Propane Fireplace

wjmst · Apr 24, 2013

I currently have a 100 gallon propane tank from Amerigas that I use for our indoor direct vent propane gas fireplace in the winter. I don't use 100 gallons a year, usually only about 50-60 gallons, so they charge me rent plus the cost to fill it up.

My question is, can I get my own RV or grill type tanks and use them instead? Filling them up as needed at the local station or doing a replacement at Lowes or someplace?

Any thoughts?
Thanks for the input.
Wes

vabiker23518 · Apr 24, 2013

I have the same problem at my cabin in Virginia....they offered me the option of paying the rent for the tank, or buying my own and getting a .10/gal discount on the propane. I took the latter option. Can't answer your question, but don't see why it wouldn't work.

tow653 · Apr 24, 2013

Propane is propane,fireplace doesn't know what tank gas came from,may be a little on expensive side to use small tanks though.

dave1949 · Apr 24, 2013

TSC sells 100 lb. tanks for $140. Might find them cheaper somewhere. It would be an annual chore to disconnect and take the tank(s) to get refilled.

scott_vt · Apr 24, 2013

Good Evenin wjmst,
I bought my own tank for my Vt property, a 330 gal tank. By owning your own tank, you get to pick your own supplier, who ever is cheaper at the time you need propane...

At the end of summer or early fall I start calling around for prices and then get it filled, no rental fees etc, its the best way to go IMO...

Clint S · Apr 24, 2013

Same with me, but I told them to drop the rental fee or I would drop them and go elsewhere. They now charge me $1 a year for that

wjmst · Apr 25, 2013

I called around to some other gas companies and all of the locals have been bought out my the national chains and they all have the same 100 gallon minimum or we will charge you a yearly rental fee. I asked them all about purchasing a tank and some said no and the others gave me a prices that were insane, like the cheapest was $900 or something like that! The gas companies all said that if I purchased my own tank I would need to get it inspected before they filled it up. So it sounds like they all have me right where they want me.

I am not sure what I am going to do next.

I wonder if I can fill my small gas grill tank with my 100 gallon tank? This why I would use the minimum about each year and not have to pay a rental fee. I doubt that it could be that easy though. Any thoughts on this idea?
Wes

oldnslo · Apr 25, 2013

wjmst said:
I wonder if I can fill my small gas grill tank with my 100 gallon tank? This why I would use the minimum about each year and not have to pay a rental fee. I doubt that it could be that easy though. Any thoughts on this idea?
Wes

With the proper equipment yes. Not sure what is required but my neighbor had a 5000 Ford that ran on Propane and he filled that from a 1,000 gallon tank he had for heating his home. Of course this was 30 years ago so the laws have probably changed and you need a license, certification, etc. to handle to propane now.

forgeblast · Apr 25, 2013

Small tank will ice up on you. Sometimes in the spring when I am using my brew system the tanks will get frosty.
Look at hd tsc, lowes they have the 100gallon propane tanks for last I looked about 140.

dave1949 · Apr 25, 2013

forgeblast said:
Small tank will ice up on you. Sometimes in the spring when I am using my brew system the tanks will get frosty.
Look at hd tsc, lowes they have the 100gallon propane tanks for last I looked about 140.

The TSC site said those are 100 pound tanks for $140.

One gallon of propane weighs ~4.2 pounds.

100 pounds / 4.2 pounds per gallon = 23.8 gallons

I suppose they only fill them ~80% full, so that would be 19 gallons per tank fill.

That should help with the cost comparison if you check the price per gallon at a local refill place like a hardware store.