How do I know if my house had an oil tank?

Look for a fill or vent pipe near the foundation, a capped pipe through the basement wall, or an unused copper line in the basement. Older records, a home inspection report or a previous owner may also mention oil heat. If there is any sign, have it checked before the teardown.

Can the demolition crew remove an old oil tank?

No. Fuel oil tanks must be removed by a contractor registered for that work under the TSSA's fuel oil rules. The demolition crew stops work around the tank and waits until it has been removed and the area has been assessed before continuing.

What if oil has leaked into the soil?

An environmental consultant assesses the soil around the tank and recommends what needs to be done. That may involve removing and disposing of impacted soil before the new foundation goes in. The consultant's report is worth keeping for lenders, insurers and future buyers.

Will a buried tank delay my rebuild?

It can add time, because the tank removal and soil assessment happen before the excavation in that area continues. Finding it early, at the site visit or before the teardown, keeps the delay as short as possible. Finding it mid-demolition means the crew pauses in that area only.

Permits and rules

What if the teardown uncovers a buried oil tank?

oil tank
teardown
environmental

Work stops around it. A buried fuel oil tank is removed by a contractor registered for that work under the TSSA's fuel oil rules, and any soil impact is assessed by an environmental consultant before demolition continues in that area.

It is an interruption, not the end of the project.

Concrete porch broken up with a jackhammer at the side door of a brick house

Why older houses had them

Before natural gas reached many streets, houses were heated with fuel oil stored in a tank on the property. Some tanks were in the basement, and some were buried in the yard beside the house. When homes switched to gas, old tanks were not always removed, and some were simply left in the ground.

The signs

A buried tank often leaves clues on or around the house:

A fill pipe or vent pipe sticking out of the ground near the foundation.
A capped pipe running through the foundation wall.
A copper supply line in the basement that goes nowhere.
Old records or a previous owner's mention of oil heat.

What the crew does and does not do

If a tank is found or suspected, the demolition crew stops work in that area and tells the owner. The crew does not:

Remove, cut or empty the tank.
Dig out soil that may be impacted by oil.
Continue working over or beside the tank until it is dealt with.

How it affects the rebuild

A registered contractor removes the tank, and an environmental consultant assesses the soil around it. If there is impact, the consultant recommends what needs to be done. The builder's excavation may need to wait until that work is complete.

Lenders and insurers may ask for documentation showing the tank was removed properly, so keep every report and record in your files.

The same approach for cisterns and old wells

Old cisterns and wells get the same stop-and-call treatment. They are marked, protected and dealt with by the right specialist before the crew works over them. Our explainer on well and septic decommissioning covers wells in more detail.

What Bolan does about it

At the site visit, we look for fill pipes, vents and other signs of an old tank and point them out. If one turns up during the work, we stop in that area, fence it off and call you so the registered contractor and consultant can take over. Once they are done, we continue the residential demolition and foundation removal. Request a free estimate and let us know if the house was ever heated with oil.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my house had an oil tank?: Look for a fill or vent pipe near the foundation, a capped pipe through the basement wall, or an unused copper line in the basement. Older records, a home inspection report or a previous owner may also mention oil heat. If there is any sign, have it checked before the teardown.
Can the demolition crew remove an old oil tank?: No. Fuel oil tanks must be removed by a contractor registered for that work under the TSSA's fuel oil rules. The demolition crew stops work around the tank and waits until it has been removed and the area has been assessed before continuing.
What if oil has leaked into the soil?: An environmental consultant assesses the soil around the tank and recommends what needs to be done. That may involve removing and disposing of impacted soil before the new foundation goes in. The consultant's report is worth keeping for lenders, insurers and future buyers.
Will a buried tank delay my rebuild?: It can add time, because the tank removal and soil assessment happen before the excavation in that area continues. Finding it early, at the site visit or before the teardown, keeps the delay as short as possible. Finding it mid-demolition means the crew pauses in that area only.