George wrote:

Pete C. wrote:
George wrote:
Pete C. wrote:
George wrote:
aemeijers wrote:

I can understand that on tanks exposed to weather or ground moisture, but a
basement tank? (Assuming a dry basement, of course.) As long as outside
shows no signs of rust, I'd think a borescope inspection of interior every
five years or so (I assume these things have a bunghole?) would be more than
adequate. I know the pickup tube isn't on the bottom, but as long as no rust
flakes are visible in the drained sludge, what are the odds of major
interior rustout with no outside evidence?

There can (and often is) moisture in a fuel oil tank. There are two
outcomes. One is the tank rusts. The other is microbes that grow in the
area between the oil and water and feast on the oil since oil is
slightly hygroscopic causing "goo" which blocks equipment.
And all the water in the tank will collect at the bottom to cause rust
there where it will do the most damage. Normally however a sudden
failure is pretty rare and pinhole leaks occur well before any
significant leak.
My buddy has a fuel oil company. He said the typical failure is that the
rusted tank blows while being filled.

That is indeed the typical catastrophic failure, caused by not
inspecting and noticing the pinhole leaks that were there for at least a
year or more prior.

(Having said that, any interior tank should of course have a spill berm
around it, or be sitting in one of those giant kitty litter pans.)

aem sends...


All (new/replacement) interior tanks have been double wall for some time.
Perhaps in your particular area, however you can readily purchase and
install a new 275 or 330 gal single wall steel tank in most areas.
Might be old inventory or something and of course there is a lot you can
do when no one is looking. According to my buddy there is some
requirement for new/replacement to be doublewall.

Again, probably a local requirement. MA perhaps?

No, my understanding is that it isn't local. We are in PA but according
to my friend it is a requirement in at least the NE and Mid-Atlantic states.

Dunno, I know I saw regular single wall 275 and 330 tanks for sale in CT
within the last couple years.