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Home Heating Oil Tanks

Checklist for a healthy oil tank

As we all know, fuel oil is a safe and reliable source of heat for New Hampshire residents. Over 1/4 million customers in NH heat with oil. Most of these consumers store their oil in small (275 gallon tanks) in their basement or manufactured housing projects. When kerosene is used it is stored in 275 gallon tanks outside. It is important to check these tanks to be sure that the potential for releases is minimized.

It is important to prevent releases which can contaminate water, soil, property damage and degradation of indoor air quality.

Working in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Services and the State Fire Marshal's office, the Oil Heat Council of NH, Inc. and its member dealers have developed a simple check list which you can use to determine if your tank is installed and protected properly.

  • Are the tank and all portions of the system free from any leaks?
  • Does the tank meet either Underwriters Laboratory 80 or 142 standards? (Typically indicated by a sticker or stamped label)
  • Are the tank supports free from significant rust and corrosion?
  • Is the tank completely above the ground and at least 4 inches from any surface on all sides?
  • Is the tank set on a one-piece concrete pad or concrete floor?
  • Are the tank legs installed with floor flanges or another type of "feet"?
  • If outdoors, is the tank on the gable end of the building or otherwise protected from roof ice and snow damage?
  • If outdoors, is the filter covered or otherwise adequately protected?
  • Is the supply line continuously plastic-coated copper from the tank to the furnace with no unions or splices?
  • Is the inside diameter of the vent pipe at least 1.25 inches and equal to or larger than the pipe?
  • Does the tank have a working sight gauge and vent whistle? (An audible device to warn the oil delivcery person that the tank is full.)
  • Are both the fill and vent lines fitted with proper caps?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your tank system may be at risk.  Please call your local fuel oil dealer, who is a member of the Oil Heat Council of NH, to correct any defects you uncovered during the inspection. With the help of your local Oil Heat Council dealer "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Releases can be costly and you want to be sure your tank is in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association Code 31 and DES Best Management Practices.

Oil Tank Upgrade Program

The NH Petroleum Reimbursement Fund, established by the Oil Fund Disbursement Board and administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES), is a financial assistance program for owners of petroleum storage facilities, such as homeowners and business owners, who incur cleanup costs when a release (spill or leak) occurs.  The owner is responsible for all aspects of investigative and remedial measures associated with the release.  To qualify for fund coverage, the owner must ensure that the facility is in compliance with all applicable state and federal rules for facility operation and maintenance.

In an effort to reduce the number of oil releases from substandard tanks, DES works with tank owners to help them bring their oil tank systems into compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Chapter 31 and DES “Best Management Practices for the Installation and Upgrading of On-Premise-Use Heating Oil Tanks" (BMPs) by July 2014.  Failure to achieve compliance by that date will prevent full access to the New Hampshire petroleum reimbursement cleanup funds should an oil release occur.  Please refer to the DES website at: www.des.nh.gov /for a copy of the BMP's as well as Fact Sheet WMD-REM 6 "Self Inspection Checklist for Basement and Outdoor Home Heating Oil Tanks". New installations should meet the requirements of NFPA 31 and the BMPs so that the owner can remain eligible for accessing the cleanup funds.

Please call the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services at (603) 271-3644 if you have any questions regarding home (and small business) heating oil tanks.