If you’ve ordered oil from FuelSnap before you might be familiar with some dealer’s requirements to inspect your tank before delivery. This is to ensure that your tank is safe to fill by the dealer’s standards. Not all dealers on FuelSnap require a tank inspection. However, some do require it before they make the delivery. So, what should you expect when you get your inspection done on your tank? Well, I’m going to go through everything that you need to know about this!
The Basics
When placing an order on Fuelsnap, you might get an alert that says that “Dealer Requires Tank Inspection”. This tank inspection is free and is usually done by the driver of the truck. But, this tank inspection will require someone over the age of 18 to be at the home during this time. The dealer will almost always call you to schedule a time for them to come out to deliver and for the inspection. This is so that you can work out a time with them to come out and inspect the tank and fill it.
What the driver will be inspecting is pretty simple. They will be inspecting the tank itself to determine if there are any leaks in the tank. If there is any risk or possibility of leaks, the dealer will not deliver at all! This makes it important to have the tank inspected so you can ensure that you’re able to get the necessary delivery!
The second thing that the dealer will inspect in the vent alarm. The driver will not make the delivery if your vent alarm isn’t working! Without a working vent alarm, the driver will not be able to make the delivery because they won’t know how much oil is in the tank and when to stop pumping. This will put your tank at risk of overflowing and leaking.
What Else Does the Driver Inspect?
When getting a tank inspection, several other things will need to get an inspection as well. A big one is inspecting the structural integrity of the tank itself. The tank’s structural integrity is usually a broader scope. This includes inspecting the tank for corrosion, any indentations or any other defects that would compromise the overall structural integrity of the tank. These structural problems can cause the tank to have the potential to leak which can cause damage to your property.
The fittings are also something that’s inspected during a tank inspection. The driver will inspect the tank’s fittings to ensure that there are no cracks or damage to the fittings that could compromise the tank. These fittings also include the vent and fill pipes. Ensuring these are stable and installed firmly will help the driver understand that it is safe to fill the tank as long as the whistle is working.
Internal Inspections
These inspections are a bit more thorough and require the dealer to drain out your tank. The tanks are drained out of any oil so that the dealer can give a more detailed examination of the tank. During these internal inspections, the driver will look for anything that is worrisome such as any indents on the inside of the tank, cracks or possible leaks. If the drivers don’t find anything, they will likley just clean out the tank and fill it back up. If there is sludge in the tank, they will drain it out to ensure that they can properly inspect your tank.
However, similar to a surface inspection, if there are any dents, cracks or visible leaks the driver will not deliver your oil. They might even set you up with a plan to purchase a new and if they thing it is bad enough.
Inspecting an Underground Tank
Now if you have an underground tank, the inspection process is a little bit different. Unlike with an above ground tank, the driver won’t be able to see the actual tank’s surface. So, the drivers have a little bit of a different process when inspecting an underground tank.
The first thing that the driver will do a visual inspection of the surrounding area. They will see if there is any environmental hazards in the surrounding area for any signs of leaking or environmental damage. Tank inspections for underground tanks also include soil testing. Some soil testing can be done for tanks that are underground to pick up traces of oil that might’ve leaked out of the tank itself.
Inspectors will also do a tank tightness test. These tests are used to determine weather or not the tank itself is able to contain your fluid of choice without risking leaks. These tests are typically used for underground tanks and will test the over structural integrity of the tank as a whole.
Some dealers might even recommend replacing the tank in its entirety. If that’s the case, you’ll need to know what to do to replace an underground tank. You’ll need to know what to do if this happens. You can read my article on underground tank replacements here.
What Happens if Your Tank Fails Inspection?
If your tank fails inspection, then the driver will not fill the tank. This is because the tank is “Unfit” for delivery. This means that the tank will be unable to hold the fuel and can cause damage to your property. The best course of action would be to fix the problem ASAP. For example, simple issues such as a broken whistle are usually easily replaceable. However, more severe issues such as a leaking or cracked tank will require you to get a whole new tank.
The driver will usually tell you the reasoning for your tank failing inspection and give you a set of steps to follow to get you up and running for your next fill! Most drivers will tend to tell you weather or not you need to replace the tank or if the issue is repairable.
Conclusion
Getting a tank inspection should be routine and something that you regularly do. This is so that you’ll always be ready to have the tank filled and ensure that it is in fillable condition. Otherwise, it might be a good idea to get a new tank or even contact an HVAC technician to get repair options as they’ll usually help make sure that your tank is in perfect shape for it to function properly!
Just be sure to be on top of your heating oil tank inspections and when you’ll need to get one. Waiting until the last minute can be problematic and can result in your tank failing inspection which can limit your sources of heating for a while if you don’t get it taken care of. But if you’re diligent and up to date on your inspections, you will not have any issues!
Happy Heating,
Hunter
