News from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Public Information Contacts: Linda Van Zandt / Joanne Vuoso / Lisa Krueger
908.231.7020 publicinfo@co.somerset.nj.us
January 11, 2011
Oil Tank Awareness Makes Good Sense
Since oil is one of the most popular ways of providing heat for residences and businesses,
the Somerset County Department of Health wants to remind residents using home-heating oil to
frequently check their oil tanks for leaks. Often times, proper maintenance and routine inspections
can help prevent huge problems and can save money in the long run.
Home heating oil is a hazardous material and can be harmful to your health and the
environment. The vapors can be harmful if breathed for long periods of time and can be explosive
under certain conditions.
It’s the responsibility of homeowners to check their oil tank for leaks. Ignoring problems or
putting off repairs for a more convenient time can be expensive and dangerous. Spills from oil tanks
are not always covered by insurance policies.
Oil leaks occasionally can be caused by carelessness, such as a technician who overfills a
tank or drips oil when removing the nozzle prematurely from the tank. However, most leaks come
from tanks or hoses that have rusted over time. Rust holes most often form at the bottom of indoor
tanks because this is where water can collect. Buried tanks can rust anywhere, especially if the soil
is acidic.
Knowing how to identify an oil spill is important. Home-heating oil, also called No. 2 fuel oil,
is red in appearance. However the stain it leaves on soil, concrete and on the side of an oil tank is
often blackish in color.
One sign of an oil leak is a wet spot that does not get smaller or dry up. However, an oil spill
on loose sandy soil or on the sides of the tank can be more difficult to see and some leaks may not
be visible at all. In this case, a strong odor similar to gasoline or diesel fuel may be detected,
especially if the tank is located in the basement.
In order to save space, many homes have underground storage tanks. Underground
storage tanks are the most dangerous because they are out of sight and cannot be checked for
leaks. As a result, they can leak for years undetected and contaminate wide areas of soil and
groundwater.
Identifying an oil leak early is important since oil poses a serious health hazard in drinking
water, especially if your family gets its water from a well. Oil leaks can be poisonous to fish, frogs,
birds and anything living in or around water.
The following are possible signs of a leak in your home heating-oil tank:
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Any increase in the “normal” amount of oil being used
Consistent problems with your oil burner
Changes in or loss of vegetation in the area over and around the tank
Oil odors in areas other than around the oil burner
Tastes, odors or other problems with your drinking water, if obtained from a well
Staining on basement walls or floors adjacent to the tank
Presence of oil or a sheen in the basement sump pump or French drain
Oil or a sheen in any nearby culverts, drainage ditches, storm drains, streams or ponds.
To determine if any of the above problems are caused by a leaking fuel-oil storage tank, first
contact the company that services your heating system to rule out a maintenance problem. An
environmental contractor or your local health department may be able to provide you with guidance
in determining the source of the problem too. Additional information is available on the Somerset
County Health Department website at www.co.somerset.nj.us/health/oil_tanks.htm.
Robert Zaborowski, Freeholder Director  Patricia L. Walsh, Freeholder Deputy Director
Peter S. Palmer, Freeholder  Jack M. Ciattarelli, Freeholder  Patrick Scaglione, Freeholder
Somerset County Is An Equal Opportunity Employer