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The Critical Difference in Oil Tank Sweep Technology That Could Save You Thousands

When purchasing real estate, oil tank sweeps are among the most essential environmental inspections homebuyers request. However, not all oil tank detection methods offer equal reliability. Understanding the difference between basic metal detectors and advanced Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology could save you thousands in unexpected remediation costs.

The Limitations of Standard Metal Detectors

Most budget oil tank sweep companies use simple metal detectors—the same technology hobbyists use to find coins at the beach. While these devices can detect metal objects underground, they provide extremely limited information:

• No visual representation of the buried object
• Cannot determine the precise size or orientation of the tank
• Cannot differentiate between a tank and other metal debris
• No depth information or dimensional data
• Frequently result in false positives and misidentification

Real-World Consequence: We recently worked on a property where a metal detector survey incorrectly identified an oil tank as running under a concrete driveway. When we removed the tank, we discovered it ran parallel to the driveway. This single error would have cost the homeowner an unnecessary $1,200 in concrete restoration.

The GPR Advantage: Seeing What's Actually Underground

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) works like sonar for the earth—sending signals into the ground that reflect off buried objects, creating detailed images of what lies beneath the surface. This advanced technology offers crucial benefits:

• Creates visual representations of buried objects
• Determines precise size, depth, and orientation of tanks
• Differentiates between tanks and other underground structures
• Identifies tank features, including fill and vent pipes
• Detects non-metallic objects that metal detectors miss completely

Why Professional GPR Tank Sweeps Are Worth the Investment

GPR oil tank sweeps typically cost a few hundred dollars more than basic metal detector surveys. However, this small upfront investment provides significant advantages:

1. Superior Accuracy: GPR technology provides detailed images of underground structures, not just "beeps" when metal is detected
2. Cost Savings: Prevents expensive excavation mistakes and unnecessary property damage
3. Comprehensive Detection: Identifies both metal and non-metal underground features
4. Professional Expertise: GPR operators typically have extensive experience with actual tank removal

The Hidden Risk of Budget Tank Sweep Services

Companies using only metal detectors often have:

• Minimal startup costs (just $1,000 for basic equipment)
• Limited insurance coverage for errors and omissions
• Less experience with actual tank removal operations
• No visualization capabilities for underground objects

Experience Matters: The Curren Environmental Difference

At Curren Environmental, we've been locating and removing oil tanks for nearly 30 years. Our experience has taught us that metal detectors alone are unreliable, which is why 100% of our residential and commercial oil tank sweeps utilize GPR technology.

Our technicians undergo intensive training that includes:

• Hands-on experience with actual oil tank removal projects
• Recognition of historical indicators of oil heating systems
• Interpretation of GPR imaging data
• Understanding of various tank installation methods and locations

Conclusion: The Smart Investment in Property Protection

When purchasing property, the modest additional cost of a professional GPR oil tank sweep is insignificant compared to the potential thousands in remediation costs from an undetected tank. Remember: in environmental inspections, you truly get what you pay for.     

Contact Curren Environmental - Tank Sweep & Removal Experts

A home inspection is a home education and when is education a bad thing?

Every “As Is” sale is the hope from the seller that a buyer will accept any and all issues with a property, whether owner known or unknown. I mean unless a house is new, you are buying a “used” house and you must accept some wear and tear to be present.   Not performing a home inspection, and no – your Uncle Charlie and your father-in-law do not count as insured inspectors, you are buying property with your eyes wide shut.

Due diligence can include comparison car shopping, dating before you get married, and yes, a professional home inspection of a dwelling and grounds. Considering a home and a boat are typically the largest expenses you will assume, not inspecting will put you at risk of spending money that could have been negotiated prior to purchase. They also say a boat is a hole in the water you pour money into, same can be said for a used home. Couple that with the fact that building codes change, meaning the codes get stricter and more protective, performing a home inspection by a professional knowledgeable on current regulations is critical. Old codes get updated to address safety issues for example. Can you really tell if a house has radon without a test?   What if every fixture in the dwelling is 25 years only? Expect replacement costs, water heater, HVAC, and washer and dryer, which could be $20,000.00 to $30,000.00.   The cost-benefit of having a home inspection is huge. Negligible cost to professionally inspect saves thousands of dollars in repairs. Think structural or unseen termite damage (Uncle Charlie can’t fit in the crawlspace to inspect).

Home inspections also allow a buyer to back out of a purchase.  If expensive defects are found, the seller would be liable to express to future buyers as there have been case law verdicts against sellers when they decide to not disclose known material defects.   Typical contracts allow an out for structural and environmental both of which can run tens of thousands of dollars.   

Although you likely do not want out of any home you have under contract, you also may not want to spend $10,000 to replace the sewer line, which is why inspections allow negotiations to occur. Yes, sewer line scopes are a thing and a huge payback for the minimal cost. We see sewer line replacements at around $10,000, if not more. 

Did you know many people have an Uncle Charlie (or the seller may have an Uncle Bob)? Did you know Uncle Bob and your father-in-law also build things without permits? Illegal additions and improvements not performed to code can cost a buyer real money in the future. We had a site where a tennis court was built and changed the grade of the yard as well as exceeding the maximum allowable impermeable cover for the property.  Finished basements with no permits?   Yep, that is an issue, as inspectors will flag out shoddy work, i.e., work not up to code.

Skip a home inspection and your insurance carrier and mortgage company may balk, because they want to protect their interests. Electrical work not up to code can cause fire and large insurance claims, so when deciding an inspection is not needed for yourself ensure no one else involved in the transaction needs due diligence completed.

Let’s put it in perspective, do no due diligence - you find nothing. Do a sewer line scope maybe you find a break in the mission-critical sewer line. Test for and find radon, and save yourself from getting lung cancer.   Faulty wiring, well maybe the house won’t burn down.

Aside from being an environmental consultant that reviews thousands of environmental reports a year, I also find home inspection and property condition inspection reports across my computer screen.   The list of items you find when you read one of these reports is staggering. Even new homes can have a laundry list of items requiring repair. Of course, new homes get 100% of items addressed, but the point is even new construction can have mistakes and flaws that a professional inspector can find.

Full disclosure, Curren Environmental only does environmental inspections, not home inspections and when we get asked if a home inspection is valuable, Curren says they are invaluable.