Propane bottle management

[rosietheriviter]

I to was wondering why you just dont tie the 2 filled bottles togeather before the regulator with a valve and then when one empties go turn the other on and close the valve to the empty off and throw in the truck to fill it call the son over that weekend to help. Then next bottle to go down same process.

At that many gallons a month wouldn't be cheaper to get an electric stove at least so your not burning that much $3/gallon propane up. I mean i know electricity is not cheap but i dont think it rivals propane.

Allowing to propane to "run out" in one of the tanks is the absolute issue I am trying to avoid. Breathing is a big problem for me and the Mercaptain (sp) or leak warning causes severe breathing spasms for me. The Mercaptain is very pronounced at the time the propane runs out. If that happens at night - it is not a real pretty sight here. NOT to mention relighting all the pilots.

$3.99 is a whole lot closer to $4.00 than to $3.00

I truly appreciate all the well intended responses and hoping for more I suppose I need to mention that:

The expense of replacing appliances (and wiring for them) eliminates that option.

Changing propane suppliers is not an option with the 100 gallon delivery requirement.

Any "man-handling" other than taking one of them to town is not an option for me.

I don't have a front end loader, I don't even have a riding tractor. Can't even handle the Gravely anymore.

Biggest issue of all is that when reading reviews of the various automatic switchers, I hear all kinds of horror stories about leakage and other malfunctions.

Rose

 

[tommu56]

the worst case some one could put ball valves on each pigtail besides the shuttle valve to eliminate any leakage.

Were are you located maybe some one on here could help?
If you are in SEPA I would do it for you I even have a travel trailer I am dismantling with parts on it.

tom

 

[clemsonfor]

Yea if you were close to me id just swing by and help when you called or on a schedule. But not ever having anything propane or using it i did not realize it would smell the house up. I know there is a "flavor" added to it to be able to smell a leak (all i have used is lanterns and grill). My question is, dosent that stuff combust with the propane, so why do you smell it? Or is it a case of the pressure is so low the nozzle does not produce a steady combustible stream so the last rimnents in the bottle just escape after pilot lights go out?

And yes, i shoul have said $4/gallon propane.

Again if i were closer we could find you a good (within 10 years) used stove on CL or in a habitat for humanity store and i would wire it up for you, as long as your house wasnt on a slab its not hard. You would only have the cost of say (depending on where your kitchen in relation to the panel is) maybe $>90 in breakers and wire, and say $100 -150 in a good stove that really prolly looks brand new and is maybe 8 yrs old or less.

The difference in propane would pay for itself in a short period esp at $4/gallon. Then you would only be left with water heating which maybe would be able to get by a lot longer.

 

[dooleysm]

We have a propane oven/range and 2 ventless fireplaces that are more for backup heat/looks than anything. I have 2 100# bottles. They are tied together with an automatic switching valve. When one tank goes empty it automatically switches to the other tank without my involvement. I just check the valve occassionally and when the indicator goes from green to red I call the propane company. They send someone out that changes the bottles and leaves me a bill for $70.

I don't know if such an arrangement is an option for you, but we have had the valve in place since we built the house back in 2004. Never had a problem with it. We get about 2 replacement bottles per year.

 

[bearhawk]

I am working from memory here so bear with me.

My first house I built I wanted a gas stove, and didn't want one of those big tanks to look at. So I set up two 30lb bottles like the front of an RV and set them under the deck.

I am sure it had an indicator to tell you what bottle was empty and I just took it into town when necessary.

Now just using gas for the stove I didn't have to refill it that often.

 

[rosietheriviter]

I just check the valve occassionally and when the indicator goes from green to red I call the propane company. They send someone out that changes the bottles and leaves me a bill for $70.

I don't know if such an arrangement is an option for you, but we have had the valve in place since we built the house back in 2004. Never had a problem with it. We get about 2 replacement bottles per year.

Terrific idea, I should have thought of that..... OR with two bottles each giving me several months each usage I might be able to arrange for one of the propane delivery outfits to fill my empty only when they were in the neighborhood to get around the 100 gallon minimum.

Gonna check into it.

Thanks,

Rose

 

[tlbuser]

I'm assuming the bottles are outside so weighing on scales is probably not a good option. Why not tee in a pressure guage after the regulator? If it's on a quick disconnect, you could try one of the bbq grill models.

Camco 59023 Propane Gauge and Leak Detector Camper Trailer RV

FYI, and just because

http://www.propane101.com/consumerpropanecylinders.htm