A leaking oil tank is an emergency and needs responded to on the same day

If you notice a smell of oil, see oil leaking from your tank or have any concern about the integrity of your oil tank, do not delay and contact The Oil Tank Doc today

• keep children and pets away from any spills

• avoid getting oil on your skin and clothing

• wash your hands and don’t smoke, eat or drink when or after you are in contact with the oil

• switch off your oil supply at the tank

• try to find out where the leak is coming from

• immediately, try to stop it at the source - put a bucket under dripping oil to catch it (don’t use containers that will be used to store food for humans or animals)

• prevent spilled oil from spreading and, in particular, prevent it from getting into drains and waterways - you can use absorbing material such as earth, sand, cat litter or commercial products

• if there’s an ongoing leak from the tank, try to stem the flow - you may be able to use sealant to temporarily repair a metal tank; for plastic tanks, try rubbing a bar of soft soap into the split

• try to work out how much oil has been lost; check the level on the tank and think about how much you use and when you last had a deliver

• never use detergents or a hose to wash the spill away

• store anything with oil on it, or soaked into it, in containers that don’t leak until it can be correctly and legally disposed of

A regular inspection of your oil tank and heating system by an OFTEC Trained Oil Heating Engineer reduces the risk of an oil tank leak 

We recommend planning an oil tank replacement and changing your oil tank when it is still sound with no leaks - most of the time however we replace oil tanks that have already started leaking! It is best to avoid this if possible.