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Adding a propane tank vs running a gas line

Hobby_Man22

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Whats the cost to have a propane tank vs running a line 250ft from the road and having the gas company tap into the line at the main road? Can you have a natural gas tank are are you stuck with LPG? The house across the street from me was just built and they just had a tank put in. Looks like a 500 gallon or 1000 gallon tank. I'm not sure.
 
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yatg

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Southern Oregon
i hope you know this, but propane and natural gas are not the same. all your gas appliances need to be one or the other, and most can be converted. if you're not committed, when you buy an appliance, make sure it can go either way and get the conversion kit at the time of purchase or you might not be able to find it in a few years.

our house only has propane for the stove, everything else is electric (heat pump, water heater). we use less than a 20# bbq tank per year.
 

finn

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The UP, God's country
If it’s only 250’, it’s a no brainer to run a NG line instead of installing a propane tank.

Problem with propane is that the price isn’t regulated, so it can fluctuate wildly.

Over the past five or so years I have seen it for a low of $.79/gallon to as high a &4.00/ gallon. You will also likely have to have a minimum annual buy to avoid a tank rental charge, and buying your own tank would cost something in the same neighborhood as running a ng line.

At $.79/gallon you might not use enough to justify running a line, but at the upper end of that range, you’ll regret that decision. If you’re thinking about a 500-1000 gallon tank, you’re probably planning on using a lot of propane.
 

BillK

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Beautiful Southern Maryland
If natural gas is available that is absolutely the way to go. You might want to call the gas company and ask them. Around here they will help with the cost of running the line depending on how much gas you plan to use.

20 years ago they were running a gas line along the main street at the end of my cul-de-sac to a new section in my neighborhood and we asked them about getting hooked up. They said that if three houses on my street would commit to switching over they would run the lines up the street and to the houses for nothing. Thats what we did. We had oil heat and electric hot water before that and the gas probably cut my heat and hot water bill easily in half.

I had propane at the first building my business was in and like finn said you never knew what the price was going to be.
 

fitter30

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Peace Valley,mo
Can either buy or lease a tank. Lease a tank your married to that supplier for gas. Buy can shop around. Call around for prices. My 2cents natural gas.
 

Fasthotrod

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Oklahoma
I was on propane for years. When Natural Gas came into my neighborhood, they offered to swap out appliances for free. (Bill credits.) I thought it was a scam, so I blew it off.

A few months later, I notice that a lot of my neighbors don't have tanks anymore. Whoops!

I called the gas company, and that promotion was over... but they did offer to install the gas line and meter for free. I just had to do the appliance conversions. Thankfully, my appliances had both sets of jets/regulator springs, so it was an easy swap. The only thing I needed to replace were the gas logs in the fireplace.

When I built my shop, I had a local contractor come out and run a 1 1/4" gas line from my meter out to my shop. (100' run.) They did it for $900 ~ $1,000 if memory serves?

Give them a call, see if they will work with you on the price of the installation. Do the math between the cost of propane, annual tank rentals, etc... my bet is that you will save money over the long run.
 

PoorUB

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Fargo, ND
Perhaps if you are at all ambitious, you could rent a trencher, dig the trench, have a contractor lay the line and do the hook up and you bury it. It might save you a bit of money.
I used to put in a fair amount of under ground gas and when the home owner got the quote if they trenched versus us doing it, they always dug the trench!

I would guess $750-$1,000 if you dig it. Double it if a contractor digs it!
 

HoosierBuddy

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Southern Indiana
You literally could call the gas company and ask them and know the answer in 5 minutes.

It will cost somewhere from $0 on up.

As far as a "natural gas tank": No. The physics of methane storage won't allow it to work for a house (for more than an hour or so).

As far as what you should do, natural gas is half the cost per unit (more or less) BUT there is a monthly customer charge. If you are using it to heat your house or for your water heater or what not, it's a no brainer. If you are going to only use it to cook with or for backup or whatnot....propane may be cheaper. You'd have to consider the net savings including the customer charges.
 
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Hobby_Man22

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tx
I wonder why the house across the street didn't go with a gas line. Sounds like its not that much to run the line.
 

TractorJeff

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Elkhorn, WI
I would go outside and WALK to the neighbor's house and ASK him why he went propane and not natural gas!
Then you will know why and possibly the actual costs! Asking a bunch of guys on the Internet is NOT the Best way to get good Advice for your area!
 

Jackfre

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N CA
the thing about propane is a supplier will want to put in a tank that is not oversized…for them. Our supplier wants to have twice the annual load of the capacity of the tank. They want to avoid having to much steel in the yard. The annual rental fee may be adjusted or tank changed out depending upon usage. Rent an excavator and dig the trench to the gas co/towns Specs. Buy the poly pipe and lay it in with backfill, again to local specs and be done with it. Taht way you have nice NG supply without the worry, well unless it is really cold and the system freezes up. How about a mini-split?
 

HoosierBuddy

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Southern Indiana
the thing about propane is a supplier will want to put in a tank that is not oversized…for them. Our supplier wants to have twice the annual load of the capacity of the tank. They want to avoid having to much steel in the yard. The annual rental fee may be adjusted or tank changed out depending upon usage. Rent an excavator and dig the trench to the gas co/towns Specs. Buy the poly pipe and lay it in with backfill, again to local specs and be done with it. Taht way you have nice NG supply without the worry, well unless it is really cold and the system freezes up. How about a mini-split?
Not sure where this would be allowed? I guess if the gas company sets the meter at the streets maybe. However, there is no way a gas company will let a customer install piping themselves between the main and the meter. By code, that's the service line and the gas co. has about 1000 rules they have to follow with it. Construction of natural gas facilities is regulated through DOT-PHMSA and they have lots of requirements. I could start listing them, but I'll leave at that. The gas co or their trained, qualified, etc. subcontractor has to do that.
 

Skooterj

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Indiana
When I built my house 4 years ago, I called the natural gas company up about extending service to my house. The house 2 lots away already had service. There was an empty lot between him and I. He is on a corner and I am about 300 feet East of him. I learned that the gas main ran on the other side of the street from him and he was tapped into the main with a 1 inch line(I think, might be larger, but not much) So I asked the gas company to do the same thing, tap in and run me a small line. They said the would not do that, the I needed to pay them to extend the 3 inch main line from the corner, past the existing house, past the empty lot, past my lot, and two the unoccupied modular home in the lost to the East of my house. And they wanted about $8000 to do it. And they wanted me to pay the whole amount and then go to the people who owned the empty lot and the unoccupied modular(which might have been bank owned at the time) and ask them to reimburse me for their third of the project.

Now, I was already planning an all electric geo-thermal heat pump for my HVAC. All I wanted for NG was the water heater and cooktop. So I went all electric. Maybe once I build my garage, I'll have the propane company out to hide a tank behind it and convert my cooktop.

Funny think is, when my neighbor finally built a house on the empty lot last summer, the gas company said they would run me the 1 inch line for $2500, but do nothing about my almost new electric appliances. No thanks. The water heater usage alone would have paid for the line in 4 years.
 

PoorUB

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Not sure where this would be allowed? I guess if the gas company sets the meter at the streets maybe. However, there is no way a gas company will let a customer install piping themselves between the main and the meter. By code, that's the service line and the gas co. has about 1000 rules they have to follow with it. Construction of natural gas facilities is regulated through DOT-PHMSA and they have lots of requirements. I could start listing them, but I'll leave at that. The gas co or their trained, qualified, etc. subcontractor has to do that.
Generally the gas supplier is responsible from the main the the meter. The OP is in Texas and I assumed the meter is at the street the the homeowner is responsible to get the piping to the meter.

Up here in the north country the meter is always along the building so the gas company will bore it in then the hook up is the homeowner' responsibility.
 

gmcgeo

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Generally the gas supplier is responsible from the main the the meter. The OP is in Texas and I assumed the meter is at the street the the homeowner is responsible to get the piping to the meter.

Up here in the north country the meter is always along the building so the gas company will bore it in then the hook up is the homeowner' responsibility.
depends, now a days they want you to pay from the street to your meter. i have ppl calling me all the time because the gas company wants 2500 to put in a line and meter set to the house
 

HoosierBuddy

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depends, now a days they want you to pay from the street to your meter. i have ppl calling me all the time because the gas company wants 2500 to put in a line and meter set to the house
Why are they calling you? Not to tap the gas company's main and run a service line, I hope.
 
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gmcgeo

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Why are they calling you? Not to tap the gas company's main and run a service line, I hope.
to set a propane tank and hook up lp, it was cheaper for us to set tank and run gas lines then the natural gas company to run a meter set
 

PoorUB

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Around here if natural gas is available the city will not let you set a larger LPG tank, except for temporay heat, construction heat for example. you can use the BBQ sized tanks, but nobody has a 500 gallon in the yard.
 

gmcgeo

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Around here if natural gas is available the city will not let you set a larger LPG tank, except for temporay heat, construction heat for example. you can use the BBQ sized tanks, but nobody has a 500 gallon in the yard.
most likely because anything above 120 asm tanks need to be 10 ft away from the house and 10 ft from a property line, however if you have a 100 gallon tank set i do not see how they can tell you no, unless you are in an HOA?
 

gmcgeo

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most likely because anything above 120 asme tanks need to be 10 ft away from the house and 10 ft from a property line, however if you have a 100 gallon tank set i do not see how they can tell you no, unless you are in an HOA?
wouldn't let me edit the ASME part lol
 

gba2331

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20 years ago the gas co quoted me $20/ft to run a line from the street, and there was no option to dig the trench myself.
 

PoorUB

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most likely because anything above 120 asm tanks need to be 10 ft away from the house and 10 ft from a property line, however if you have a 100 gallon tank set i do not see how they can tell you no, unless you are in an HOA?
Well, I suppose they can't stop you if they don't know about it. But they will prevent it. When the city finds something that doesn't meet code they will letter you to death for a few months, then the last letters warn that if it isn't corrected by a certain date the city will remove it and send you a bill. And they will!
 

gmcgeo

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Well, I suppose they can't stop you if they don't know about it. But they will prevent it. When the city finds something that doesn't meet code they will letter you to death for a few months, then the last letters warn that if it isn't corrected by a certain date the city will remove it and send you a bill. And they will!
yeah, i get it. local code will always trump the gas code and national code. no need to give your self a headache if you have the option for natural
 

HoosierBuddy

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20 years ago the gas co quoted me $20/ft to run a line from the street, and there was no option to dig the trench myself.

Our company runs it for free for a furnace load or a water heater if it can be done in 1 day by a 3 man crew. Property owner is responsible to clean up the ditch line themselves. If it's for a gas log set, gas grill, garage heater, generator only....then they have to pay for the whole thing. How far they can run in a day depends mostly on what if anything they have to bore under. If you can trench it all the way back to the main....you can run a long way in a day. If you've got to bore a state highway in rock, maintaining at least 4-feet cover under the road ditches (INDOT's rule).....uh....not so much. The biggest issues though are with adjacent property owners where the main isn't contiguous with the new customer's property. In those cases the best thing is for the new customer to discuss it with their neighbor. Too often anymore, no one even knows their neighbors....and "I want to have the gas company dig up your yard" is never a good opening line.
 

bbbarracuda

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Your local gas utility is the only one who can tell you the cost (if any) to run the line.
Costs vary wildly from state to state, utility to utility.
 

James-W

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Southeastern Wisconsin
I am in the camp with the members recommending natural gas. I would not give propane a second glance if natural gas is available. Our local gas company will run 100 feet of gas line for new installations for free. After 100 feet they charge $6 per foot if they dig the trench and lay the pipe. I would check with your local gas company and see what they will do for you. You may be surprised by what they say.
 

Higgins

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Shepheardsville, KY
When I built my house 4 years ago, I called the natural gas company up about extending service to my house. The house 2 lots away already had service. There was an empty lot between him and I. He is on a corner and I am about 300 feet East of him. I learned that the gas main ran on the other side of the street from him and he was tapped into the main with a 1 inch line(I think, might be larger, but not much) So I asked the gas company to do the same thing, tap in and run me a small line. They said the would not do that, the I needed to pay them to extend the 3 inch main line from the corner, past the existing house, past the empty lot, past my lot, and two the unoccupied modular home in the lost to the East of my house. And they wanted about $8000 to do it. And they wanted me to pay the whole amount and then go to the people who owned the empty lot and the unoccupied modular(which might have been bank owned at the time) and ask them to reimburse me for their third of the project.

Now, I was already planning an all electric geo-thermal heat pump for my HVAC. All I wanted for NG was the water heater and cooktop. So I went all electric. Maybe once I build my garage, I'll have the propane company out to hide a tank behind it and convert my cooktop.

Funny think is, when my neighbor finally built a house on the empty lot last summer, the gas company said they would run me the 1 inch line for $2500, but do nothing about my almost new electric appliances. No thanks. The water heater usage alone would have paid for the line in 4 years.
The house we purchased had a HP and was basically all electric. Although NG was available at the end of our street. To extend the NG 1,500 ft was going to cost $27K as they would have to install a 2 inch main to our house
Had LP installed and we replaced the kit. Stove, hooked up the gas fireplace, and added a 30K wall heater in the large game room. Done. Cost to install LP 1K.
 

finn

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The house we purchased had a HP and was basically all electric. Although NG was available at the end of our street. To extend the NG 1,500 ft was going to cost $27K as they would have to install a 2 inch main to our house
Had LP installed and we replaced the kit. Stove, hooked up the gas fireplace, and added a 30K wall heater in the large game room. Done. Cost to install LP 1K.
Must be significantly larger than a standard house to require a 2” line. From what I recall, 1” or about that is more typical.
 

jar944

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Northern VA
I'd kill to have NG available. As it is I have a 1000gal propane tank that gets filled 2x per winter. Really no contest NG is cheaper regardless of connection cost.

If your neighbor has a tank, I'd be suspect if there is a NG line
 

Walkers

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Cave Creek Az
LPG might make sense if it was for a rarely going to be used fireplace, or maybe some radiant heaters of the back porch, or a BBQ. But if this is for household appliances, and natural gas is available, then go for natural gas. You will likely have a monthly fee of 10-15 bucks plus the gas used (which is cheaper than LPG).
 

Higgins

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Shepheardsville, KY
Must be significantly larger than a standard house to require a 2” line. From what I recall, 1” or about that is more typical.
The gas company wouldn't run the standard 1" gas line that distance. As the developer hadn't installed gas lines in some areas, over time the gas companies wouldn't install a new 2 inch main gas line to serve a single house!

Had the same problem out in CO with the local electric company. I would have to had paid for installing all the poles to gain access to our property. So generators and solar were the way to go!
 

bscman

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I've been in propane distribution and sales for 13 years. We have over 20,000 propane tanks on lease to residential and commercial customers.

Don't go with propane, if natural gas is an option.
Natural gas is 100% the way to go.
Monthly expense will be lower. Resale will be higher. You'll never run out.

Average cost in our area (for an existing home) to hookup to an existing natural gas main, including meter, is $10,000.
If it's a new construction or new development it's often significantly cheaper.

Every neighborhood around here, with natural gas available, has one or two old hold-out homes that stuck with propane or oil when gas lines came in. They're paying $400mo for heat right now, and their neighbors are paying $85.

If I were building a home, with the intention to live there for 5+ years, I'd choose to pay the $10k for natural gas.

(In case you're wondering, a brand new 500gal propane tank leases for $66/yr, delivery and hookup included.
Current price is just over $3/gal. We will NOT currently sell a propane tank new or refurbished, as the supply chain is so screwed up--we can't get enough new tanks. We are being told 10 months on our next delivery of 1000gal tanks. ALL of our local competitors have also nixxed the sale of tanks--lease only until supply chain settles down).
 

Duke74

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May 15, 2021
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Pierceland
We heat our house with only propane because natural gas is not available to our location. If we could get nat gas we would. We have a 1000 gallon tank and yearly rental is $90. We are in Canada and because it gets so cold here, we have actually had our propane get so cold it quit running to the house. Getting up in the middle of the night in -40 to pour a 5 gallon pail of hot water on the tank *****.
 
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