Key Shopping Pointers for Tank Sump Purchase

Tank sumps are containment devices found at fuel dispensing facilities. Their main function is to contain and prevent any fuel leaks from escaping into the environment, and thus avert contamination of surrounding soil and groundwater reservoirs. In addition, tank sumps also keep water from entering into the fuel system, which helps facility owners protect their fuel stock from water damage. Lastly, tank sumps provide a dry environment for carrying out tank system service and maintenance.

Key Shopping Pointers for Tank Sump Purchase

So how do you shop for the best tank sump product for your gas station?

This blog shares a few key pointers.

Purchasing Tank Sump

The first and the most important consideration you need to make is what material the tank sump is made from.

Tank sumps are typically constructed from either polyethylene or fiberglass. Metal tank sumps are also available, but they are mostly used for aboveground applications due to the corrosion issues they come with.

Polyethylene has long been the material of choice for gas station owners for tank sumps, performing admirably in the settings. However, over the last decade or so, fiberglass has increasingly become common and has captured most of the UST tank sump market share. This can be attributed to the material’s higher structural strength, advanced corrosion resistance and much improved durability compared to polyethylene.

Should you decide to go with fiberglass tank sumps, it’s vital to know that fiberglass tank sumps are further divided into four subtypes based on the method of construction. These subtypes include:

  1. Hand layup fiberglass tank sumps
  2. Chopper gun layup fiberglass tank sumps
  • Filament wound fiberglass tank sumps
  1. Vaccum assisted RTM tank sumps

Of them, hand and shopper gun layup fiberglass tank sumps are the cheapest but also of the lowest quality. Filament wound fiberglass tank sumps fall in the middle of the quality spectrum, while vaccum assisted RTM tanks sumps are of the highest standards.

The second important consideration to make is if the tank sump product is truly watertight.

It’s essential that you choose a tank sump that provides a good barrier against water intrusion to keep your UST system components and fuel stock protected from water damage. If you’re buying an RTM-constructed fiberglass tank sump, water tightness shouldn’t really be an issue. That said, you should still make manual checks and ensure the manufacturer has a good reputation in the market.

The final consideration; check if the tank sump comes with a factory installed electrical wiring box and conduit ports. This would make the tank sump installation process easy and convenient for you.

At the time of writing this post, only OPW offered no-drill tank sump technology in the U.S market.

This concludes our discussion. We hope you found the information helpful.

John W. Kennedy Company is your one stop shop for gas station equipment and supplies. We sell gas station breakaways, gas pump equipment, nozzle swivels, pipe fittings, service station hardware, shop management systems, underground storage tanks and everything else you need to keep your gas station operational, compliant, safe and efficient. Visit our online store to learn more about our product range.

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