Cleaning Your HVAC System

Posted on: 18 June 2015

If you have a home heating oil spill in your basement, you need to take the proper steps to get it cleaned up as soon as possible. Spilled home heating oil is a fire and environmental hazard. Small home heating oil spills happen if a few drops of the oil drops out of the pipes, filter, or tank. Larger oil spills happen when your basement storage tanks are filled too full, or the tank is accidentally turned over if you have a flood in your basement. If you have a large spill, you will have to hire a professional to clean it up for you. Below are some tips on how to get a small oil spill cleaned up.

Cleaning It Up

Before you get started, open up all windows in your basement if you have them to give you proper ventilation. If you do not have windows, wear a ventilation mask so you do not breathe in the oil.

Throw away anything that is soaked in the heating oil, such as carpeting, wallpaper, and miscellaneous items like clothing, books, or blankets. Spread sawdust, peat moss, or kitty litter over the oil spill, as they are absorbent materials, and will soak up the oil.

When the oil is absorbed, place the materials you used into a plastic bag and dispose of it. Use hot water and a mild soap to clean the surfaces. If your basement has a concrete floor, cover the area with powdered laundry detergent for an hour or two. The detergent will break down any lingering oil to make it easier to clean.

Removing the Odors

To remove odors from the basement, place opened bags of activated charcoal in the area to absorb the smell. Bowls of vinegar may also work well for this purpose. Pouring ground coffee onto paper plates, and setting them near the oil smell for 24 hours is another way to remove the odor.

There are also enzyme additives that you can add to your oil tank to take care of odors. Contact the company that delivers your oil, as they can provide you with this enzyme. Once the odor is removed, clean the area again with the hot water and soap.

If you clean up the home heating oil promptly, the odors should go away after a few days. If they do not, contact a professional cleaning company to clean it up for you. If you do not know of someone, the oil delivery company like Bay State Fuel Oil Inc may know of a company you can call.