Inspections cover u.s.t.'s

Hi Jim, Grady and Hector are right that a standard home inspection does not cover underground storage tanks, so let me add the practical piece: how you actually check, and why it is worth doing on the right property. A tank sweep is a separate service. A technician walks the property with metal detection equipment looking for buried oil or fuel tanks, fill pipes, and vent lines, and it typically costs a few hundred dollars, small money next to what a leaking tank can cost. If a tank is found, the next step is determining whether it was properly decommissioned (emptied, cleaned, filled or removed, with documentation) or whether it has been quietly rusting for decades. When I would order one: - The home predates roughly the 1970s, especially in areas that once heated with oil - You see an unexplained pipe stub in the yard or basement, or old permits mention oil heat - The seller's disclosures are silent on how an older home was originally heated Why it matters: an undisclosed leaking tank can mean soil contamination, and cleanup can run into serious money. Some insurers and lenders also balk at properties with unresolved tanks, which can complicate your resale later even if it never leaks. Here in Los Angeles and the South Bay, where I work as a real estate professional, most housing is newer than the oil-heat era, but I still see this come up with older view homes and estates. I am Zoltan Peresztegi, based in the Palos Verdes and South Bay area. If you tell me the age and region of the property, I can tell you whether a sweep is worth it, or connect you with a strong local agent who will know. Zoltan

f you're referring to USTs (underground storage tanks), a standard home inspection typically does not include a UST inspection. If there's reason to believe a property has or once had an underground oil or fuel tank, you can hire a specialist to perform a separate inspection. They may use records, visual evidence, or equipment to locate a tank and determine whether it's still in the ground. If a UST is found, additional testing may be recommended to check for leaks or environmental contamination. If you're buying a property and suspect there's a UST, it's a good idea to discuss it with your real estate agent and consider ordering a dedicated UST inspection.

Jim, it depends on the property type, location and age of the home. In the Portland Metro area, it's highly recommended to conduct a tank scan to ensure there aren't any buried oil tanks or fuel tanks on the property. If the property has a septic UST then definitely we recommend it. If the home is older and/or you can see that it could have been fueled by an oil furnace, with the new DEQ rules, it's highly recommended.