If your house is more than 35 years old, there probably was an underground heating oil storage tank somewhere on the property. Clues to its existence might be a metal cap in yard or a vent pipe with elbow coming into house. And there may be more than an old metal tank below the surface. The contents of these unused tanks may have leaked into the soil and groundwater creating a potential contaminated site right in your yard. The migrating oil can also get into a house's drainage system causing an unpleasant smell inside. Checking into the existence of an oil tank is a crucial step of an informed buyer as it may affect the purchase price if removal and clean up is required and the ability to get home insurance.

Current and past owners are usually responsible for cleaning up the mess on their property and even the neighbors' land if the spill has migrated. And the penalties for ignoring leaking tanks just became more painful with recent changes to the British Columbia Fire Code. Local municipalities may also have bylaws regarding underground storage tanks.

"Before purchasing a property that contains or contained an oil tank, it is important to have a solid environmental inspection of the grounds to ensure there is no contamination or migration of a material to neighboring properties," cautions Richard Lambert, owner of DiggerDicks Contracting, an environment contracting firm in North Vancouver. "Our mandate is to protect the homeowner’s investment by identifying issues that might lead to future expenses." Richard has over 27 years of experience dealing with underground oil tanks. DiggerDicks is a member of the Greater Vancouver Better Business Bureau and the only oil tank removal contractor endorsed by the Shell Busey HouseSmart Centre.

If you suspect there is still an old tank on your property, it can be verified by DiggerDicks using a magnetometer to detect metal up to 27 feet below the surface. Once a tank is found, the necessity to drain it and the accessibility for removal are assessed and a plan put into place. Always check with your municipality as well to ensure you comply with their regulations and any permitting requirements.

Not only does an old tank have to be removed and properly disposed of, its contents need to be pumped out. It is important to track where the old oil goes or another

environmental problem may be created. "It is critical to make sure the oil from the tank is disposed of properly. We hire carriers that are licensed and bonded to handle such materials and dispose of them according to guidelines at disposal sites," says Richard.

If the tank has leaked, a soil sample is tested at a laboratory and a plan formed with engineers for the clean up and approvals and permits are obtained. Richard explains the final steps, "After the remediation, the site is restored and a report drawn up to provide a clean bill of health for the property." Penalties and fines for not tackling a leaking tank can be in the thousands of dollars and your property could be flagged by the province on its database as a contaminated site, all of which can have adverse affects on its value.

A home is one of the biggest investments people make and protecting its value will enhance the value of the surrounding environment at the same time.

DiggerDicks Contracting can be contacted at 604-986-0655 or toll free 1-888-6-DIGGER or visit their Web site at www.diggerdicks.com.