Propane installation - Above or Under Ground?

[5030]

They only fill any of them to 85%

 

[grsthegreat]

Holy cow. I installed a buried 1000 gal tank 4 years ago. Tank cost $2,000 plus propane. I paid for hole and burial material.

here, they fill underground to 90%

 

[ericm979]

Underground would be safer in a fire. The above ground tanks turn into flame throwers and sometimes explode.

In my county above ground tanks have to be bolted down to a slab, due to earthquakes. And if they are placed where it's possible to drive into it they need bollards.

The cost for the above ground tank may include features like that.

 

[Hughman]

Looking into adding a generator. My propane provider just quoted me $3800 to purchase a second 250 gallon tank. They won't rent a tank for just a generator and the house tank is about 400-500 ft away (further than I want to trench).

 

[stumblinhorse]

Looking into adding a generator. My propane provider just quoted me $3800 to purchase a second 250 gallon tank. They won't rent a tank for just a generator and the house tank is about 400-500 ft away (further than I want to trench).

From the thread I created about propane generators, 250 gallon propane tank is right on the brink of not being large enough to vaporize propane to keep a generator running. Make sure you are certain it will work.

 

[Hughman]

Guess I'll need to get smart on vaporization rates. I was just sizing the tank to guesstimated usage.

 

[jyoutz]

I have had them all. I had owned a 1000 gallon buried. I rented a 500 gallon buried. I owned a 500 gallon above ground. Now down to a 300 gallon above ground.

Biggest advantage for me buried is the explosion a tank causes in a fire.

But for what they cost I would rent now.

The explosion hazard for propane tanks from wildfire is not the concern that lots of people think it is. I did wildland fire management periodically for almost 25 years. I’ve seen lots of wildfires burn under and around propane tanks without tank blevy issues. The key is to not have heavy fuels such as trees and brush adjacent to the tank. If the tank is in a cleared area and low intensity grass fires burn under it, I’ve never seen that type of fire cause a tank explosion (blevy).

 

[check]

Looking into adding a generator. My propane provider just quoted me $3800 to purchase a second 250 gallon tank. They won't rent a tank for just a generator and the house tank is about 400-500 ft away (further than I want to trench).

That is a total rip off. Just rent a 500 gallon tank like I do. The only cost $60 Canadian per year.

 

[stumblinhorse]

The explosion hazard for propane tanks from wildfire is not the concern that lots of people think it is. I did wildland fire management periodically for almost 25 years. I’ve seen lots of wildfires burn under and around propane tanks without tank blevy issues. The key is to not have heavy fuels such as trees and brush adjacent to the tank. If the tank is in a cleared area and low intensity grass fires burn under it, I’ve never seen that type of fire cause a tank explosion (blevy).

Yup, I seen a lot of fires and a lot of tank bleve. It is something to see. Smaller properties don’t have a lot of choices for tank placement.

 

[mikester]

Just got a quote to install a new 500 gallon tank and put 400 gallons in it. $6,000 for above ground and $7,400 for below ground.

1. do these quotes sound reasonable? (there is a $200 fee included to get to my property)
2. is it worth the extra money to put the tank underground? I have plenty of room.

Downside to above ground is the possibility of a tree falling on it as best I can tell. Downside to underground is the additional cost...which is affordable.

Thank you!

I'd get two more quotes. Around here you can rent a 500gal tank for $150-300/yr. 500 gal tank new costs CDN$4,500 retail

https://bryansfuel.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-propane-tanks.pdf

 

[ddbackhoe]

Guess I'll need to get smart on vaporization rates. I was just sizing the tank to guesstimated usage.

I would suggest going larger than guesstimated usage. What happens when the propane truck doesnt show up on day x of outage?

 

[jyoutz]

I would suggest going larger than guesstimated usage. What happens when the propane truck doesnt show up on day x of outage?

When I had propane, the supplier had a monthly keep full program, where they would check it monthly and top off when it was below a certain percentage of use.

 

[ovrszd]

When I had propane, the supplier had a monthly keep full program, where they would check it monthly and top off when it was below a certain percentage of use.

All suppliers here have that "program". But in the dead of Winter with storms approaching that gives me little comfort. The only supplier that can keep up is the one with a small customer list.

I can't express how my stress level changed regarding propane when I doubled my storage capacity. Go big or go home.

 

[ddbackhoe]

When I had propane, the supplier had a monthly keep full program, where they would check it monthly and top off when it was below a certain percentage of use.

That’s not necessarily a “free” service either. Locally, that would involve a “spot” price arrangement. I much prefer to own my tank and ”pre-buy” a year at a time. I also have the ability to refill my rv and bbq tanks from my 500 gallon tank.

 

[jyoutz]

That’s not necessarily a “free” service either. Locally, that would involve a “spot” price arrangement. I much prefer to own my tank and ”pre-buy” a year at a time. I also have the ability to refill my rv and bbq tanks from my 500 gallon tank.

That’s true. I would have my 500 gallon tank filled during the summer, and just topped off monthly in the winter. Unless you want to buy a 1000 gallon tank, it’s tough to buy only in the summer when prices are lowest.

 

[jyoutz]

All suppliers here have that "program". But in the dead of Winter with storms approaching that gives me little comfort. The only supplier that can keep up is the one with a small customer list.

I can't express how my stress level changed regarding propane when I doubled my storage capacity. Go big or go home.

I had a 500 gallon tank, and with the keep full program, never got so low that I was concerned about running out.

 

[5030]

All suppliers here have that "program". But in the dead of Winter with storms approaching that gives me little comfort. The only supplier that can keep up is the one with a small customer list.

I can't express how my stress level changed regarding propane when I doubled my storage capacity. Go big or go home.

That is me. 1500 gallons in 3 owned bottles @85% fill as required here in Michigan. Nice to be friends with my supplier too. He informs me when the price is low and I fill accordingly.

 

[ovrszd]

That is me. 1500 gallons in 3 owned bottles @85% fill as required here in Michigan. Nice to be friends with my supplier too. He informs me when the price is low and I fill accordingly.

I had been contracting my propane because I would need filled during peak price months. When I installed my larger tank one of the things the clerk at the propane office advised was that I won't need to contract as much. And if I manage my use and fills a little I can always buy when it's cheap. Very good of her to offer me that information. I would have figured it out. But great that she talked about it. I'm buying my propane at the right place.

 

[5030]

Most times we heat with the biomass stoves and free corn. One in the shop and one in the house. Problem is, today, most biomass stoves aren't corn capable. Mine are.

Currently, propane here is $1.49 per gallon. Of course that can change any time.

 

[5030]

Been filling my RV bottles for years from my bulk tanks. I refill my propane torch bottles as well. No point on buying new ones.

The one thing the YT video don't mention and that is, you want the bottle you fill to be as cold as possible. My small bottles go in the freezer for an hour or so before filling. The RV bottles go in the fridge in the shop.