Big Guys vs. Us Weenies

[Sawyer Rob]

I switched suppliers, new guys said it was too wet to get their truck in where the tank was, so I moved the old tank out and the new one in myself,

New guys did all the hookups...

SR

 

[5030]

Think I'd have choked it a lot closer to the forks. Your CG is way too high with the forks way up there. Nice moss covered 500. Must be a leased tank. Mine are painted green to blend in with the trees.

 

[grsthegreat]

Think I'd have choked it a lot closer to the forks. Your CG is way too high with the forks way up there. Nice moss covered 500. Must be a leased tank. Mine are painted green to blend in with the trees.

They would not let us paint ours when i had an above ground unit. White reflects heat, dark absorbs heat. Oh well, i purchased a 1000 gal tank and put it underground

 

[jmc]

Forgot for sure what the delivery truck setup for my 500 tank was but seems like it mighta been similar to a septic tank or burial vault delivery truck. Those guys might freelance...

 

[radios1]

They would not let us paint ours when i had an above ground unit. White reflects heat, dark absorbs heat. Oh well, i purchased a 1000 gal tank and put it underground

underground is much better, because it'll stay much warmer underground, reducing the possibility of freezing, a generator on that tank can make it mighty cold because of the amount of gas being used!..

 

[5030]

underground is much better, because it'll stay much warmer underground, reducing the possibility of freezing, a generator on that tank can make it mighty cold because of the amount of gas being used!..

I've never seen ANY propane appliance freeze in the winter ever and it gets COLD here. Propane appliances (including standby generators) run on vapor, not liquid and the dip tube in a residential propane tank ONLY pulls vapor, NOT liquid. Why a full bottle is 85% of total liquid capacity, there has to be space above the liquid for the vapor to be drawn from.

Underground is ok, until the tank gets a leak in it and then the only way you can tell is all the dead grass around the tank and that takes some time leaking to happen. I much prefer an above ground bottle. Easier to check the level on as well.

Both mine are owned and both are painted hunter green Rustoleum. Blend right in with the trees.

 

[grsthegreat]

I've never seen ANY propane appliance freeze in the winter ever and it gets COLD here. Propane appliances (including standby generators) run on vapor, not liquid and the dip tube in a residential propane tank ONLY pulls vapor, NOT liquid. Why a full bottle is 85% of total liquid capacity, there has to be space above the liquid for the vapor to be drawn from.

Underground is ok, until the tank gets a leak in it and then the only way you can tell is all the dead grass around the tank and that takes some time leaking to happen. I much prefer an above ground bottle. Easier to check the level on as well.

Both mine are owned and both are painted hunter green Rustoleum. Blend right in with the trees.

I too have never seen a frozen large propane tank, i have only seen the small 5 gallon bbq size tanks freeze up if drawn down too fast. My underground tank has a wifi level monitor that i can check on smart phone from anywheres in world. Also alerts me if levels get down below 35% (owner adjustable levels). Its called tank utility. I got it because i do not have monthly tank top off. I only want to fill it when price is lowest point. But if traveling i can always call in a fill if necessary. The main reason i got this is because i had some requests from my customers for the thing, and i wanted to test install one to see how it works. Love it so i kept it.

 

[CobyRupert]

Propane will “freeze” (i.e. stop boiling) around -44F degrees and stay a liquid, not giving off enough vapor.
If things are freezing above that temp, it’s probably water freezing and I’d be asking my supplier what is he selling?
Now if you’re talking about freezing condensation from the air on the OUTSIDE of tanks from the evaporative cooling caused by the gas on the inside being used, that’s different. The gas flow rate to tank size (and ambient air or ground temps, dew points, etc..) will determine how fast the tank cools. I imagine a large tank would “freeze” too if you took the gas out fast enough.
As others have noted, turning a tank on its “side” where the surface area above the liquid is the largest let’s you draw LP gas out of a tank faster than upright. Think of it like working with any other boiling liquid.....but cooler.....and it can blow you up. Other than that...

 

[grsthegreat]

the only thing is...ive lived in montana where it was -60F wind chill and heated with propane. i never froze a tank?

 

[CobyRupert]

Wind chill is more of a “feeling” than a temperature.
It’s more an indication of the cooling rate, or the effectiveness of using air (wool sweaters, your arm hair, etc...) as insulation.