Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 08/03) - Before filling up one's oil tank for a long winter's night, it is best to check its condition, says the manager of a local insurance company.

Greg Prescott of Co-operators Insurance in Yellowknife says prevention of home heating oil spills is of the utmost importance.

And as a result, homeowners are responsible for ensuring their tanks are in good condition and usually less than 12 to 15-years-old for their insurance policies.

"We require that an oil tank questionnaire be filled out."

This means answering questions about the year the tank was installed, whether or not any leaks have been noticed on the property or if any oil fumes were noticed.

It also must be Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC) approved.

Another important factor in determining whether an oil tank will last another long winter is whether or not it is located inside or outside the home.

"We prefer that it be located inside, but that is not without problems as well," Prescott notes.

An oil tank will deteriorate from the inside out, he says, so while it may appear intact, it may be rusty inside, leading to leaks.

When located inside a structure, moisture may develop due to temperature change, leading to rust formation.

He estimates about 75 per cent of homeowners have oil tanks in the region.

While he acknowledges such spills are rare -- he has seen only one or two small leaks in the five years he has worked at the insurance company -- he says the cost and environmental damage due to oil leaks are great.

Spills are extremely expensive to clean up so prevention is the best method of dealing with this potential problem, he notes.

If a spill should occur, the affected area must be extracted before it contaminates the ground water, he says.

Both rock and soil could potentially be affected by such a spill, as rock is also porous.

While it does not cost a homeowner more to insure if they heat with oil, insurance companies do charge by risk -- such as heating with wood.

But stringent environmental guidelines in place with regard to potential home heating oil spills mean preventative precautions are necessary.

"If a few tanks have to be changed, then that's the deal," Prescott says.

Brian Harrison, manager of Petro-Canada in Yellowknife, says when his oil company arrives at a residence for first-time oil delivery, the delivery person will inspect the tank and pipes for signs of leaks.

The company will refuse to fill unsafe tanks or the old-style round tanks, which are now illegal to use.

So while new oil tanks usually cost about $300, it is a small price to pay when compared to the clean up price of $50,000 to $100,000, he notes.

Should a homeowner call the oil company after discovery of a leak, the company will pump out the tank, usually at a cost of around $75.

The company replacing the tank will be responsible for discarding the unusable one.

Clinton Westgard, an employee of Two Way Enterprises Ltd. in Yellowknife, says he encounters numerous leaking oil tanks which must be properly disposed of.

"We steam them out to remove the oil inside and then collect the steam in a barrel for waste," Westgard says.

The tanks are then demolished by cutting them open, flattening them and then transporting them to the landfill site, he says.

Oil tank

questionnaire

- Is the tank equipped with a proper gauge and overfill protection device (whistle)?

- Is the tank properly supported on a firm base?

- Is the tank equipped with a proper fill cap?

- If two tanks are joined, are they installed on a common slab?

- Is the system free of leaks or any sign of seepage?

- Is an approved shut-off valve installed?

- Is the fill/vent pipe steel or galvanized construction?

- Is the tank and piping painted or coated to prevent external corrosion?