Propane shortage

[tractchores]

We use propane for a pool heater and cooking, so it rarely gets filled. The tank is leased, which at first was annoying as there's a minimum charge. However I just had major repairs done on all the regulators costing around $500. Since the tanks are leased they own and maintain the regulators per the lease, so now I'm ahead of the game since I didn't need to pay for the repairs. Of course I'm locked into one vendor and they definitely don't have the best prices, so if I used more than 100 gallons per year I'd probably be looking at buying my own tank....

 

[kenmac]

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.

The higher efficient furnace will pay off If you don't pay an arm and a leg for it . It doesn't cost any more for me to perform maintenance on a 98% than it does for a 93% . Now, the parts cost less for a 93% than for 98%. Motors dual, stage gas valve, etc,cost more...
Like anything new.When the high efficiency furnaces , A/C units 1st came out there were a lot of problems. Not so much any more

 

[coobie]

Propane prices back in the early 2003 which were crazy high like todays price is why I heat with wood pellets($174 per ton).I only use about 300 gals. per year of propane.My yearly fill up was in august at $1.25 gal.

 

[LD1]

PMy yearly fill up was in august at $1.25 gal.

The lowest I seen my rates this summer was 1.35/gallon. But I dont monitor it daily and just happened to see that on their website.

But even if I could save 0.10/gallon by owning my tank, I just dont see the payback since I have no lease fee or minimum charge.

Since I fill up only once ever 4-5 years, and 10 cents a gallon on 400 gallons (80% of a 500gal tank), is only $40 every 4 years. So a $1000 tank would only take 100 years to pay for itself provided I never had any issues with the gauge, regulator, etc. Just not worth it in my case.

 

[coobie]

The lowest I seen my rates this summer was 1.35/gallon. But I dont monitor it daily and just happened to see that on their website.

But even if I could save 0.10/gallon by owning my tank, I just dont see the payback since I have no lease fee or minimum charge.

Since I fill up only once ever 4-5 years, and 10 cents a gallon on 400 gallons (80% of a 500gal tank), is only $40 every 4 years. So a $1000 tank would only take 100 years to pay for itself provided I never had any issues with the gauge, regulator, etc. Just not worth it in my case.

Bought my own new 500 gal. tank about 4 years ago installed for $700 bucks.Not a bad price IMHO.Nice to shop price and not be tied down to one company.

 

[Trails End]

I had a fill up of propane on 12/17/2013 at 3.629/gal. It looks like my next fill up
is going to be around 4.28/gal. based on recent deliveries at locations close by.
After reading this thread, I didn't realize that there was such a variation in price
for different regions of the country.

 

[coobie]

I had a fill up of propane on 12/17/2013 at 3.629/gal. It looks like my next fill up
is going to be around 4.28/gal. based on recent deliveries at locations close by.
After reading this thread, I didn't realize that there was such a variation in price
for different regions of the country.

WOW that price is nuts.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Propane is one of the wet gases from oil/ gas wells. comes from the well all together, has to be separated.

Wood pellets $225 and higher per ton here.

 

[tcartwri]

Just paid $1.04 L or $4.29 US gallon. That's 40 cents a L more than this fall.

 

[farmer2009]

My fill up in December was $1.65. But that is a special poultry price. We were just told to shutdown heaters in poultry houses. We have been rationed all flock to about 200 gal. A week per house. Couldn't imagine paying over $4 a gal. For propane. I would have to find a new heating source. Would make that outdoor boiler justifiable.