a tank fitted at some time in the past.

Best to get a professional installer with indemnity and the ability to self certify. I am not touting for work because I do not cover the area and we do not do tank changes unless a boiler renewal is involved.

The definition of an 'oil storage tank' is not met when it cannot be used for the storage of oil. Therefore, for transportation and disposal purposes, once it has been drained of oil, a top corner cut off means that a scrap recycler is working with something that is no longer classed as an oil tank.

 

[Agile]

I dont think anyone said that a tank typically holds 18 months supply.

I did suggest that if it could hold 18 months supply then that makes it easier to buy at the lowest prices and not being held to ransom when the tank is empty. I still say it it were possible to size the tank then for those who will fill the tank then its thebest option. Of course its not best for those who just buy 200 litres when the tank gets empty.

Likewise I always fill my vehicle tank and do this at the cheapest supplier.

I used to run oil boilers to supply hot water for a launderette. I found that in the generality the prices were cheaper during the summer.

When I converted to gas, I left the tank outside with FREE painted on the outside and a couple of scrappies took it away the next day.

Tony