Hello,
we are currently renovating a house from the 1960s.
Until now, it was heated with oil, so there is a room in the basement where the oil tank and related equipment were installed until recently. All of this has now been removed, as we are switching to a heat pump system.
Now we are wondering if we can use the former oil tank room without restrictions as a basement room and for storing canned goods, for example, or if this might not be a good idea due to possible gases or residues in the walls, etc. Has anyone had experience with this? Or any tips on what we could do to make the room “safe” to use?
Thanks in advance and have a nice evening to all readers :-)
we are currently renovating a house from the 1960s.
Until now, it was heated with oil, so there is a room in the basement where the oil tank and related equipment were installed until recently. All of this has now been removed, as we are switching to a heat pump system.
Now we are wondering if we can use the former oil tank room without restrictions as a basement room and for storing canned goods, for example, or if this might not be a good idea due to possible gases or residues in the walls, etc. Has anyone had experience with this? Or any tips on what we could do to make the room “safe” to use?
Thanks in advance and have a nice evening to all readers :-)
WKBau schrieb:
The tanks with their contents have only been removed for 10 days – the question is whether you can rely on your sense of smell regarding indoor air quality? Or are there measuring devices for this? With the older single-walled plastic tanks, hydrocarbons could diffuse through the walls, causing the odor. This has improved with the newer tanks marked with the "Proofed Barrier" label. With the double-walled tanks (also marked), the smell is even less noticeable.
It will take some time for the room to become odor-neutral again.
To speed this up, remove the paint from the oil storage room and the oil drip tray.
The concentrations that have accumulated in the wall plaster over years need time to dissipate or require mechanical assistance.
The more you remove from the walls, the faster the smell disappears.
Ventilate the room thoroughly.
It is common practice, especially for previously larger installations, where tanks had to be installed in a separate room, to convert these spaces for other uses.