This week I had a problem with my oil burner and the person my oil company sent
to fix it told me, among other things, that my tanks (not underground) are
living on borrowed time b/c there is a parasite in home heating oil that will
erode or corrode the tanks over time. He told me that they treat the oil for
it these days. My tanks are about 50 years old. Anyone know what he was
referring to?????????

(AlanA7193) wrote in message ...
This week I had a problem with my oil burner and the person my oil company sent
to fix it told me, among other things, that my tanks (not underground) are
living on borrowed time b/c there is a parasite in home heating oil that will
erode or corrode the tanks over time. He told me that they treat the oil for
it these days. My tanks are about 50 years old. Anyone know what he was
referring to?????????

I never heard of it. The main parasite working against you is 50 years
of time. Look at every inch of the tanks an see if you can see any bad
spots where there's lots of rust. You could protect the underside with
plastic on the ground in case a small leak develops, at which time you
would replace the tank immediately.
You are sitting on an ecological disaster so protect those tanks and
replace at the first sign of leakage.
Yes, fuel oil left in storage can grow fungal material. It's more a
problem with clogging up your fuel delivery system than eating the
tank. That aspect might be worth treating for that reason.

AlanA7193 wrote:

This week I had a problem with my oil burner and the person my oil company sent
to fix it told me, among other things, that my tanks (not underground) are
living on borrowed time b/c there is a parasite in home heating oil that will
erode or corrode the tanks over time. He told me that they treat the oil for
it these days. My tanks are about 50 years old. Anyone know what he was
referring to?????????
Tanks that are above ground last MUCH longer than buried tanks.

How long do buried tanks last ?

Mine has been buried since house was built in 1988 ?

Tanks that are above ground last MUCH longer than buried tanks.

Steve Stone wrote:

How long do buried tanks last ?

Mine has been buried since house was built in 1988 ?

Steel tanks can have a useful life of 25 to 50 years.
Depends on how well it was protected and what the soil
conditions are.
Jim




Tanks that are above ground last MUCH longer than buried tanks.