Consumers - Wisconsin Tank Information
Homeowners that heat their home with heating oil have the convenience of having a storage tank on their property that gives them control of their comfort.
Types of Tanks
There are two types of storage tanks. An
aboveground storage tank (AST) may be located outside of a house, or it may be in a basement, garage or crawl space. An
underground storage tank (UST) is buried beneath the ground. Common tank sizes are 275 gallons for an aboveground tank and 290, 550 and 1,000 gallons for an underground tank.
Storage Tank Regulations
The Wisconsin Department of Commerce regulates storage tanks. Below is an overview of the regulations regarding heating oil storage tanks in Wisconsin:
- Underground tanks storing petroleum products greater than 60 gallons must be registered.
- Aboveground tanks of 660 gallons or less capacity that store heating oil do not need to be registered.
Certain legal restrictions apply regarding underground tank testing, replacement and abandonment. Please visit the
Wisconsin Department of Commerce website for information.
Options for Replacement
If your heating oil storage tank is old, or has experienced a release, there are two options for replacement. Today's oil tanks are manufactured to the highest standards — offering economical, durable, safe storage. They're lined with a fiberglass material that resists corrosion and rust.
- Replace an underground tank with a new, corrosion-resistant underground tank. With today's technology, new tanks can actually be protected from corrosion in the ground, making them worry-free. If you decide to replace your underground tank with an aboveground model, you must either remove or properly close the buried tank. Closing a tank requires that it be emptied, cleaned and then filled with an inert material such as sand.
- Replace an underground tank with an aboveground tank either inside or outside your home. Today's aboveground tanks can be customized to fit in your basement, they are relatively small (275 gallons) and they can be customized for hard-to-fit places. For example, a vertical tank can be installed in small or unusual-shaped spaces in a basement or garage. Plus, there are attractive enclosures available for aboveground tanks installed outdoors that not only hide the tank but also provide protection against the elements.
