Heating Oil Storage Tank
Frequently Asked Questions

If you notice a leak or spill from your tank, it is your responsibility to contact the 24-hour number for Maine DEP Spill Response at (800) 482-0777. If oil (including but not limited to gasoline, diesel, heating oils, hydraulic oils, and lubricating oils) is spilled, an initial telephone report of any discharge should be made to the DEP as soon as possible, but within two hours. If the report is made within 2 hours, the responsible party is exempt from any fines for the discharge. Once the spill is reported, a DEP responder will be sent to your property to assess the spill, clean it up, and initiate remediation if needed.

When reporting a spill or the threat of a spill, it is helpful if you are able to provide the following information:

• What was spilled?
• How much was spilled and is there a chance that more can be spilled? Is it contained?
• When did the spill occur?
• What is the location of the spill?
• What are the impacts to the property (impacts to soil, indoor air quality, wells, etc)?
• What are the natural resources that might be impacted (ocean, lake, river, wetland, etc.)?
• Who is the owner company? Have they been contacted?

Limit or avoid exposure to fuel oil product, contaminated media, or vapors – especially residents with respiratory illness or are vulnerable due to age. If you are able to, without endangering the health and safety of yourself or others, plug holes when possible, shut off valves, and contain any runoff water.

Right now, the average cost of a tank replacement is $3,500.

The Department recognizes that the cost of replacing home heating oil tanks can be significant. In order to help homeowners pay for the replacement of high risk tanks, the Department provides grants though the State’s nine Community Action Agencies (CAA). If you are an income-eligible Maine resident, own your home, and have a high risk tank, you may be eligible for financial assistance for replacing your tank. Contact your local CAA for more information.

You may be able to determine the age of your tank by checking the nameplate on your tank, which sometimes include the born-on date. If you are unsuccessful in determining the age from the nameplate, check to see if the ends of your tank are crimped. Crimped end tanks have an obvious rim or edge on either end, rather than having rounded and seamless ends. Not only are crimped ends weak welds susceptible to tank rupture, they are also usually an indicator that the tank may be from 1999 or prior, as this type of weld was no longer approved following a July 1999 update to the UL 80 Standard for Steel Tanks for Oil-Burner Fuels and Other Combustible Liquids.

Corrosion is the leading cause of spills from heating oil tanks at single family residences in Maine. Most often, corrosion is caused from the inside out. Over time, fine impurities in heating oil can cause water, sludge, and sediments to build up and slowly eat away at the steel at the bottom of a heating oil tank.

While it is very difficult to determine the level of corrosion within a tank by simply looking at it from the outside, ultrasonic thickness testing can help to determine steel thickness in tanks under 20 years old, which can indicate whether significant corrosion has occurred. Short of replacing your oil tank, ultrasonic thickness testing gives a tank owner a means of determining the thickness of the steel used in a heating oil tank.

Ultrasonic thickness testing compares different sound waves to determine the thickness of the steel in a home heating oil tank. Sound waves travel differently as they pass through materials of different densities. Typically, the thickness of the steel is measured at several spots along the bottom centerline of your home heating oil tank. The ultrasonic process is non-invasive and can be conducted in about fifteen minutes. Just like the tune up and cleaning of a home’s heating oil system, an ultrasonic thickness test should be performed annually.

To find out about service packages that offer an annual ultrasonic thickness test of your home heating oil tank contact your oil dealer. If your tank is over 20 years old, ultrasonic thickness testing may no longer be effective - it is time to consider a tank replacement or an alternative heating source instead.

If you are looking to remove or reduce the use of oil in your home, there are alternative methods of heating that may work for your home.

Propane is one alternative to heating oil that is partially covered under the Home Heating Oil Tank Replacement Program through Maine’s Community Action Agencies. If you qualify for financial assistance, this replacement program may cover up to a specified amount to replace your home heating oil with propane.

Heat Pumps are another alternative to heating oil, and one advantage of having a heat pump is that they can also serve as an air conditioner in the hot summers. Efficiency Maine offers a rebate program for first and second installations of a heat pump in your home.

A wood stove or a pellet stove are other alternatives.

Check out this cost comparison calculator provided by Efficiency Maine to review and compare different home heating systems.

If you have recently moved away from using oil to heat your home or business, you may be wondering how to dispose of your oil tank and any remaining fuel. The first step is to contact is your fuel supplier. Often, they will be able to take care of it for you, at a fee, or will direct you to someone who can. If your supplier is unable to assist you, contact Racheal French for assistance in finding tank removal services.

Income eligibility may vary. If you are an income-eligible Maine resident, own your home, and have a “high risk” tank, you may be eligible for financial assistance to get your tank replaced. Contact your local CAA for more information.

There are no income eligibility restrictions for this program. If you believe you have deficient ancillary tank equipment at risk of causing a spill, contact Racheal French to verify eligibility.