Drone Storage Tank Cleaning: Safer, Smarter Future
By Mullady Voelker, CEO – Drone Powered Solutions (DPS)
Storage tanks are vital infrastructure for industries ranging from energy and agriculture to water treatment and manufacturing. But maintaining them—especially cleaning them—has long been a dangerous, expensive, and labor-intensive task. At Drone Powered Solutions (DPS), we believe it’s time to modernize this process.
We’re pioneering a safer, smarter way to clean tanks: using industrial-grade drones equipped with precision spraying and pressure-washing systems. Here’s why this shift is not just inevitable, but essential for facilities managers in regions like Houston and beyond.
Safer Than Traditional Methods
Climbing tanks, navigating scaffolding, and manually power-washing elevated surfaces create unnecessary risk for workers. Falls, chemical exposure, and fatigue are all major concerns. OSHA classifies tank maintenance as a high-risk task—and rightly so.
Drones eliminate the need for rope access or lifts. Our FAA-certified pilots operate from the ground, while the drone handles all vertical cleaning with precision. This radically reduces fall risk and ensures OSHA compliance with far fewer man-hours in hazardous zones, aligning with 2025 trends where drone methods cut accident risks significantly.
Faster, More Cost-Efficient Cleaning
Drone cleaning cuts time-on-site by up to 60%. A traditional team might take a full day or more to set up scaffolding, treat stains manually, and wash a 30-foot-tall tank. Our drones can pre-treat, dwell, and rinse in under 2 hours—without compromising quality.
Fewer hours on the job mean lower labor costs, less downtime for your assets, and faster return to service. We’ve seen clients reduce total cleaning costs by 30–50% simply by replacing manual methods with drone operations, with some industry reports noting even greater savings through reduced equipment needs.
Superior Results with Less Damage
Many of the tanks we clean are coated in sensitive materials—epoxy, polyurethane, or elastomer membranes—that can be damaged by excessive pressure or chemical mishandling. Our drones are equipped with digitally controlled spray systems that deliver the exact PSI and flow rate required for each surface type.
We also use smart chemical pairing: environmentally safe degreasers, rust removers, and biocides that eliminate oil streaks, oxidation, and algae without compromising the coating. The result? Cleaner tanks, longer surface life, and no need for repainting.
Minimal Disruption, Maximum Precision
Drone cleaning doesn’t require scaffolding or heavy equipment, so your operations continue uninterrupted. Whether you’re cleaning tanks in a refinery, port facility, or remote farm, we can deploy in tight spaces, hard-to-reach areas, and even rooftops—all while minimizing site disruption.
Drones also allow for repeatable flight paths, meaning uniform coverage and data-rich reporting. Our pilots can document before-and-after conditions from multiple angles, giving you a clear audit trail for compliance and maintenance records.
Environmentally Conscious & Scalable
Because we use measured, efficient spray volumes, there’s less water waste, less chemical runoff, and fewer containment needs. For clients focused on sustainability, drone-based cleaning supports your ESG and environmental goals while still delivering high-performance results, often reducing water usage by 70% or more compared to traditional methods.
And if you manage fleets of tanks across multiple regions, our model is scalable. One drone system can service multiple tanks per day, and our regional teams can cover multiple states or countries—making this ideal for industrial partners with large geographic footprints, like energy hubs in Texas.
Ready to explore drone storage tank cleaning? Contact DPS for a free consultation tailored to your needs.
In Closing
Storage tank cleaning doesn’t have to be dangerous, time-consuming, or outdated. At DPS, we’re proving every day that drones can clean smarter, safer, and better.
Whether it’s oil stains, algae, or oxidation streaks, our drone wash systems are engineered to handle it with precision—and without putting human lives at risk. For more on our industrial expansions, check our blog on wind turbine maintenance.
Don’t wait—schedule your drone tank cleaning in Houston or your area today!
