Need assistance or advice with a product or lead time? Call our friendly Customer Services Team on 0117 244 4099 for expert help.....oh and don't forget we price match on most products!
Oil spills can be dangerous or harmful in most scenarios and need immediate care to prevent further damage to nearby environments and people. As a result, it is important to understand the risks and measures involved when dealing with an oil spill.
Oil in high enough concentrations, can poison animals by internal and external routes of exposure. Birds and mammals often die because oil fouls fur and feathers so that they no longer insulate. Smaller organisations can be smothered by a thick layer of oil”.
With massive implications for you and the things around you, it’s important that you understand how best to identify an oil spill, how they can be caused and what you can do to prevent one.
That’s why Tanks For Everything have put together this guide to oil spills in your home.
What To Do With An Oil Spill
If an oil spill occurs at home, you may have access to a range of resources that can help you to prevent the flow and clean it up effectively.
You should try to spread an absorbent material, such as salt, cat litter or sawdust over the site of the spillage. This will help to contain the flow of the spill and clump it together for more effective cleaning. It may also be beneficial in ensuring that all of the oil is cleaned, as it leaves a lower chance of any residue being left behind that can be harmful to pets or children.
Once everything has been absorbed, you should dispose of it with as minimal contact as possible. For example, instead of using your hands to get rid of it, you should use a shovel. If you do not have a shovel, you can try and use gloves to move it to a heavy-duty plastic bag.
You should then leave these plastic bags outside until they can be picked up by specialists for disposal.
The Risk Of An Oil Spill
According to NOAA, “oil consists of many different toxic compounds. These toxic compounds can cause severe health problems like heart damage, stunted growth, immune system effects, and even death”.
The risks of an oil spill can be catastrophic. If left untreated, toxic elements can be released and impact the organisms surviving around it. Oil spills within the house can harm pets, humans, children, and insects that cross paths with it which is never good.
The environmental impacts can often be even worse; if oil leaks into the ground water sources can be contaminated and the effects can be spread even further.
What Causes Oil Tank Spills?
The most common cause of household oil tank spills is a failure in the main tank body. Any damage to equipment on the tank such as sight gauges can be catastrophic to the flow of oil, as well as any damage to fuel feed lines or any components in the boiler end of the system, such as flexible hoses.
However, spillages can also occur naturally. Like any metal surface that is exposed to moisture and oxygen, rust will form on the metal and corrode (degrade) the tank. Corrosion of the steel tank will cause oil tanks to leak. Rust never sleeps and it is commonly understood that a buried oil tank will eventually corrode and leak”.
Do You Have Home Insurance?
Home insurance can be a saviour in the event of an oil spill in your house. You will often be covered for any loss of fuel through oil spills and sometimes the environmental clean-up of your property will be paid for by your insurance following a leak.
Although many home insurance policies do not include repairs to your oil tank in the event of a leak within the standard cover package, your boiler insurance may take care of that for you. If you suspect that your oil tank may be damaged or leaking, it would be wise to contact your insurance or a repair company to fix the issue as soon as possible.
Domestic Oil Spill Prevention
There are many ways to prevent an oil spill before it ever happens.
The most common choice is to improve your choice of boiler and oil tank to reduce leaks and damage in the long-term. Stronger and better models can fight against corrosion for longer periods of time which may reduce your costs of tank upkeep as well as protect you and your family.
For example, you could find plastic bunded oil tanks that corrode less and last longer. We found that they are cost-effective solutions to oil storage for commercial, residential, and agricultural properties, and prevent wastage or contamination with an extra bunded layer of plastic.
