Does anyone have a goo narrative for a possible underground tank. The home had a heat pump but I found an oil filter and lines stashed in the crawlspace. Most of the neighbors had above ground but a few had underground. I told them they needed to talk to the seller and verify if there was one and how it was removed/filled and a soil contamination test may be a good idea. Does anyone have a good narrative for it?
Not for oil tank (we don’t have those out West), but I have had the occasional abandoned well and septic beneath the structure;
There is an abandoned tank, buried beneath the structure, which was partially visible from within the crawlspace. It appears to be an abandoned [septic tank, well]. This creates a large void beneath the structure, which could prove catastrophic to the foundation of the residence in the event of a collapse. In accordance with local regulations this void should be filled with sand or concrete by a qualified contractor.
Buried fuel oil tanks are highly regulated by the states.
Check with your local and state authorities for proper handling and reporting.
These can represent many $thousands in potential liability due to complicated clean ups.
Proceed with great caution.
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**[FONT=Arial]<H3 style=“MARGIN: 4pt 0cm 0pt; mso-list: skip”>[size=2]Undergrnd Oil tank Abandoned
· [FONT=Times New Roman]Possible Major Concern, Investigate:** We observed evidence that suggests the presence of an abandoned underground fuel storage tank LOC. Assessing the condition an underground fuel storage tank (including whether or not it is leaking and/or if soil contamination has occurred), is beyond the scope of a home inspection. In recent years, many home insurance companies have stopped writing home insurance policies for properties with underground fuel storage tanks, due to the leakage risk and potential for a costly environmental cleanup (in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars). Current Ontario legislation requires the removal of abandoned underground fuel oil storage tanks by a TSSA registered fuel-oil contractor and the surrounding soil tested for contamination and cleaned, if necessary. This can involve significant costs. For more information, contact the TSSA’s Fuels Safety program at (416) 325-2000 / toll-free at 1-877-682-TSSA (8772). 0823**
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Here at least an oil tank is not that big of a deal. If they fill it in they are to deal with any future issue but if they choose to remove it before filling it in they qualify for super fund money to handle any problems associated with any leaks.
The oil tank is an underground tank. Determining the condition of the tank is beyond the scope of this inspection. Contact a fuel oil service company or Oil Tank Specialist to assess this tank prior to closing. Note: the seller’s permission will be required for this test.
Thanks guys. Troy gave me a really good that was specific to this scenario