Ready to Remove Your Underground Storage Tank?

Is your property an older one, where the residents may have needed an oil tank instead of connecting to municipal natural gas lines? Do you recall something in the signing agreement that there is an underground storage tank on your property? If so, don’t despair—thousands of homeowners in Northern New Jersey find this out each year, and wonder “what should I do about my old underground storage tank?” If you are thinking about removing your underground storage tank for safety assurance or because you want to sell your home for a higher price, this blog is for you!

Can I just abandon my underground storage tank? Why remove it?
A properly functioning and well-serviced underground storage tank will last for decades. However, once they are abandoned and no longer in use or in service, any remaining fluid or fuel inside begins to break down, as does the metal tank itself. Combined, these could allow dangerous contaminants to enter your ground water. Not only is this dangerous to the environment and wildlife, it could contaminate well-water drinking water sources or worse! To completely eliminate this risk, you must remove the tank.

What is the process to remove my storage tank? How soon can I get it done?
Unfortunately, removing an underground storage tank is not a speedy process. First, your local and state regulatory agencies must be notified; most areas require a minimum of 30 days’ notice. Some states require contractors performing these services to be licensed, others do not. At RFC Excavating & Landscape Construction, we hold the appropriate licenses or higher for any contracting services in NJ. This licensed contractor will handle it from here because it is a dangerous job! Your contractor will remove excess product or fuel from inside the tank, replace the oxygen in the tank with something that will not explode, such as carbon dioxide, and then dig deep to remove the tank with backhoes and cranes, as needed. Your contractor will then dispose of the tank itself and any contents, according to local law. You will likely need to submit soil samples to the state to ensure that the tank truly did not leak, but your contractor should handle sampling and monitoring or provide you with a professional reference to follow-up.

For all these reasons, underground storage tanks are best removed! Getting these out of the way can not only improve your home sale value, but can make your home sell faster. While this process may not be your idea of a fun weekend, the benefits are unbeatable. When you work with RFC Excavating & Landscape Construction, we make your end of the deal as smooth and easy as possible!