Posted: September 7, 2026
If your aboveground heating oil tank is showing its age, you might be tempted to move it out of sight by burying it.
It sounds tidy: less clutter in the basement, more room in the yard. But that hidden tank could become one of the costliest decisions you ever make for your home.
Here’s what every Central Maine homeowner should know before choosing between aboveground and underground heating oil tanks.
Out of sight, out of mind is exactly the problem. When a tank is buried, you can’t see rust forming, seams weakening, or fittings starting to weep. Damage builds quietly, often for years, until the tank fails.
Underground tanks are also difficult and expensive to inspect. You can’t simply walk up and check for wet spots or corrosion the way you can with an aboveground unit. By the time trouble surfaces, the repair bill is usually much higher.
A failed underground tank doesn’t just leak; it contaminates the soil and, in some cases, groundwater beneath your property. That triggers an environmental cleanup that can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
Cleanup crews may need to excavate large sections of your yard, remove contaminated soil, and remediate the site to state standards. If the leak reaches a neighbor’s property or a local water source, the situation grows more serious and more expensive. For a family in the Augusta area, a hidden failure like this can quickly become a financial and legal headache.
An aboveground tank makes warning signs easy to spot. Watch for:
If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to talk about a replacement before a small problem becomes a big one.
When the time comes to replace your heating oil tank, you’ll be impressed by the Roth tanks WFC sells and installs. These tanks are more compact than the ones they replace, so you gain back space in your home or yard.
They’re also virtually leak-proof, thanks to double-walled construction and a seamless interior tank. With no fittings below the oil line, Roth tanks reduce the buildup of sludge and sediment. They’re also corrosion-resistant, so they hold up beautifully to Maine winters.
If your tank is more than two years old, we recommend enrolling in our Oil Tank Protection Program. For a small annual fee, you’re protected against the thousands of dollars it can cost to replace a tank.
This coverage pays for a new heating oil tank, plus the labor to remove and properly dispose of the old one. The yearly cost is minuscule compared with the price of a new tank, and we’ll bill you automatically each year. When it comes to protecting your home and budget, you don’t want to be without this peace of mind.
Burying a heating oil tank hides the risk; it doesn’t remove it. A modern aboveground Roth tank gives you easy inspection, virtually leak-proof construction, and years of reliable heat, all while saving space.
Ready to replace your aging tank or enroll in the Oil Tank Protection Program? Reach out to WFC today and let our team help you protect your home this heating season.
