Why A Level Surface Is So Important For Tank Installation

No matter where you plan to install a tank — and no matter what that tank will hold — it needs to be on a level surface. This might not seem necessary in some cases; while it's a no-brainer in many cases, what if the tank holds something light and is bolted very securely to a stable surface? Even then, you want the tank to be on a level surface. The location and orientation of the tank have effects on the safety of those around the tank as well as the ability to tell how full the tank is and when it needs to be refilled, if the tank is one where you have to keep an eye on supplies.

Accurate Values

How you know a tank is full of something varies from tank to tank. But many tanks have gauges that track how much is inside, and if the tank is on a sloped surface, for example, the gauge would most likely give you false readings. Even if there were no gauge and you had to check visually, a tilted tank and tilted contents make it harder to judge just how much is in the tank. A level surface, assuming the surface isn't moving or shaking, allows for much better monitoring.

Weight and Instability

Tanks are more likely to be heavy and to be filled with heavy materials. They can be light, such as plastic tanks filled with gas, but you have to assume you'll be dealing with some heft. If you try to install a tank on ground that's uneven, the weight of the tank material and the material inside the tank could be heavy enough to bend or pull out any supports you used to hold up the tank. Even if the ground or surface that you're installing the tank on isn't really sloping — maybe it's just kind of rocky and uneven — the end result is that the tank lies along a sloped plane, and the weight can tip the tank over or do damage to supports or securing hardware.

Overall Stability

Installing the tank on an uneven surface could make it harder, and thus more expensive, to stabilize the tank. In addition to gravity pulling on uneven weight distribution, you might not be able to fully secure the supports of the tank (or whatever is being attached to the surface in question). This will vary, of course; a surface that's even but sloped is different from a surface that's not really sloped but that is uneven.

If you're not sure where the best place would be for a tank to be installed, speak with a representative from the installation company and ask if someone can look at your facility. You and this representative can identify the best location for the tank. For more information on tank installation, contact a professional near you.

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