Steel oil tank replacement

Steel again, or plastic this time?

Steel tanks were the standard for decades, so many rural homes still have one, often on brick piers and sometimes inside a brick bund. Once yours gives out, you can go back to steel or move over to bunded plastic.

Reasons to stay with steel

Steel is stronger against knocks from vehicles and machinery, which matters on farmyards and drives. It does not burn, which gives a little more flexibility near outbuildings, though the distance rules still apply. Large and unusual sizes, and tanks for commercial or farm use, are often steel. A modern bunded steel tank is galvanised or painted and built to last as long as plastic if it is kept painted.

Reasons to switch to plastic

Bunded plastic tanks cost less, need almost no upkeep and cannot rust. For an ordinary house with a garden tank, plastic is what most installers fit. If the tank is in full sun all day, ask about models with better UV protection, or shade it with a screen that keeps the required distances.

The old steel tank

Steel tanks are heavy and often have a layer of sludge and water in the bottom. The installer drains them, cuts them into sections on site and takes them for scrap. If there is a brick bund, decide early whether it stays: an empty bund wall left standing is just a garden wall, but one that blocks access or sits where the new base should go needs breaking out, which adds time and cost.

The ground beneath

A steel tank that has wept for years can leave oil in the soil. If the ground smells of oil or the piers are stained, raise it before the new base goes down. The Environment Agency notes that spills reaching ground or water can cost tens of thousands of pounds to clean up, and some home insurance does not cover it. Read more in our leaking oil tank guide.