Key Points and Best Steps to Poly Tank Purchase and Receipt
The details and points to consider when ordering a polyethylene storage tank can vary based on where the tank is being shipped to, where the tank is being shipped from as well as the type and volume capacity of the tank. Overall, the process of ordering and receiving a poly tank is simple, but knowing some key points, what to expect, and what to prepare for can help make the experience easier and without cause for potential problems or delays.
In this Poly Tanks Series post, we will cover seven main points on what to do when ordering and receiving a poly storage tank.
First, know what storage tank you need.
Sounds simple at first – and perhaps it may be to you – however, there are many types of poly tanks available and those many types can be available in quite an extensive range of storage volumes to choose from. For first time buyers, choosing the right tank can involve a lot of time and thought. To best determine what poly tank you need, it helps to consider the full details of what you plan to use the tank for and where you plan to keep or install the tank when you receive it.
Knowing how you will use the tank can help give an idea on the best tank type and how much volume storage space you may want or need. If you haven’t thought about this, take time to think about it, research it, or read over our articles. If using the container for rainwater harvesting, the consideration becomes important to know if the tank will be able to store enough rainwater. Consider our articles on rainwater harvesting, which includes a volume calculator that can show how many gallons of rain you can collect and what size rain tank you need.
Having a tank that is larger than needed is oftentimes better than one that is smaller as long as there is sufficient space to keep and use the tank. Although, benefits to consider with a smaller sized tank include the money that can be saved, the possibility of buying an additional tank in the future if needed and connecting them together, and the fact the tanks are easier to move and install.
Use our catalog search feature to find exactly the storage tank you need by type, size, price, location, and specifications.
Second, order the poly tank.
For most online suppliers of polyethylene storage tanks, the process of ordering a container is very similar to making other purchases online. However, there are two main points that differ.
The first point, the shipping and handling of a poly tank most often must be performed by freight-class transport through a company that contracts with the tank distributor or manufacturer. The size and weight of a poly tank are both too large for shipment by common package handlers such as FedEx, UPS, or the USPS. A poly tank must be shipped in a semi-truck trailer or on a flatbed trailer. This can cause variations in shipping details, timeframes and costs, but is done to provide the best logistics associated with poly tank shipments and is intended overall to reduce costs and delivery times.
The second point, and a detail that is worth considering, poly tanks often have a shipping point of origin for the manufactured container. Many online poly tank stores (including ours) will list the freight origination point for specific products to indicate which US State the tank will ship from to your location. Different tank types and even different volumes can all sometimes ship from entirely different locations that can be located states apart.
Given the unique shipping and handling requirements that accompany poly tanks, choosing a shipping point of origin that is closer to you can save time, money and decrease the possibility for any problems to arise.
We include a zip code input bar on our product pages. Use our zip code input to sort available storage tanks by those closest to where you need it shipped as well as by price to know you are getting the best deal and will have the shortest freight time.
We also allow tank shipments on personal freight accounts for businesses, industries, municipalities, etc. that have their own logistics and transport networks and can pick up the tanks on-site. Poly tanks can also be picked up on-site personally by individuals up to a certain size and weight restriction to ensure the tank can properly and securely be transported.
Third, save the details.
After placing your order, make sure to save all the details related to your unique product order provided by the company you are buying the poly tank from. This can include a printable receipt, email confirmation, product purchase invoice, shipping invoice, tracking information, and shipping updates. A company may or may not provide each of these items. However, it is a guarantee that whatever information is provided by the seller will be needed for reference if a question, concern, or problem ever arises during container shipment and delivery.
Fourth, prepare the install site – and – prepare to wait.
For poly tanks that will not be regularly transported, relocated, or used in portable applications, it is recommended to prepare the site where the tank will be installed and used. Find the best location to install the tank, determine what foundation type (if any) is needed, and prepare that area accordingly.
Also, be prepared to wait for the delivery of your new container. Shipping times can range anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks, and although rare, even longer. Poly tanks are unlike many other products listed online for sale in terms of shipping and handling. Many poly tanks are manufactured after an order is placed, and it is also due to the tanks’ unique size and shape. A 1000 gallon rain tank can be 5 feet wide, 7 feet tall, and weigh over 160 pounds. As poly tank volume increases among products, so do its size and difficulty in shipping and handling.
Poly tanks do not conveniently fit inside a box that can be left on a front porch. Instead, they are carried and delivered by freight trucks or flat bed trailers, many times hauled by semi trucks. This is also why it is best to have a site prepared for the tank ahead of time so the tank can be set in place on delivery.
Due to the waiting time that happens with shipment, ordering tanks ahead of when they are needed is best. This can also provide time to prepare the site where the container will be installed.
Fifth, inspect and receive your tank on delivery.
Always monitor the progress of your poly tank shipment. Know when and where the tank will be delivered. Prior to completely receiving your new container, fully inspect the tank that is being delivered. Do this before allowing the driver to leave. This is a must and is required for an inspection report to be valid. If you allow the driver to leave and then you inspect the tank, the inspection will be useless if there happens to be any damage to the container. However, if you inspect the tank prior to signing the Proof of Delivery or Bill of Lading form from the driver, and there is unacceptable or critical damage to the tank, you can deny acceptance of the poly tank and the driver will have to return the shipment. If this occurs, make sure to get a record from the driver and ensure to promptly update the company you purchased the tank from.
All tank orders are inspected and approved prior to shipment. If we have shipped a container to you with confirmation, know it is shipped free of damage. After a container leaves our facility and is within the cares of the freight company, damage can occur. This is why it is important to inspect a tank prior to in-person receipt and signing the Proof of Delivery.
It is also important to know whether or not the driver will be able to deliver the tank to the exact location you are wanting it installed. This can happen if road access is limited or the layout of your property does not allow for a large truck. In such instances when the delivery driver will not be able to leave the container in your preferred location, you will have to move the tank yourself. Depending on the size of the tank ordered, you should already be prepared to do this.
Sixth, move your poly tank into place, install, and begin to use.
If the ordered poly tank cannot be placed exactly where you wish to have it set and installed long term, you will have to move it into location yourself. The process, difficulty, and any potential equipment required to do this will depend on the tank type, size, and its weight. Many buyers are surprised by the size and weight of a tank when it gets delivered. A 1500 gallon vertical water tank can weigh as much as 325 lbs. Even the common 275 gallon IBC tote weighs around 135 lbs. The 330 gallon IBC tote, 155 lbs.
Customers sometimes do not look into the size dimensions and the weight of the tank prior to purchase – instead they simply consider the volume and buy the tank they need in storage capacity without considering how large the tank will be and consequently how they will move it into location when it arrives.
Poly tanks up to 1000 gallons in volume are frequently small enough and light enough to be easily managed by 1 to 2 people. For poly tanks larger than 1000 gallons, weight and size starts to become an issue for only 2 people to handle alone. Indeed, tanks above 3500 gallons become too difficult for movement by human power alone and it becomes necessary for lifting equipment to be used in tank relocation and placement.
Consider the following points as guidelines to water tank weights by gallon volume ranges and the estimated number of people recommended to move the tank.
- Tanks Up to 1000 Gallons: At least 2 people (Tanks can be up to 160 lbs+)
- Tanks 1000 Gallons to 2000 Gallons: 4+ People (Tanks can be up to 330 lbs+)
- Tanks 2000 Gallons to 3500 Gallons: 5+ People (Tanks can be up to 450 lbs+)
- Tanks 3500+ Gallons: Lifting Equipment Necessary (Too heavy for human lifting)
The bottom line takeaway on this point is to always verify the weight and size dimensions of the poly tank you plan to buy before you buy it. This way you can ensure you have the capability to handle and install the tank.
Seventh, provide feedback.
If at the end of the journey in poly tank order and receipt, leave good customer feedback, whether its pros, cons, feedback, suggestions, recommendations, or service highlights. We are always looking for ways to improve and support our customers. If you have any questions, concerns or require any help in finding the perfect poly tank for your use, contact us.
