Oil Leaks

Advice about oil leaks

Most people in Northern Ireland use oil to heat their homes. This advice can help you avoid the inconvenience and high costs of an oil leak.

A leak of oil in or near your house can be a risk to your health. Fumes from oil can give symptoms such as:

·       feeling sleepy

·       light-headedness

·       headaches

·       nausea (feeling sick)

·       skin rashes

·       sore throats

Possible sources of oil leaks

·       an accidental fracture or crack in the fuel supply pipeline

·       an oil storage tank being overfilled

·       accidental spillages

·       a badly installed new oil-fired central heating system

·       corroded (rusted) metal domestic oil storage tank

·       a crack in a plastic domestic oil storage tank

·       a worn out pipeline between the domestic storage tank and the house

·       a boiler that hasn't been serviced

·       a faulty oil-filling indicator on the tank

·       vandalism.

How to identify a possible leak

·       Can you smell solvent, petrol or oil inside or outside your home or in your cupboards, or both?

·       Can you see signs of a leak such as black stains, dead plants or grass and so on?

·       Are you using more fuel than usual?

If you answer 'Yes' to any of these questions, you could have a leak.

What to do if you have an oil leak

·       Try and find out where the leak is coming from and stop more oil leaking as soon as possible.

·       Switch off your oil supply at the tank and, where necessary, arrange to have it emptied.

·       Call an engineer or other reliable person to repair or replace the tank or pipework if necessary.

·       If a leak is likely to affect a stream or pond, contact the Water pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

·       Never use detergents or a hose to wash the spill away.

·       Prevent the spill from entering drains by blocking its flow using earth, sand or commercial products that absorb oil.

·       Keep your home ventilated by opening windows and doors.

·       Contact your household insurance company or landlord.

·       If there is a smell of oil in your home, call us on 028 8225 6202 for advice. You should note, however, that we cannot clean up the oil that has leaked, you may need to employ a specialist company or consultant to do this.

What NOT to do if you have an oil leak

·       Do not put off taking action.

·       Do not assume the problem will go away.

·       Do not drink any water that might be affected.

How to prevent an oil spill

You should:

·       check the condition of your tank and boiler regularlyfor leaks or corrosion

·       look out for staining and oily smells

·       get to know how much oil you usually use If you notice a sudden increase in the amount of oil you are using check for leaks. Even a minor leak can add up to a large loss of fuel over time.

·       have your boiler serviced by a qualified person regularly

·       if possible, watch while your oil is delivered to ensure your tank is not overfilled

·       do not overfill your oil tank

·       keep fill points on the tank clear so you can see them and make sure they can't be tampered with.

REMEMBER:

It is important to review your homeowners' insurance policy, or contact your insurance company, to make sure your policy covers domestic fuel spills.