I recently purchased a property in Greenville, SC. Due to scheduling and travel constraints, I wasn’t able to walk the property in person before making an offer. Instead, my agent did a walkthrough via FaceTime.

During the home inspection, the inspector discovered the top of an underground storage tank (UST) on the property. I’m originally from New Jersey, where USTs are a serious concern—especially when it comes to financing. While I never personally owned property in NJ, I had several friends run into issues with mortgage lenders after a UST was found on a property.

Given that background, I wanted to share my experience here in South Carolina in case it helps others in a similar situation.

After the discovery, I contacted a few companies that specialize in UST removal and soil contamination testing. The initial quote I received was $1,700 to:

Pump and dispose of 80 gallons of oil
Cut open the top of the tank
Fill the tank with sand
Cap it with concrete

For an additional $300, they offered full tank removal—which I chose to do for a total of $2,000. There was some risk of encountering contaminated soil, but I decided I’d rather find out now than deal with a hidden issue later.

The contractor estimated that a typical soil cleanup—if contamination is found—usually runs between $2,000–$3,000. Fortunately, in my case, the soil was clean.

The removal process was very straightforward and only took a few hours. I’ve included photos below for anyone interested in what the process looks like.

Although I was initially very concerned when the tank was discovered, I’m glad I followed through with the purchase and addressed it immediately. I now have peace of mind knowing the UST is gone and there are no lingering issues under the surface.

I hope this helps others who may come across a UST during their property search or inspection process.

UST Removal process - Upstate SC

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