Oil spills from home heating fuel oil tanks often involve significant quantities of leaked oil. Spills resulting from toppled tanks and leaking lines are more likely to occur when the tank has just been filled or is in the process of being filled. Leaks from underground tanks can go undetected for months or even years. 

When oil leaches through the ground, it can spread several hundred metres to contaminate wells, water tables and waterways. One litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water to the point that it is not only unsafe, but may be detected in the smell and taste of the water.

Fuel oil contains a small amount of benzene, a known carcinogen. If you can smell fuel oil upon entering your home, immediate action should be taken to investigate the source of the odour. Prolonged exposure could pose a significant health risk to you and your family.

If visitors to your home comment on the smell of fuel oil, pay attention. Prolonged exposure, even with minor spills, may affect your ability to smell the odour since you become desensitized to that particular odour over time.

Millions of dollars have been paid by mutual insurance companies in Canada in recent years, to cover the cost of cleaning up oil spills. The cost of clean up may range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of these spills have resulted from tanks that are 15 years of age or older, but even new tanks can fail unexpectedly.

The fuel leakage peril is not part of every insurance policy. If you are unsure if you have coverage, ask your agent or broker to check for you. Without coverage, you could be responsible for the entire clean up costs.