Will my oil tank leak in Northern Ireland be covered by insurance?
The Oil Tank Doc has over 35+ years experience in assisting homeowners throughout Northern Ireland in navigating the oil spill insurance process
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Oil Tank Emergency or Oil Spill? Call 028 9131 4041 for a 24/7 response
The Oil Tank Doc has significant experience in handling all aspects of oil spills in domestic & commercial settings
We are reachable day or night 24/7, 365, on 028 9131 4041 or 07549 211 090
This was a very significant oil spill we attended in Belfast recently. The oil tank split and over 2 days resulted in major environmental and structural property damage.
The cost was over £25,000 to remediate via the insurance process. The oil tank was situated right at a property boundary as well, highlighting the complexities of 3rd party liability cover.
Will my oil tank leak in Northern Ireland be covered by my home insurance?
Did you know that each year in the UK & Northern Ireland, there are around 3,000 oil spill pollution incidents that occur which are reported to the environmental regulators.
Many of these incidents could be prevented by taking simple steps, such as ensuring that oil tank systems are installed and checked on a regular basis by specialist oil tank companies, such as The Oil Tank Doc and that any oil tank issues are rectified, if found during our oil survey. It is not unusual for a domestic oil spill to result in a clean-up bill of more than £25,000.
Costs can quickly escalate if surface or groundwater is affected. Most domestic oil tanks have a capacity of at least 1,000 litres and even a small leak can cause a serious pollution problem. All leaks require investigation. Most oil leaks are underestimated visually, and require specialist equipment to fully investigate.
Most home insurance will cover the costs of replacing the lost oil and any damage caused to the fabric of your home, i.e. foundations, following an oil spill from a domestic oil heating system, but NOT the environmental investigation and clean-up costs you could face if your own land, or the surface or groundwater within it, is polluted.
Additionally, if the oil spill pollutes neighbouring land, water or property, the third-party liability cover provided by a home insurance policy often contains restrictions.
So how do I establish if my home insurance covers me? If you have questions regarding this, speak to a member of The Oil Tank Doc team today on 028 9131 4041 without delay.
We have extensive experience in dealing with home insurance policies and navigating the complexities of the oil spill process. Each situation is unique and requires specialist input from an oil spill response specialist.
Check out the case study below of a customer we helped in Belfast following their oil spill that cost over £25,000 to fix
Domestic Oil Spill in Belfast, Northern Ireland
The Oil Tank Doc team responded to an emergency oil spill in Belfast, following a phone call from a customer who reported following a recent fill of oil, their old 2500 litre oil tank had split.
By the time we arrived on site, the tank had been leaking for 2-3 days until the customer had noticed it. Approximately 700 litres of oil had been lost.
We transferred the oil into a new temporary tank to prevent further oil loss. Remediation works will be required before the new tank can be permanently sited. This includes excavation of contaminated soil, and foundation works.
The estimated cost is £25,000 - £30,000 with the home insurance company involved.
This can be avoided by inspecting your oil tank; if in doubt call The Oil Tank Doc today
Check out our Youtube video showing this oil tank that had split below in Belfast
This large 2500 litre oil tank in Belfast which was full of oil developed a split which resulted in a loss of about 700 litres of oil
Remediation works will be required to remove contaminated soil
It is always important to keep an eye on your oil tank for signs of cracks, splits, or bulging to avoid a costly oil spill
Contact us on 028 9131 4041 or email info@theoiltankdoc.co.uk
"The Oil Tank Doc team arrived the same day following my oil leak, I lost about 1000 litres in my garden. They handled the initial call-out, pumping my oil into a temporary tank. They then ensured I was navigated through every step of the home insurance process. The cost was close to £20,000 which I was covered for via my home insurance. I am so grateful for their help and assistance in what otherwise was a very difficult time."
Kenneth - Castlereagh, Northern Ireland
The Oil Tank Doc
Bangor Road, Newtownards, BT23 7BY
Covering all of Northern Ireland for 24/7 oil spill response: Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone, Londonderry/Derry, Armagh, & Down
📞 07549 211 090
📞 028 9131 4041
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.
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