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Oil Tank Sweep (Buried Tank Search)

An oil tank sweep is a non-invasive electromagnetic or magnetometry survey that detects buried steel objects such as tanks1. A Philadelphia source reports $250–$500 for a standard residential lot1; no Lehigh Valley price was published by a local contractor in our research.

When to get one

  • Old house, oil heat history, no removal records1
  • Visible fill or vent pipes, or capped oil lines in the basement1
  • Buying a home: a standard home inspection may not fully evaluate a buried tank2

What happens if a tank is found

Soil sampling around the tank is the usual next step1, then removal or abandonment.

Lehigh Valley towns with the most oil-heated homes

Share of occupied homes heated mainly by fuel oil or kerosene, estimated by the Census3:

TownFuel-oil shareHomes (± margin of error)
Coopersburg40.3%442 ± 96
Wind Gap39.9%603 ± 142
Pen Argyl39.2%545 ± 184
Moore Township32.2%1,113 ± 208
Bangor31.7%630 ± 197
Nazareth30.3%908 ± 208

For comparison: Allentown 14.1%, Easton 8.6%3. These are 5-year survey estimates; small towns have wide margins of error.

FAQ

Does PA DEP require me to remove my home heating oil tank?

No. Tanks storing heating oil burned on the premises are excluded from the state program, and DEP says home heating oil tanks are not regulated4,5. Owners usually act because of a sale, a lender, an insurer, or leak risk.

Can I sell a house with a buried oil tank in PA?

State law doesn't prohibit it, but you must disclose known material defects6, and the buyer's lender may require inspection or documentation7,2.

Get a free quote

Tell us where the tank is (basement, side yard, buried, or unknown) and whether you're buying, selling, or refinancing. Allentown Tanks will connect you with a qualified local tank contractor. (215) 434-1322 · Request a quote

Sources

  1. Flagstone, Philadelphia oil tank guide
  2. Kash Mortgage Group, PA buyer guide
  3. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year Table B25040 House Heating Fuel, county subdivision geography (table-based summary file)
  4. Act 32 §103 (UST definition excludes heating oil for consumptive use)
  5. PA DEP Storage Tank Data ("Home heating oil tanks are not regulated")
  6. 68 Pa.C.S. §7303 seller disclosure
  7. Fannie Mae Selling Guide B4-1.4-08 Environmental Hazards Appraisal Requirements
  8. 25 Pa. Code §245.1 definitions
  9. PA DEP Installer/Inspector Certification (certified company list)
  10. Curren Environmental, PA oil tank removal cost
  11. PA DEP Storage Tanks Financial Assistance (Underground Heating Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement Program)
  12. PA DEP, Apply for Oil Tank Cleanup Reimbursement
  13. Harned Durham Energy, heating oil tank removal cost

Sources accessed 2026-10-25 by TANKER Traffic.

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