PROPANE TANK OWNERSHIP

[Clint S]

I have a tank in the weeds my last supplier refuses to come and get. I have called a few times over the last two years and I get " someone will be out to get it shortly'' and they never come. Next will be a registered letter saying that they owe me storage fees for keeping it here.

 

[TnAndy]

Put it on Craig's list and get a few bucks out of it. I got a 500gal one for free because a company refused to come get it.

 

[coobie]

I talked to the propane dealer today if I buy the tank I pay $1.49 gal if I rent I pay $2.25. 250 gal tank is $875

Crazy price on that 250 gal.I bought my brand new 500 gal. tank 4 years ago installed for $800 bucks.

 

[crazyal]

That happened to my father a few years ago. He sent them a letter saying they had 30 days to come get it and they were responsible for restoring the landscaping back to how it was before they showed up. When they called him he told them that another company was happy to let him rent at no charge a tank for life to get him as a customer. A couple days later they called back and said they wouldn't charge him rent. 6 months later natural gas came to his street so he used their paperwork saying it was their tank to force them to remove it.

 

[lostcreekranch]

We bought and installed a 1000 gallon, fiberglass, underground propane tank while building house at the ranch. Larger capacity than we need but, has allowed us to take advantage of a few propane price dips over the years.

It was like burying a submarine.





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[drizler]

In Newyorkistan I don't think I ever saw a buried tank setup, the northern part that is. Besides here in the sticks there is normally only one company and they rape you mercilessly although I hear lately there is a bit of competition and prices are more fair. They were always pretty good at nailing you while the prices were high as were the oil companies when you were on a fuel contract program. You could always count on fuel exactly when you didn't want or need it right after the contract expired yet before the summer price drop. Then there is the issue of that fugly tank taking up a nice piece of your yard.
If you are the do it yourself type it's all too easy to just scrounge up two to 4 100 lb tall thin tanks and just fill them yourself. You just go buy an auto switching manifold setup and go fill them at the cheapest local gas station that sells propane. It used to undercut the ripoff outfits like Amerigas or Suburban by well over 1/3. It may well be a bit lower of late but still it's no hassle to fill 100 lb tanks yourself. I just incorporated a strap into the mid section of a cheap hand truck and it moves them easily. You can't keep the gas company out of their tank as you have no control at all but you sure can if you do it yourself and you don't need to buy one for $900 and stare at it every time you look out the window. If you can't find old used tanks you can buy them new in Lowes even here in the nanny state of Newyorkistan even though stores cant sell gas products unless they furnish installation.

 

[Scotty Dive]

In Ct, to have a buried tank, you have to have a concrete pad poured and the tank gets attached to that so it doesn't float away if there is a flood or the ground water rises.

 

[lostcreekranch]

In Ct, to have a buried tank, you have to have a concrete pad poured and the tank gets attached to that so it doesn't float away if there is a flood or the ground water rises.

I can't remember the dry weight of my 1000 gallon tank but, at 90% full, I have 900 gallons X 4.25 lb./gallon = 3,825 lbs. of propane plus it's under about 2 1/2 ft of soil.

Don't think it will float away.








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[Scotty Dive]

I can't remember the dry weight of my 1000 gallon tank but, at 90% full, I have 900 gallons X 4.25 lb./gallon = 3,825 lbs. of propane plus it's under about 2 1/2 ft of soil.

Don't think it will float away.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/447770-propane-tank-ownership-image-1123261598-jpg"/>

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/447771-propane-tank-ownership-image-1333072744-jpg"/>

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I totally agree....I was just adding to the fact how some regulations are over the top

 

[lostcreekranch]

I totally agree....I was just adding to the fact how some regulations are over the top

Yep, the people making regulations wouldn't recognize a propane tank if they were sitting on it.

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[check]

I can't remember the dry weight of my 1000 gallon tank but, at 90% full, I have 900 gallons X 4.25 lb./gallon = 3,825 lbs. of propane plus it's under about 2 1/2 ft of soil. Don't think it will float away. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/447770-propane-tank-ownership-image-1123261598-jpg"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/447771-propane-tank-ownership-image-1333072744-jpg"/> Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

Come on guys, think about it. What happens when the tank is empty? If the ground around the tank is saturated, then the tank would be bouyed up by a force AT LEAST equal to 8.35 pounds per gallon times 1000 gallons equals 8350 pounds.

 

[PILOON]

Come on guys, think about it. What happens when the tank is empty? If the ground around the tank is saturated, then the tank would be bouyed up by a force AT LEAST equal to 8.35 pounds per gallon times 1000 gallons equals 8350 pounds.

Like a septic tank that was only seasonally used. Darn thing popped out. Folks did not poop enough, LOL.(or shower)

 

[check]

I can't remember the dry weight of my 1000 gallon tank but, at 90% full, I have 900 gallons X 4.25 lb./gallon = 3,825 lbs. of propane plus it's under about 2 1/2 ft of soil. Don't think it will float away. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/447770-propane-tank-ownership-image-1123261598-jpg"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/oil-fuel-lubricants/447771-propane-tank-ownership-image-1333072744-jpg"/> Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

And when the tank is empty?

 

[dragoneggs]

I leased a 500gal tank for several years and because it was leased, I was trapped into buying propane only from the leasing company. They jacked the prices to more than double the going rate. Finally told them to come get it and bought a 250gal from a different company. They gave me a deal to switch to them, installed for free, and an introductory fill of a $1 a gallon. Now I can shop around and they know it... but they always give me the best price. This summer they sent a postcard out on another great deal and I filled again. I think ownership is the way to go. No advice on the OP's particular situation except I agree with those that say make them prove ownership. Don't cave.

The old underground tank part of the equation and current codes/rules might be worth looking into before you resist too hard though. Maybe it is worth them 'coming' to get it and you go another direction with another company. Just thinking out loud here.

 

[Ivan49]

I bought a 330 gal tank last summer. I paid 850.00 for it and that included a double reulator and hook up to the house and everything safety checked. Our old company sold out and the new one jumped the price of gas to 3.40 a gal which we did not know about until after the tank was filled. We have an outdoor wood stove so we use maybe 100 gals every couple years. The tank from the first company sprung a leak and they refused to do anything about it. New tank was set and I paid 90 cents a gal for first fill and have a set price for one year of .99 a gal. I got a bill of sale for new tank and they gave me a card with the serial number on it stating that I own the tank

 

[oosik]

Talking about why tanks are buried. We lived in a small rental log house in Glenallen, Ak. We had a 250 gallon propane tank outside in an insulated enclosure. When it got cold in Oct the darn furnace & kitchen stove quit working. The owner came and showed us that when it got really cold ( -20F to -30F) we had to turn on the electric heat lamp to raise the temperature of the propane in the tank. Brother - that was life in a bush town in rural Alaska.

 

[check]

Talking about why tanks are buried. We lived in a small rental log house in Glenallen, Ak. We had a 250 gallon propane tank outside in an insulated enclosure. When it got cold in Oct the darn furnace & kitchen stove quit working. The owner came and showed us that when it got really cold ( -20F to -30F) we had to turn on the electric heat lamp to raise the temperature of the propane in the tank. Brother - that was life in a bush town in rural Alaska.

First time I've heard of that problem! We have an above ground tank, and it gets down to close to 40 below in the winter, and we have never had a problem

 

[lostcreekranch]

And when the tank is empty?

Why would I let it go empty? Duh!

Cook with gas, heat with gas, BBQ pit on gas.

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[check]

My tank has been empty three times, when the propane supplier screwed up and forgot to fill it. Even so, when it's half-empty you still have over 4000 pounds of force pushing upward.

 

[lostcreekranch]

My tank has been empty three times, when the propane supplier screwed up and forgot to fill it. Even so, when it's half-empty you still have over 4000 pounds of force pushing upward.

Guess that's why, after 6 years, it's never moved.

Oh, and I would get a different propane supplier if mine let it get empty 3 times. My guy checks my tank when he is in the area and I check it regularly as well. Guess you don't check yours Check?

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