Simple steps to prevent home heating oil spills
December 10, 2014
Contact: Peter Moulton, DEP Remediation and Waste Management, Technical Services, peter.t.moulton@maine.gov or (207) 287-8161
AUGUSTA- Now that the heating season is here, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection is urging homeowners to take the time to check their home heating oil tanks to prevent costly and inconvenient spills.
?Most home heating oil tank spills are preventable. A quick check of your tank prevents spills and protects your heating oil investment and the environment,? said Governor Paul R. LePage.
Of the 2,500 oil and hazardous spills DEP Response Services responds to annually, at least one per day involves a home heating oil tank. In 2013, the department responded to over 550 home heating tank spills with an estimated 12,000 gallons of petroleum spilled.
The leading causes of home heating tank spills are internal corrosion, physical tank damage and overfilling. DEP recommends that homeowners have a licensed technician assess their tank?s condition. Internal corrosion ? caused by water and sludge build-up ? isn?t often visible to a homeowner. A technician?s inspection can often determine if minor corrections are needed or a tank replacement is necessary. If needed, the technician can recommend a reliable replacement ? like a double-bottom steel tank or a corrosion-proof tank made of polyethylene or fiberglass ? before the tank fails.
Falling ice and sliding snow are well known causes of exterior tank damages. To address this cause of home heating oil spills, DEP suggests homeowners with tanks outside have their licensed oil technician install a steel filter protector, keep their tank clear of snow throughout the winter by shoveling it out after each storm, and carefully and regularly remove snow and ice from the roof above to prevent slides.
DEP has seen an increase of oil delivery companies accidentally delivering oil to a home that had recently converted to natural gas but did not notify its oil company. As more homeowners convert to natural gas, they should make sure to notify their former oil delivery company of the change. Note that if you have converted your heating system to natural gas, the fill pipe of the oil tank must be removed. This helps prevent oil from being delivered accidentally to your house.
Overfills during delivery are the third leading cause of residential tank spills in Maine, and can be prevented by a licensed oil technician installing a vent whistle, which sounds until the tank is full.
?In addition to a costly clean-up and fuel replacement, releases from home heating oil tanks can contaminate drinking water, degrade air quality, lead to lower property values and harm the environment,? explained DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho. ?Fortunately, the leading causes of leaks are preventable. By taking just a few small steps to care for your tank, you are protecting our environment, your family?s health and your pocketbook.?
If you spill any fuel or if you witness a spill or think there is a threat of one, please report it immediately to Maine DEP?s 24-hour oil spill emergency spill response hotline at 1-800-482-0777.
For more information from DEP about keeping your home heating oil tank safe, visit http://www.maine.gov/dep/spills
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