Fill & Vent Pipes

The easiest way to locate a buried heating oil tank is to locate the fill pipe or vent pipe. 

The fill pipe, as its name implies, is used to fill the UST. The pipe will generally be close to the ground. It is often marked in some way to allow the delivery person to quickly and easily identify it. However, when an oil tank has been abandoned, it’s common for the fill pipe to get covered with grass, dirt, plants, etc. 

The vent pipe allows air to escape from the tank when fuel is being added to the tank. The vent pipe will usually be 1.25 to 2 inches in diameter visible up the side of the house.  The vent will extend above ground approximately two to eight feet and should have a small vent cap on it. However, when a tank is abandoned, the vent pipe can be removed or cut down, making it more difficult to identify.

The fill and vent pipes are usually less than 10 feet from the heating oil tank.