Propane installation - Above or Under Ground?

5030 · Feb 21, 2023

They only fill any of them to 85%

grsthegreat · Feb 21, 2023

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 · Feb 21, 2023

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 · Feb 21, 2023

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 · Feb 21, 2023

Hughman said:
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 · Feb 21, 2023

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

jyoutz · Feb 21, 2023

stumblinhorse said:
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 · Feb 21, 2023

Hughman said:
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 · Feb 22, 2023

jyoutz said:
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 · Feb 22, 2023

Jlblake said:
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!