March 8th, 2021
When an old oil tank requires removal, one of the first concerns a home or property owner will have is the cost of the removal process. The removal of an oil tank can be involved, but it’s a necessary process if a tank leak or begins breaking down while underground. Oil tanks have a lifespan of around 15-20 years, so if you know your oil tank has been in the ground for this length of time or longer, it’s time to consider having your oil tank checked and removed if necessary. While in the ground, oil tanks can be susceptible to rust, corrosion, and general breakdown, which when unchecked can pollute local groundwater with toxic oil leakage.
The cost to remove an oil tank from your property can vary widely depending on a few different factors. While one oil tank removal may have a certain cost attached, another property owner cannot automatically expect theirs to be the same or similar.
What Goes Into Your Removal Cost
The best way to estimate what your removal may cost is to look at the different factors that really make up the cost in the first place. Some factors that will have an impact on the cost of your oil tank removal are:
The size of your tank – The size of your tank matters, and if you have a 200-gallon tank you can expect to pay a significant portion less than if your tank is built to hold 1,000 gallons. The removal of a smaller tank requires less labor, less material, and less time, while the removal of a large tank can be far more cumbersome.
Where your tank is located – If a neighbor had their oil tank removed from the middle of their yard, they probably experienced a pretty simple process. The yard was dug up, the tank removed, and the earth was placed back to restore the hole in the ground. However, if your oil tank is situated under a deck, sidewalk, driveway, or patio, your removal process just got more complicated. An oil tank in a simple location will cost less in money and time than a tank placed in a tricky location.
Other specific factors that go into your cost – Your cost isn’t just made up of how large your tank is and where it’s located. Some other specific factors that go into your cost are the labor, reporting, and equipment required to remove the tank, the permitting required for the job, liquid disposal, and laboratory analysis to determine if the oil has been leaking from your tank into the surrounding ground.
Estimates From Professionals
To determine the exact cost of your oil tank removal process, it’s best to speak with a professional to go over all the factors that may be involved with your specific oil tank removal. If you’re considering the removal of an oil tank on your property, call us at Meridian Environmental Services Inc today to learn more.
