Do I Need to Empty My Oil Tank Before Removal?

No. In most cases, you don’t need to empty your oil tank before removal. However, it’s important to let your oil tank removal company know approximately how much heating oil remains in the tank, as this may affect how the tank is removed and whether the remaining oil can be transferred or requires disposal.
Need an oil tank removed? anywhere in Northern Ireland, call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk.

How Do I Know How Much Oil Is Left in My Tank?

If you’re unsure how much heating oil is left in the tank, the easiest method is to dip the tank using a clean stick. Once you’ve removed the stick, take a photograph showing the wet section together with a photograph of the oil tank itself. Sending both images to the oil tank removal company will allow them to estimate how much heating oil remains in the tank and recommend the best course of action.

What Happens to the Heating Oil?

The amount of heating oil remaining in your tank will usually determine what happens next. In some cases, the oil can simply be removed as part of the oil tank removal process, while in others it may be more practical to transfer the oil into another suitable tank. The condition and age of the heating oil will also influence whether it can be reused or whether it needs to be disposed of as waste.

Small Amounts of Heating Oil

If only a relatively small amount of heating oil remains in the tank, for example between 10 and 200 litres, this can usually be removed by the company carrying out the oil tank removal. Once the remaining oil has been removed, the tank can then be removed and disposed of.

Larger Quantities of Heating Oil

Where a larger quantity of heating oil remains in the tank, for example 200 litres or more, the most economical option is often to arrange a heating oil transfer rather than dispose of the oil.

If the heating oil is still in good condition, it can usually be pumped into another suitable oil tank. This may be a newly installed oil tank at the same property or, in some cases, a tank belonging to a neighbour, family member or friend who is happy to take the oil. Transferring the oil allows it to be reused and can often save the cost of disposing of a large quantity of heating oil as waste.

When Should Heating Oil Not Be Transferred?

If the heating oil has been sitting in a tank for more than two years, or has become contaminated with water, sludge or dirt, it may no longer be suitable for reuse. In these situations, it is generally treated as waste heating oil and removed for disposal rather than being transferred into another tank.

A common example is when someone purchases a property that has an old oil tank remaining in the garden, but the heating system has since been converted to gas or another fuel. In many cases, the new owner has no way of knowing how long the heating oil has been sitting in the tank or whether it has become contaminated. In this situation, I would generally recommend treating the heating oil as waste rather than transferring it into another oil tank.

Need an Oil Tank Removed?

Removerr provides professional oil tank removal throughout Northern Ireland, including the removal of plastic oil tanks, metal oil tanks, single-skin tanks and bunded oil tanks. We can also arrange the transfer of reusable heating oil or the removal and disposal of waste heating oil, depending on the condition and quantity remaining in the tank.

As oil tanks containing residual heating oil are classed as hazardous waste, the required paperwork is submitted to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) before the tank is removed. Once the oil tank has been collected and the waste has been processed, you’ll receive a copy of the completed hazardous waste paperwork for your records.