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Before you purchase a chemical storage tank, it’s important to know what kind of service to expect from the manufacturer — immediately and for years to come. You might have installation and startup needs, but you may also have questions about retrofitting a tank or installing new tanks. 

Many tank manufacturers don’t have a field service team or service department. Instead, they hire a local fix-it professional who isn’t familiar with their storage systems. Other times, you might have to find a service technician yourself. Poly Processing has our own on-site nationwide field service team that can service your PPC chemical storage tank at your facility.

Let’s take a look at the types of on-site service our dedicated technicians are doing on a daily basis.

Poly Processing’s standard crosslinked polyethylene tank systems can withstand process temperatures up to 100F — but that figure can be misleading, because there are different types of temperature to consider. 

For example, one of our customers in Texas asked about keeping a polyethylene tank outdoors in extreme temperatures:

We’ve written several articles about the importance of protecting your chemical storage tank from aggressive chemicals. Mechanical stress can be just as significant, causing polyethylene chemical storage tanks to crack. Mechanical stress occurs when the tank’s structure is compromised after a physical impact with another object, over pressurization, improper venting, or rigid plumbing that doesn’t allow natural expansion and contraction of the tank.

Just because different tanks are made from polyethylene, doesn’t mean they will give you the same performance. Various polyethylene tanks may not even be suitable for storing the type of chemical you use. 

Polyethylene is available in several different types of resin. Some types are made for injection molding, others for extrusion, others for blow molding and yet others for rotational molding. 

While, at a glance, it’s impossible to gauge the life of your polyethylene chemical storage tank, there are many things to know and consider that will help you extend the life of your tank to its fullest potential. It is important to know that from the production of the tank, through installation, it is expertly manufactured with all of the right gaskets and fittings. After tank installation, it is important to have it inspected regularly to look for problems that could cause tank failure.

Municipal projects require detailed specifications for anything purchased as a capital expense. At Poly Processing Company, we’ve teamed up with national engineering firms to develop pre-written engineering specifications for our three most popular tanks: the SAFE-Tank®, the vertical tank with IMFO® and the upright vertical tank.

The Poly Processing chemical storage solution always begins with a thorough understanding of the chemical being stored. To design and recommend a safe, cost-effective chemical storage system, it's critical for our tank experts to ask the right questions and do the right research. This ensures that we properly understand the makeup of your chemicals and the potential reactions to various storage solutions.

You’ve done the hard part already. You’ve talked to a chemical tank expert at Poly Processing, designed your chemical tank system, double-checked that all the fittings you’ve ordered are compatible with your chemical, and you’re ready for your new storage tank system to be delivered.

Now that your order is placed and approved, you’re preparing to receive your polyethylene chemical storage tank within eight to ten weeks, there are some steps you need to have in place before your tank arrives. But what should you expect when your polyethylene tank arrives?

Poly Processing works diligently to produce each and every chemical storage tank to spec. But if a tank isn’t installed correctly it could lead to damage, leaks, safety issues for personnel, and a shorter tank life. Everyone should take chemical tank installation seriously.

When a chemical storage tank fails, the costs can be significant to your organization. Regulatory concerns, environmental cleanup, lawsuits from property damage, and injury to employees are costly exposures.

Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons chemical storage tanks fail.