I've done more articles on oil tank removal, in my monthly newsletter, than just about any topic I've addressed. And yet, my own son-in-law just called me, absolutely frantic, to tell me he finally got around to having his tank removed, and there is evidence of oil spillage. Apparently, the company he hired to convert from gas to oil (he didn't ask my advice) didn't think it was necessary to do anything but siphon out the oil, and close the hole. No test, no cleaning the tank, no filling the tank --- just suck out the oil, and close 'er up! Don't you just love when people call you after the fact to say, "I know I should have asked you, but you're busy, and it didn't seem important. Ok, so when the DEP stops by for a visit, ask them how important they think oil spills are. You may not be the Exxon Valeze, but contaminating the soil, even on your own property, isn't something they look fondly on.
My ex had a large company, and when they decided to check the oil tank (probably decades and decades after it should have been done), they found an oil spill so extensive, it cost them $1,75,000 for the cleanup. Now, a residential spill will never reach that number, but it could certainly be in the tens of thousands.
One more time: get the oil tank out of the ground. There's really no reason for anyone to be using oil to heat a home --- gas in now cheaper and certainly cleaner.
BTW, just got a call from the owner of a lovely home I'll be listing, to alert me that he actually read my last article on tanks, and had his tested. It failed.
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