Propane hidden charge.

[mrmikey]

Most people keep the tanks outside.

The expression "in the house' was meant being used or distributed in the house...not literally the tank.

 

[mrmikey]

None of my big outside bulk propane tanks have ever been "tested" in the many years I've had them so I'd say not.

Being buried is kinda scary too, not knowing how acidic the soil is and not being able to see a leak although I 'spose you'd smell it.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

The expression "in the house' was meant being used or distributed in the house...not literally the tank.

21 years on a volunteer fire department, I have seen a few inside.

One of them didn’t end too well for the house, the homeowner had burn bandages on for over a year.

 

[CliffordK]

No. I'd been with them so long that I can't even find the contract. I just looked it up on their website and it is there under Terms and Conditions.

If you've had the service for a decade, or a couple of decades, then it is quite possible that the pickup fee you had agreed to had been quite different. INFLATION?

Are you paying monthly or annual rent on the old tank? If not, can you just scrap it?

Anyway, have them get a copy of the contract you signed. Otherwise it doesn't exist.

 

[RayIN]

I don't have propane other than the 20lb for my bbq and the 30 I keep for my generator. It would make me nervous actually having propane in the house...I know but be that as it may, it does .
Question, if you own the tank, doesn't it have to be tested every so many years, the same as a portable tank or not?

NO! Anything larger than a 100# cylinder is an ASME tank and does not require inspection. Smaller than 100# cylinders are USDOT certified, and must be recertified every 10 yrs. thereafter.

 

[Redbug]

We have been living in this house for about 30 years. It had a 300 gallon propane tank and gas/AC unit. I have replaced the gas/AC unit about 15 years ago with another one. It was time to replace since the heating side was going bad. Propane is hard on the furnace side. Just a few months ago I replaced that gas/AC unit with a heat pump. No more propane. The cost of propane has really gone up in the years and heat pumps have gotten more efficient. I had problems with getting the propane filled. My place is fenced and gated and they could not even give a day they would come. Some business model! Sometimes taking more than 2 weeks. I had the heat pump installed and moved the propane tank with the tractor to an easy place for pickup. They wanted $150 dollars for pickup...but got a check from the company that more than covered that cost from what was left in the tank. So far the heat pump is cheaper than propane. We are in SC. If you go with propane buy your own tank and shop around for fillers. I was reading that some heat pumps are efficient down to zero degrees. That's my story.

 

[ljjhouser]

Two years ago I replaced my tank - 500 gal. The old tank had 100 gal left. I asked them about transferring that gas to the new one or reimburse for for the gas in the old tank. They said they would be glad to do that for me - for a $200 fee ....the fee was more than the value of the gas to be removed.
I believe they use any excuse to make sure you pay more than you wanted. Made me wish I had not even called them.

 

[skid mark]

Smaller than 100# cylinders are USDOT certified, and must be recertified every 10 yrs. thereafter.

If possible/practical in your area, I recommend buying your own residential tank, and make sure that it has a "dip tube". With a dip tube, you can easily fill your own portable tanks - no more inspections!

 

[ponytug]

Two years ago I replaced my tank - 500 gal. The old tank had 100 gal left. I asked them about transferring that gas to the new one or reimburse for for the gas in the old tank. They said they would be glad to do that for me - for a $200 fee ....the fee was more than the value of the gas to be removed.
I believe they use any excuse to make sure you pay more than you wanted. Made me wish I had not even called them.

The national propane company that owns our local outfit now seems to have a pattern of maximizing their profit.

When switching suppliers here, they usually ask us to run the tank down to a small amount, and then plumb in and fill the new tank one a valved Tee with the old, then the old tank is run dry, allowing the homeowner to close one valve and open another to do the switch over. Newco then comes by later to totally disconnect the old tank, remove the valved Tee, and finalize the install. No propane to speak of left in the old tank, and no mystery fees.

When we moved here, I tried to talk my neighbors into joining a local propane group buyer group, but nobody did. $20/yr to save $1-$1.75/gallon. It has been great for us.

All the best,

Peter

 

[mrmikey]

That's the way you'd think it would be done by a reputable company.

 

[Oaktree]

If you go with propane buy your own tank and shop around for fillers. I was reading that some heat pumps are efficient down to zero degrees. That's my story.

This depends on the policies (always subject to change) of the suppliers in your area. As Deserteagle71 noted, not all companies will fill a tank they don't own. Varies by region maybe?
250+ gal tanks can be pricey, would hate to see you put all that money out only to have a tank that almost no one will fill.

When we moved here, I tried to talk my neighbors into joining a local propane group buyer group, but nobody did. $20/yr to save $1-$1.75/gallon. It has been great for us.

Depends on the area and participating companies. I looked into that once, the only company in my area that participated came by to inspect the house and found a bunch of things "wrong" that would need to be corrected before they'd take us on. Thanks, but no thanks. It also depends on how much you use, if you're a relatively small user, not many bargains to be had.

Anyway, have them get a copy of the contract you signed. Otherwise it doesn't exist.

I don't recall ever signing any contract with our provider.