Residential Tank Decommissions

A homeowner should consider decommissioning their underground tank when heating oil is no longer used to heat the home. As a DEQ licensed contractor we can perform several DEQ approved decommission methods including cleaning & backfilling the tank in place, or removing the tank from the ground. Most heating oil tanks are decommissioned in place.

When decommissioning a tank in place we begin by pumping out any remaining oil and water. Using hand shovels we expose a portion of the top of the tank. Once we have tested the tank interior atmosphere and determined it is safe, we cut an opening in the tank. The tank interior is then cleaned using a pressure washer and all remaining sludge is pumped out. Soil samples are then collected from the tank area to determine if the tank has leaked. Using hand operated augers or Geoprobe equipment, one soil sample is collected from each end of the tank approximately 12-24" below the tank bottom. The soil samples are field screened to identify visual or olfactory indications of heating oil. This data is recorded and the samples are placed in laboratory provided sample jars. The samples are transferred under chain-of-custody to a state-of-the-art independent local laboratory for analysis. Lab results are available by early afternoon the following business day. Your project manager will call as soon as the results are available. If the results show the tank has not leaked the tank cavity can be backfilled with clean, compacted gravel, the overburden soil replaced, and the site restored. If the results show the tank has leaked, then a DEQ certified cleanup will need to be completed.

There are circumstances when decommission by removal may be the best choice. If you are planning to build an addition over a tank area, we would recommend the tank be removed instead of decommissioned in-place. In some cases the soil contamination underneath the tank may require excavation and the tank would need to be removed to access the contaminated soil. In order to minimize the impact to your property and preserve your landscaping we use small rubber track excavators. Like an in-place decommission, the tank decommission involves excavating to the top of the tank, cutting it open, and cleaning the tank interior. Once the tank is thoroughly cleaned, the tank is removed from the ground, and transported to a local metal recycler. Soil samples are then collected from the excavation bottom to determine if the tank has leaked. The excavation is then backfilled with clean, compacted gravel, the overburden soil replaced, and the site restored.

Residential Tank Project Inquiries
residential-tanks@soilsolutionsenvironmental.com

We decommission more heating oil tanks in Oregon than any other company.

Since we started the company in 1998, we have provided tank services at approximately 7000 properties in the Portland metro area. Our commitment to customer service is how we’ve become the industry leader.