A small investment before the snow flies could end up saving some Island homeowners thousands of dollars.
The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment recommends homeowners who have an outdoor oil tank check to determine if it has a weather protection device - and if not, to consider installing one today.
"Many outdoor spills can be directly attributed to falling icicles, heavy melting snow or falling branches which land on the fuel line and break it off," said Minister Chester Gillan.
"Most times, homeowners do not realize that they have had an oil spill until the entire contents of their tank have leaked into the ground, leaving a clean-up bill that can be anywhere from several hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars."
Usually made of welded steel, sheet metal or solid wood, weather protection devices sit over the filter and product line of the oil tank and keep these vulnerable parts from being broken off or damaged by the natural elements. These devices, which can either be purchased at a cost ranging from $30 to $40 or of a solid homemade construction, are easy to install and are one of the most effective means of protection against an oil spill.
"It's a small device that will provide a great deal of peace of mind," said Minister Gillan. "As high as the clean-up costs may be if you experience an oil spill, the environmental costs are far greater. Just one litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of drinking water."
The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment received reports of more than 200 domestic oil leaks and spills from oil tanks in 1999. And, one recurring factor in many outdoor spills was the absence of a weather protection device, added Minister Gillan.
"By continuing efforts to inform Islanders of how to protect against spills, either by installing weather protection devices or replacing aging tanks, we hope to see that number drop this winter," the Minister said.
For further information on oil tank weather protection devices or home heat tank safety in general, contact the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment at (902) 368-5042.