N.Y. Agency Advises Homeowners to Check Heating Oil Tanks to Prevent Leaks

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is calling on homeowners who have oil furnaces to inspect their heating oil tanks for leaks that could lead to expensive cleanups.

The agency says more than 2 million homes in New York are heated by fuel oil, and hundreds of spills from home heating oil tanks are reported each year to the DEC Spills Hotline.

Spills have contaminated basements, groundwater, wells and soils. Cleanups are often not covered by homeowner’s insurance.

Common causes of home fuel oil spills are failing storage tanks; faulty fuel lines; collapsing tank supports; and overflows during delivery.

Topics New York Energy Oil Gas Homeowners