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domestic oil spill

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We were recently asked to provide our expertise to a domestic heating oil spill a short journey from the Soilutions office in Edinburgh. Nothing too unusual there, we are an Accredited Spill Contractor after all.

What was curious though was the apparent cause of the spill – the copper pipe connecting the fuel tank in the back garden to the residential central heating system, passed through an area used as a toilet by the homeowners’ dog. The dog urine had corroded the pipe over time, eventually causing it to fail.  ‘Spending a penny’ has ended up costing a lot lot more!

Guide

2022

Visit our oil spill clean up guide

Here we present answers to lots of your questions about Oil Spill clean up. We also cover prevention, health and safety, clean-up, as well as response plans and spill response services.

CHECK IT OUT

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Hopefully this blog will reduce some of the scaremongering we’ve come across when dealing with oil spills in a domestic setting, in particular with spills occurring in close proximity to the property’s garage.

Over the past few years, upon attending various properties to assess the spill we’ve been astonished to be told by homeowners, that they’ve been informed by some builders, plumbers, heating engineers, etc that the only way to deal with the loss of oil is to knock the garage down, remove the contamination and then rebuild!

Understandably the homeowners and tenants are incredibly worried about the impending cost and disruption this would cause, which is entirely unnecessary.

Of the dozens of spills we’ve attended, many of which are near a garage or even inside the garage, we have never ever proposed demolishing the garage. There are many options at our disposal for dealing with a loss of oil and would be happy to discuss them with you, if the need ever arises.

You might find the eBook below helpful.  We’re happy to talk so feel free to contact us on 0800 0209 307 or e-mail us on info@soilutions.co.uk.

Guide

2022

Visit our oil spill clean up guide

Here we present answers to lots of your questions about Oil Spill clean up. We also cover prevention, health and safety, clean-up, as well as response plans and spill response services.

CHECK IT OUT

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Guess you’re in a rush so I’ll cut to the chase.  This applies to domestic and commercial leaks, and most of it is common sense.

The first thing for you to think about, “is it safe”? If there is a fire risk, or for example the vapours are overwhelming, then stay safe, keep clear and call the fire brigade.

If there is no obvious reason to worry then phone an expert (heating engineer, spill responder, your insurer, and/or environment agency) and find out to do to make sure that risks have been dealt with.

Here are a few quick fixes which may help reduce the damage caused-

Solution 1– Turn off the source- Find the tank, find the outlet(s), all should be fitted with a stop tap, twist the tap until it closes and stops the flow.  If possible collect the oil in any available containers e.g. bins, or restrict the movement of the oil as best and safely as possible.

Solution 2– The tank is leaking- Decant(transfer) oil in to a suitable container to below the level of the leak.

Solution 3– Repair the leak temporarily (or permanently if you’re skilled enough, I’d guess skilled people won’t be searching the internet for this answer though??).  SOAP is often the best answer, especially for oil tanks, jam solid soap into the crack, best applied like you would grate cheese, push the soap across the crack forcing soap to block the gap and stop the leak.  Please don’t try liquid soap….

A final tip- cat litter is pretty good at absorbing oil.

You might find the eBook below helpful.  We’re happy to talk to feel free to contact us on 0800 0209 307 or e-mail us on info@soilutions.co.uk.

Guide

2022

Visit our oil spill clean up guide

Here we present answers to lots of your questions about Oil Spill clean up. We also cover prevention, health and safety, clean-up, as well as response plans and spill response services.

CHECK IT OUT