Oil Tank Questions, Answered

No. Tanks storing heating oil burned on the premises are excluded from the state program, and DEP says home heating oil tanks are not regulated^1,2. Owners usually act because of a sale, a lender, an insurer, or leak risk.

Published figures: above-ground $500–$1,500³ (average $1,100⁴); underground $1,000–$3,000+³ (average $1,900⁴). Leaks cost more.

State law doesn't prohibit it, but you must disclose known material defects⁵, and the buyer's lender may require inspection or documentation^6,7.

A non-invasive magnetometry/electromagnetic survey that finds buried steel tanks without digging; a Philadelphia source cites $250–$500 per residential lot⁸.

Often not: standard policies may exclude gradual leakage and pollution cleanup^7,8.

No. Title insurance covers title defects, not soil contamination⁸.

For regulated tanks, only DEP-certified installers⁹. Home heating oil tanks aren't regulated², but hire an experienced, insured contractor who provides a written report⁴.