This page will guide you through nearly 40 sections regarding the maintenance of your home

I have an older forced-air gas furnace. How can I enhance its efficiency and keep it operating safely throughout the winter?

I am listing my home for sale, but my realtor expressed concerns with the underground oil storage tank that provides fuel supply to my oil-fired furnace. Why should I worry about the underground storage tank and how can I determine its condition?

Environmental impact is the greatest concern with an underground fuel oil storage tank. Ask yourself two questions:

• Has any oil spillage or leakage occurred?
  
  
• If so, what environmental impact has the leakage or spill created?

Fuel oil spills may have occurred during filling or maintenance activities associated with the tank (i.e. by a fuel oil supply contractor) and are typically easily noticed because they occur quickly and are often above ground. Fuel oil leakage is usually slow, subtle and unnoticed because it often occurs below ground. Leaks can be caused by:

• A deteriorating tank, which can be influenced by the tank construction material (i.e. fiberglass vs. metal), tank age, and soil chemistry (i.e. corrosion).
  
  
• The quality of workmanship during installation of the tank (i.e. pipe fittings that have loosened).
  
  
• The presence and persistence of moisture/groundwater against the tank wall which can physically damage the tank/piping (i.e. due to shifting caused by buoyant forces) or a chemically damaged tank (i.e. corrosion).

Both spills and leaks can have a potentially serious impact on the environment, contaminating soil, groundwater and surface water as well as impairing the safety/ health of people, animals and ecological systems. The main challenge with establishing the condition of underground oil storage tanks is that the tank and piping are not visible. Aside from obvious indicators like visible oil and

persistent hydrocarbon odors, the following tasks can be completed to further evaluate tank conditions:

• Reviewing fuel delivery records for potential increases while taking temperature extremes into consideration. For example, if fuel delivery rates increase while temperatures remain consistent, there may be a potential leak. Consulting with your fuel supply contractor may assist you in completing this task.
  
  
• Consulting with a qualified contractor to complete a pressure test of the tank and associated piping to establish if holes are present in the tank or piping.
  
  
• Collecting soil samples in close proximity to the base of the tank (using soil boring techniques) and analyzing the soil samples at a laboratory for the presence of fuel oil parameters.
  
  
• Excavating soil from around the tank to visually inspect the conditions of the tank and associated piping.

If you're concerned with the condition of your tank, it may make sense to forego a potentially expensive investigation and simply replace it with an above round tank to improve marketability of your home.It is important to note that some insurance companies are extremely cautious about insuring underground fuel storage tanks since underwriters are unable to inspect underground tanks due to their inaccessible nature. Discuss the specifics of your situation with your realtor to decide whether you might consider contacting a professional engineer that is an expert in the field of underground storage tanks for further evaluation.

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