The house was built 130 years ago and converted to natural gas heat in 1968.
We bought the house in the early 80s and the inspector said that the oil tank was solid and didn't need to be removed. They pegged shut the inner spout at the bottom of the tank and painted the cap on the fill pipe red. Over the years the paint faded but nobody had ever tried to open it etc.
The oil company was supposed to deliver oil across the street but instead the driver delivered to our house. My wife came home and smelled oil. On our mailbox was the recept that said - we delivered oil here in error - please call us to discuss removal from your tank or discuss you keeping it at a discount. She walked down cellar and was met with a lake of red heating oil 6 inches deep. She called the oil company who asked if they need to come and empty the tank - she said it's not in the tank, it's floating on my cellar floor. He said "OH duckK - you better talk to the owner. The owner was there in about 10 minutes and DEP officials were there within 1/2 hour. When asked if I was coming home soon, my wife said he's on his way from a meeting in New Haven and he is irate. The owner left right away. It's been a nightmare. Insurance company will end up buying the house.
The weight of the oil forced the peg out of the lower spout and the oil flowed out of the tank.
The tank and exterior spout has now been removed!!!!!
