Does anyone know anything about oil tanks?!

[lisbapalea]

We really need to replace our 1200litre tank - it's a rusty old disaster and as it's almost empty we should probably do it sooner rather than in the middle of winter.

Does anyone know anything about how much a new one should cost and what I should be looking for? I have looked on our local oil supplier's site and they're around 1000 for a 'bunded' one, as they also seem to be at the likes of Screwfix. But I found an online place called theoiltankstore.co.uk (original name...) and they sell 'single skin' ones for a lot less, more like 400 - but are they just really dodgy and will we end up with oil all over the place?!

Also, if anyone knows anything about the complications and considerations from moving a tank, please can you let me know!! We'd just like to move it more into a corner of the garden so it's not such an eyesore, and it'll give us a few more feet of lawn.

Any advice appreciated on this incredibly dull topic!

Not sure of costs sorry but last time I got a new tank it was made by Titan. A bunded tank has a double wall so if there's a leak in the inner tank it will be contained by the outer one. I had a heating oil leak a few years back from my boiler & it was a nightmare so I would think a bunded tank is the way to go (and make sure your insurance covers oil leaks). Have you had any quotes yet to move your tank, just to check your new site is suitable?

Thanks nicemarmot - I have just arranged for the local supplier to come and check it out and give me a quote for installation of a new (bunded) tank, as well as moving it into the new position - fingers crossed it will work ok!

Hope the quote's not too awful. There's quite a lot of information on the Oftec website which might be useful.

Thanks, will check that out.

I might be wr

Sorry, I might be wrong but I've got a feeling that if the tank is a certain distance from your house or the road it has to be bunded. We replaced one & it had to be. We've planted some screening bushes & you can barely see it.

I think the regulations have changed so that you have to have insulated/fireproof ones where you didn't before - my parents used to have a rusty old single-skinned one, but when that started leaking beyond repair a few years ago and they had to replace it, they were told that because it wasn't a certain distance from the house, they had to get one with a concrete shield around it. Huge ugly thing, but at least they have been able to paint it in a slightly less offensive colour now.

our neighbours shed and fence caught fire. The neighbour the other side had his oil tank right up against the fence. He was very glad he had a metal oil tank - not sure how a plastic one would have fared.

How does a garden shed catch fire? Arson? This would be rare. We had a bunded one but it was much larger than 1200 litres. This would have lasted us no time at all. You can easily screen them and moving to a new site is easy so long as it is well prepared and level. You also need to move the feed to the boiler so this has to be factored in. You can grow a beech hedge around it or put a fence up and grow something against the fence.

Where are you? We have one we need to get rid of as we got gas installed. It's been sat in the garden for three years but if you are sour west and can get it picked up you are welcome to it.

South west! I'm sure you are not sour!

You should definitely get a bunded one and if you are anywhere near a watercourse then it will legally need to be bunded anyway. They also have to be fitted on a concrete surface (paving slabs may be ok). If you are in the south west I can dig out the number of the people who did ours, they were v reasonable (ours is 1800l and can't remember if it cost £1k or £2k but I do remember they were around £800 cheaper than our other quote

Wow thanks all - lots of good advice!

We're in the South Midlands so probably not very local to you cider but your offer is amazing so we'd definitely be interested! Do you have any details of yours - dimensions, capacity etc? I guess we just need to work out of it'll fit where we want it! PM me if you prefer.

Thanks again for all the tips!

Have PMd you

I would strongly advise you go for a bunded tank. This can help prevent a spill which could end up costing you thousands. The environment agency deal with a lot of spills every year and many of them result in the home owner having to spend a lot of money to clean up. The other thing to remember is that many insurance companies will not insure you unless you have a bunded tank. You should consult an OFTEC engineer re the siting of your tank and the type of tank you need. They know all the regulations that you need to comply with (did you know you can be fined up to £20000 if you do not comply?). Be wary of second hand tanks - no warranty and may already be damaged or prone to leakage.
This really is a mine field so get professional advice before you do anything. Yes, it is expensive but in the long run it could save you a LOT of money.

Have got a quote through from our local oil supplier - does anyone know if this sounds like a good deal:

Supply and fit 1300 ltr bunded metal tank
Put in slab base
Position new tank
Extend pipework and connect up
Remove and dispose of old tank

1965 incl VAT