OK, so basically this is what happens – every spring Burnaby and surrounding areas get doused with rain which in turn saturates the soil. As the water . . . Read More]]> Burnaby residents are warned to keep an eye out on their oil tanks this years as this rainfall is likely to cause an increase in oil slicks in their back yards. Oil tank removal experts can attest to the increase in number of oil spills every spring as the amount of rainfall increases.

OK, so basically this is what happens – every spring Burnaby and surrounding areas get doused with rain which in turn saturates the soil. As the water enters an oil tank, the oil within gets pushed to the surface causing an increased exposure and all kinds of health problems with people with Asthma or chemical sensitivities.

Some USTs (underground storage tanks) may have already sprung invisible leaks and have been releasing fuel into the soil for a year or longer. Heavy rainfall is known to cause these tiny leaks to become very apparent as the oil gets pushed to the surface.

The smell alone can be quite overpowering – right to the point where property owners as far as few houses down the block often end up calling a fire department as they try to figure out the source of the smell.

In a video interview on this page we explain why placing a tarp over the contaminated area doesn’t prevent the oil from surfacing, and also provide several tips on how to minimize exposure.

In the same video you may discover that Burnaby residents may be affected with the climate of changing by-laws across the Lower Mainland. For example, as previously reported on this blog, a number of municipalities across lower mainland have already made the expensive soil testing mandatory.

Burnaby is presently not on the list of municipalities that has made this testing a requirement, but as the laws continue to change, it’s feasible that homeowners may be looking at this year as the last time USTs were removed at a lower cost.

This is a scenario that almost reads like a bad movie; four years ago some municipalities in Vancouver adopted new bylaws in a bid to reduce the damage to the environment.

The bylaws stipulate that, in cases where an . . . Read More]]> As municipal by-laws change, certain residents in Vancouver area that were lucky to inherit a property, may suddenly find themselves filing for a bankruptcy.

This is a scenario that almost reads like a bad movie; four years ago some municipalities in Vancouver adopted new bylaws in a bid to reduce the damage to the environment.

The bylaws stipulate that, in cases where an underground oil tank was present, the owner of the property must test the soil before it goes up for sale. This testing is done at the owners’ expense, and (should any contaminates be found) the soil must first be remediated.

Failure to do so could mean court orders and hefty penalties on top of getting stuck with a house that can’t be sold, even to cover the expenses.

One such person, a resident of West Vancouver who chose to be identified as Gale, discovered an oil tank on the property he inherited. Living under extreme poverty he isn’t able to afford the soil testing, let alone the tank removal, and so he chose to do the only thing he could – keep the property and leave it as is.

Unfortunately as oil tanks, that were popular in sixties and seventies, are nearing the end of their life spans, oil is found in an increasing number of tests across the Vancouver and Fraser Valley. In rare cases, a chemical feedback loop can also speed up the corrosion, causing leaks far sooner than expected.

This mandatory soil testing, while good for the environment, places a lot of residents in a tight spot.

They have to get rid of the fuel tank before it creates a leak, which means they are forced to sell the property just to cover their expenses.

“There are people in West Vancouver, on fixed incomes that do not grow along with the cost of living, who have oil tanks but do not have extra funds to have them removed, ” says Gale.

However since no property can be put up for sale without the tank being removed first, the only thing they can do is sit and wait. And as the oil tanks age, the leaks inevitably occur, at which point they may be forced to declare a bankruptcy.

On top of that, the insurance companies refuse to insure any property with an underground oil tank, and will dispute any claims against it.

West Vancouver made mandatory testing legal only four years ago, and as New West and Surrey adopted the same by-laws just two years ago, it is likely that remaining municipalities will do the same sooner rather than later.

And while in US one may be eligible for government grants to help with the tank removal and clean-up, British Columbia has no programs of that kind.

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin all have programs for homeowners that suddenly may be facing a problem of removing the tank from their property.

New Jersey even has a provision that requires the combined income of a household to be below $250,000 in order to qualify for a grant.

What to do if you are affected

Those who live in an area that requires no soil testing, they can simply remove the oil tank and sell the property as is. Oil is a type of contaminant that is actually eaten up by some bacteria, and while long-lived, it eventually completely disappears from the soil.

Oil tank removal is the only way to prevent additional contamination of the soil and is required by all Vancouver municipalities, realtors and home insurance companies – before the property is put up for sale.

In cases where a tank is situated under a structure, there are legal provisions allowing owners to fill the tank with sand (once the fuel is pumped out), and leave it in place.

However, in areas where testing is mandatory, the cost of soil clean-up can be offset by doing some of the steps yourself.

Property owners could ensure the access to the tank is free of obstructions. This saves time for tank removal companies, reducing the cost of tank removal for the homeowner.

Also, homeowners may be able to save money by obtaining the necessary permits themselves.

In any case, the smart thing to do would be to find out who the legally responsible party is for covering the costs of any work. In some cases, homeowners are surprised to discover that a previous homeowner is the legally responsible party required to cover all costs associated with tank removal and soil remediation.

Fabio Chiesa is the owner of CERC Oil Tank Removal Vancouver – an underground storage tank removal company based in North Vancouver, BC.

If you have any questions about oil tank removal – how to find a tank on your property, what options you have if you find an oil tank or how to best protect yourself from unnecessary work, give Fabio a call at 604-889-0251

As it turns out, the rusting process of an oil tank can be suddenly be sped up after the accumulation of acidic compounds reaches the tipping point which triggers a runaway chemical feedback loop.

Warning: some science content included:

In fact, West Vancouver requires a permit from City Hall which on its own costs hundreds of dollars whereas other areas of Greater Vancouver will issue the same permit for . . . Read More]]> It’s crucial to make sure you’re not violating any bylaws when removing your oil tank from your property. For example, in West Vancouver there are more steps you need to follow than any other area of Vancouver.

In fact, West Vancouver requires a permit from City Hall which on its own costs hundreds of dollars whereas other areas of Greater Vancouver will issue the same permit for half the cost.

As bylaws change, the best way to go about finding out what you need to do is to call a local certified oil tank removal company and ask. They are required to make sure all the permits are valid before starting any work, and as a result they keep their finger on a pulse of local bylaw changes.

One thing that most homeowners don’t realize is that oil tank removal companies can actually save you quite a bit of cash when removing oil tank. A company like CERC has systems in place to obtain these permits quickly, and dispose of both your tank as well as any contaminated soil for far less money.

If you have a leaky oil tank (or think there may be a burred tank on your property, do give us a call at 604-889-0251 and ask for a free quote.

We can determine the location of the tank and give you a good idea of the size of a job you’ll be faced with before you make any decisions that can end up costing you far more than what you should really be paying.

For example, a 2008 article in The Province featured a homeowner who ended up suing the former owner for $160,000 because the ground was contaminated with oil. This can easily be avoided by getting rid of the oil tank before the property goes up for sale

Most municipalities will require you to obtain a permit that costs hundreds of dollars, and you will often be given a choice of obtaining it yourself or, in cases where the company you hire to remove your oil tank gets . . . Read More]]> Oil tank removal in Vancouver can carry hidden costs that can be quite steep, depending on the municipality where you reside.

Most municipalities will require you to obtain a permit that costs hundreds of dollars, and you will often be given a choice of obtaining it yourself or, in cases where the company you hire to remove your oil tank gets it for you, you will get stuck with the bill.

So how can you avoid this extra charge?

When you’re talking to a tank removal company, ask about it – a reputable company should offer to absorb the permit charge as it’s an integral part of the tank removal process.

We at CERC make it a standard practice to absorb this charge regardless of how much it costs, as we put value and customer satisfaction ahead of everything else.

For more information on what we do and how we can help you, please see our Services page. You can also contact us at 604-889-0251 or send us an email

Fill Pipe

This is a 2 inch steel pipe used to supply the tank with oil, and it normally has a cap on it. . . . Read More]]> Any home built prior to 1975 should be suspected in having an underground oil tank. There are several clues that may tell you if you have one and where it’s located

Fill Pipe

This is a 2 inch steel pipe used to supply the tank with oil, and it normally has a cap on it. This pipe will be found sticking out of the ground 4-6 inches and will be in a close proximity of the tank itself. Look for the pipe 6-12 feet from the foundation.

Vent Pipe

This is a 1 inch steel pipe that sits next to the house foundation. As its name suggests, it’s a pipe that provides ventilation, allowing the pressure inside oil tank to remain the same as the outside. This pipe is usually 7-8 feet in length and has a small cap on top of it as well.

Two copper tubes in the basement.

Typically you will find two ¼ copper tubes cut off in the furnace area. These were used to supply the furnace with the oil from the tank, and will point you to a direction where the tank may be buried in your yard

Unfortunately, all too often these clues will have been removed by previous homeowners. If that is the case with you, in order to find if you still have a buried oil tank, as well as its location, you should consider hiring a company that has the required tools to scan the property for confirmation.