PA. DEP Check heating oil tanks for safety

Leaking oil is costly to clean up and poses a health threat.
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- With overnight temperatures now dipping into the 30s in northwestern parts of Pennsylvania, Kelly Burch, the state Environmental Protection Regional Director, is reminding homeowners and businesses to carefully inspect their indoor and outdoor heating oil tanks for potential problems before filling them.
"Performing a quick visual inspection of heating oil tanks can identify potential environmental problems before they become pollution incidents," Burch said.
Leaking heating oil can contaminate drinking water and cost thousands of dollars to clean up.
Some tips
To avoid potential problems, DEP makes these recommendations:
* Try to be home when the fuel is delivered. If you can't be at home, clearly mark with a red flag the fill pipe for the tank. Inform the delivery person about how you have marked the fill pipe.
* Make sure all appropriate furnace and tank fittings are tight.
* If you have a vertical tank, replace it with a horizontal tank to prevent if from toppling.
* Make sure the tank is securely anchored to a foundation that extends below the frost line. This also helps to keep tanks from toppling.
* If your tank is in the basement, put a dike around the drain. If there is an oil spill, this will keep the spill from spreading to the outside. Put a secondary containment or dike around the fill pipe and outgoing valve.
* If possible, replace your underground tank with an above-ground horizontal tank.
* Twice a year, check the tank and its structural supports for signs of rust.
* Check for wet spots or odors near the tank that could signal a problem.
To get help
Residents who suspect problems with a tank should contact their oil company immediately for assistance. For more information on home heating oil and environmental cleanup, visit DEP online at www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: "DEP Tanks."