4 Steps
Through this comprehensive four-stage process, we employ a combination of visual inspection, advanced technology, and manual probing to meticulously search for any evidence of a buried underground storage tank, delivering a thorough assessment of your property's history.
01/
Analysis
Our experienced Sitka team member initiates the process by conducting a thorough visual inspection of the property. This involves carefully examining various visual cues that might indicate the presence of a buried underground storage tank. Such cues may include copper feeder lines in or around the original furnace location, vent pipes, or markings on exterior walls. Additionally, we keep an eye out for the telltale fill pipe, typically located within fifteen feet of the original home foundation. These visual indications serve as valuable initial clues, helping us determine the areas requiring closer examination during the subsequent steps.
02/
Inspection
Given the passage of time and the likelihood of extensive interior and exterior renovations, it's not uncommon for visual indicators of an underground storage tank to vanish.
Renovations often involve removing connecting pipes, leaving the tank buried with no visible signs. In such cases, our approach shifts towards utilizing advanced technology to uncover potential hidden tanks.
03/
Further assessment
To address this challenge, we employ a ferromagnetic locator, a specialized device designed to detect large metal bodies buried in the yard.
This step plays a pivotal role in our investigation, as it helps us identify magnetic anomalies that resemble underground storage tanks. When the detector identifies a substantial magnetic anomaly, it raises a flag for further investigation.
04/
Probing
The final stage involves manual probing in the immediate vicinity of the detected magnetic anomaly. This hands-on process requires our team to excavate the area to reach the anomaly.
By doing so, we can ascertain whether it is indeed an underground storage tank or another buried metallic object. This step ensures a conclusive determination, providing our clients with accurate and reliable information about the property.
Homes constructed before 1965 are the ones suspected to have been serviced by underground storage tanks. After 1965, underground storage tanks were replaced by aboveground storage tanks as the industry standard. Although there were no specific rules or regulations that prompted this technological shift, it is widely accepted in the oil tank removal industry. If a property built before 1965 currently has or had an aboveground oil tank, there is a possibility that a buried underground storage tank existed prior to the installation of the aboveground storage tank.
Like all scanning methods, ferromagnetic locating has its limitations. Despite our best efforts, there are specific areas on properties that cannot be scanned. These areas encompass home additions constructed separately from the original foundation, low-lying decks, and concrete pads reinforced with rebar or wire mesh. Additionally, it's essential to consider other permanent structures such as sheds, gazebos, and hot tubs.
Following the completion of a scan in which no tank is detected, Sitka Oil Tank Removal Ltd. issues a Scan Letter. This letter affirms, to the best of our knowledge, the absence of an underground oil tank on the property. This documentation serves a valuable purpose and can be employed for real estate transactions or to satisfy the requirements of mortgage and insurance providers.
Contact Mike via phone, text or email to schedule a scan, request a quote or with any questions you may have in regards to oil tank removal.