Propane Fireplace Logs

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I just finished building a new house. I have propane fireplace logs. Will a 100 lb. propane tank be large enough to run the logs? I am thinking of buying two tanks and just changing the line to a full tank when one runs out of propane. Since the logs are the only thing that uses propane, I really don't want to invest in one of the large tanks. Anyone do anything like this?

 

[schmism]

technically you need to know how many BTU/hr the logs can put off then match that to the proper tank size. In theory a non-heated propane tank can only put off a certain number of BTU/hr which is relative to the surface area of the liquid propane. (as the propane changes from a liquid to a gas it has to absorb heat from the surrounding environment to do this, if it cant absorb enough heat it starts to gel or freeze up)

to give you an idea of output capacites

BTU/hr output
temp 150 Gal. 250 Gal. 500 Gal.1000 Gal.

40ï½° F 214,900 288,1004 478,800 852,800

30ï½° F 187,900 251,800 418,600 745,600

20ï½° F 161,800 216,800 360,400 641,900

10ï½° F 148,000 198,400 329,700 587,200

0ï½° F 134,700 180,600 300,100 534,500

so while you may be able to run the fireplace off the 100lb tanks (about 23gal) you may find it freezing up on you quickly if the fireplace can put out a lot of BTU/hr

this is why you may have heard of people tossing electric blankets on or wrapping there tanks in black blankets/plastic in extremely (like -20 deg f) weather so they can get enough propane out of the tank to run the furnace.

 

[kennyd]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said...You can also join the two tanks together with a manifold so you are drawing out of both tanks simultaneously if your close to the max spec for one tank.

 

[ragkar]

The largest fireplace propane logs are 100,000 btu and that's well within your table. Don't forget to get a carbon monoxide detector.
A lot of people like the crackling sound of logs burning. You can buy crackling sound makers that run off a small 12vdc battery. I have one and it's nice. The speaker was put behind the logs and the crackling volume and frequency builds up just as in a real log burner.

 

[2manyrocks]

this is why you may have heard of people tossing electric blankets on or wrapping there tanks in black blankets/plastic in extremely (like -20 deg f) weather so they can get enough propane out of the tank to run the furnace.

My first time to hear this.

I would think people would try to use their old electric blankets, and I doubt any electric blankets, old or new, are UL rated for outdoor use on a propane tank. I guess it beats building a fire around the bottle....

 

[schmism]

The largest fireplace propane logs are 100,000 btu and that's well within your table.

yes for a 150 gallon or 250 gallon.

he was wondering about a 100 POUND ie 23 gallon tank. so take the 250 gall numbers cut a digit off the end. ie 28,000 bTU/hr(ish) for a 100lb tank

 

[dooleysm]

We have a propane oven/range and fireplace logs as the only gas powered appliances in our house. We have 2 100 pound tanks that have worked just fine for the 4 and a half years we've been in our house. We live in southern Indiana, so probably a bit cooler winter temps than the original poster, but pretty similar.

Our regulator has a switch that automatically switches to the other tank when one is empty and changes from green to red. I periodically glance at the regulator to see if it's red, then call the propane company for a refill. They come out within a week or so and swap out tanks. We typically have to make that call 2 times a year and it is less than $65 for a replacement tank, delivered and installed.