Greensboro · Guilford County

Oil tank removal in Greensboro

Greensboro's older neighborhoods, from Fisher Park and Westerwood to Sunset Hills and Lindley Park, are full of homes built when fuel oil was the normal way to heat a house. Many of those homes switched to gas or a heat pump long ago and left the tank behind, buried in the side yard or sitting in the crawlspace.

Who handles tank issues in Guilford County

In Guilford County, the county health department runs the underground storage tank program locally, under an agreement with the state. Guilford County Environmental Health oversees tank removals, assessment and cleanup. If a tank has leaked, the 24-hour release report can go to Guilford County Environmental Health or to NC DEQ's Winston-Salem Regional Office.

What a Greensboro tank job usually involves

• Finding it. A fill pipe in the yard is the usual clue. If there's no pipe, a metal-detector sweep around the house can locate a buried tank.
• Pumping and cleaning. Leftover oil and sludge are pumped out and disposed of.
• Removing or closing it. Most yard tanks are dug up. Tanks under driveways, porches or additions are often filled in place instead.
• Checking the soil. Samples under the tank show whether it leaked, which is what a buyer or lender will want to see.

Buying or selling in Greensboro?

If the house was built before the 1970s, ask the seller directly whether it ever had oil heat and whether a tank is still on the property. Our guide for home buyers covers what to ask and when to schedule a tank check. For prices, see the cost guide.