Replacing your pipe work is an important consideration when replacing your tank. Sometimes tanks are replaced for a second or third time but the pipe work is still original. Although your oil line may be sound now, will it last the life of the new tank?

This photograph shows a corroded steel underground oil line:

The first sign of an oil pipe leak is either a strong smell of oil, a damp patch on a concrete floor or path, a patch of dead grass on the lawn or even a dead tree. If you are really unlucky you can lose the whole contents of the tank. Not only is replacing the oil costly but it can also result in an expensive clean up of the leaked oil – not all insurance policies cover this as a failed oil line can be down to poor maintenance. How would your neighbours react if you polluted the foundations of their home, village stream or duck pond?

When our OFTEC registered technician quotes for the replacement of your oil storage tank we will make recommendations as to the condition or quality of the existing oil line installation. The minimum we will often recommend is a pressure test to ensure it is sound. Where practicable if the line doesn’t comply with the current regulations we will quote for replacing it to the current regulations.

The photo on the right shows the oil line leaked and killed a patch of grass approximately 3.5m in length. The line was badly corroded in a number of places and we recommended that the whole line was replaced, with a compliant underground pipe system – laid at a depth of 450mm, with no underground joints and sleeved inside UPVC ducting along with a layer of oil line marker tape over the top.

Luckily this leak was spotted quickly and we were able to prevent the oil entering a land drain, this could have caused a serious pollution incident. Whilst the remediation work was carried out we installed a temporary oil line to maintain the oil supply to the boiler and AGA.

We also check that either your plumber or boiler engineer has fitted a fire valve to the boiler or oil fired cooker (if you have one), if not we will quote to install one. This is not only a safety requirement as it shuts off the oil supply to the property in the event of a fire but it is also often an insurance requirement.

For more information relating to the installation of pipe work please click on our regulations section.