Propane shortage

[dstig1]

There was a news story here at the start of winter that Propane distribution was changing. The pipeline company that used to supply propane to the area decided to switch off the propane, and reverse the direction of the line to carry something else (maybe crude from ND? I forget...). but in any case the article said the demand for propane has dropped over the years, so it made better business sense to use the pipeline to carry something more profitable. Can't really blame them for that logic... The local suppliers had a year or more notice, and they were adding terminals to stockpile going forward. I think it was going to be mainly train delivery now to the terminals. They also said the price would go up as a result of all this. We have nat gas, and that was one of the big pluses when looking at the property. Not too common to have that outside the city, but we do here in a few spots, until you get too far out.

 

[bucktaker]

where is the best place to purchase a 1000 gal tank? we have a 500 gal rental but I need about 800 gal a yr so we always get a fill in jan at the high price because we cant make it through the winter. my supplier is trying to make us go monthly or charge a low use fee. I am thinkingI will just buy a 1000 gal tank and fill during the summer and tel them to pack sand

 

[kenmac]

I totally agree with you, My problem is that the furnace was, and is in the garage. It was already set up for the chimney vent and I don't have a drain for the water that is produced with the higher efficiency furnace. By the way, thanks for the smart remark about NG and the funny face, I needed a good laugh!

something to consider in the future. I use a condensate pump for the furnace condensate .. Venting should be a snap since, you can vent them with SCH. 40 pvc and terminate the vent just out side a wall, etc,

 

[kenmac]

We kept propane at the cabin... own the tank from 1964.

Thinking we should have switched to natural gas in 1985 when it was brought in and then all of Lake Tahoe lost natural gas for more than a week... the main line blew out in the middle of winter and we were sitting pretty with 85% full tank of propane.

Unfortunately... wood heating is being phased out and not even permitted in new construction.

Yes, with NG, you can have a loss of service. It does happen from time to time. I don't know about your area ,but in my area,it's rare to loose NG service . When there is a loss, it's only for a day or 2 (at most). I've had it at my current location for 27 yrs and have never had a loss

 

[Ken45101]

How old is your NG furnace ? What is the efficiency of your NG furnace? How much house are you heating? House well insulated ? windows,doors,etc, You can get a 95-98% efficient gas furnace which, will pay off

I have heard that efficiencies over 90% do NOT pay out. Much higher initial costs and more frequent maintenance costs for the high efficiency units.

FWIW, my son just paid over $4/gallon for propane. They don't even use their "high efficiency" furnace (it's broke) but rather heat with an unvented gas fireplace. Running the furnace is much more expensive than the fireplace.

 

[tcartwri]

This is during times of normal civility. I'm guessing you could pretty much say bye bye to propane in any dire circumstances or disaster. As such, it is my last choice as a fuel. You can always beg, borrow or steal fuel oil!

Every new house I have seen for a long while is without any wood heating appliance and almost everyone has some LPG or NG fireplace. FOOLS! Exchanging convenience for lack of self sufficiency!

A propane insert or stove does not need hydro to run, so they are actually a very shrewd addition to the home. Saved our butts during the 98 ice storm.

 

[tcartwri]

I have heard that efficiencies over 90% do NOT pay out. Much higher initial costs and more frequent maintenance costs for the high efficiency units.

FWIW, my son just paid over $4/gallon for propane. They don't even use their "high efficiency" furnace (it's broke) but rather heat with an unvented gas fireplace. Running the furnace is much more expensive than the fireplace.

It would actually be difficult to find a 93% or less efficient furnace to install. Plus if you're retrofitting from another heating source, running the venting for a high efficiency unit makes them a no brainer. Maintenance issues are not the same as they were with the high e oil units.

 

[stuckmotor]

Looks like propane supplies are getting short due to the 'polar vortex'. Also interesting was the link to high corn crop yeilds. The more corn the more farmers use propane to dry the crop and the less propane available for heating later in the year.- Yahoo Finance[/url]

I've never understood using fuel to dry corn. Won't it dry on the stalk in Idaho?

 

[lockhaven]

The mills require a certain moisture content for the corn, the price for corn goes down as the loads arrive so he who is first gets the best price. Also this so called shortage is pure BS, thats the way to raise prices pure and simple. Funny how when it is a shortage if the price goes up there is plenty, same as gas and diesel

 

[blueriver]

Although here in SE Oklahoma we don't get as cold we do experience cold ... The house is all wood the only propane is the farrowing house...I wasn't paying attention of pricing have a 250 gallon tank filled it in September at $1.79 a gallon the other day I looked and was just under 30% .. So I called and said top it off ... Geez was I shocked when I found the bill ... $2.75 gallon .. That's farm tax exempt ..