Check your oil tank for leaks
Date published:
Regular checks
As well as the financial cost of losing heating oil, it could also cause serious problems to the environment.
Oil leaks can:
- pollute rivers
- contaminate ground and drinking water
- harm wildlife
Clean-up costs of an oil spill can be very high. They are not always covered by home insurance policies.
You should:
- check your tank and its pipes regularly
- get them serviced annually by an accredited professional
If you find a problem it should be fixed as soon as possible.
You can find more details about what you should do at this link:
If you notice a drop in oil level, remember that leaks of underground fuel lines can often be happening for some time before oil contamination can be seen.
Oil leaks or spills
If your tank is leaking, you should act quickly and contact your insurance company.
Try to stop the oil soaking into ground or going down drains.
Don’t put off taking action or think the problem will go away. The quicker the leak can be dealt with, the less oil will be lost and damage can be reduced.
You can get more advice about what to do, including arranging a clean-up, on the oil spills at home page.
To report an oil spill or leak that could affect rivers or coastal waters, you should contact the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.