All things propane

[MushCreek]

I'm looking into getting a couple propane appliances for my barn. Propane, because natural gas is not available here. Number one, I want to get a free-standing propane fireplace/stove for the great room. This is a big rustic 16 x 28 x 22' room. I originally wanted a wood stove, but the cost of a chimney to get above the 27' roof is prohibitive. That, and I'm reaching the age where dealing with fire wood is less attractive. Number two, I'm considering a propane tankless water heater for hand washing and (rarely) showers. I don't want a tank type WH, as they get funky when they sit for long periods.

The fireplace would get used maybe 10 times a year. The idea is to fire it up for a couple hours, sip wine, and listen to nice music. We may have dinner parties from time, and would like the ambiance and heat during the winter months. The WH would get used for hand washing in the shop fairly often. The shower will be seldom. If we have overnight guests, they may use it for a couple days, but it might be a year or more between such occasions.

If you're still here- a few questions. How big a propane tank, and what's involved in installing and filling? Would a 100 lb. portable be enough? Or get a bigger stationary one from a dealer? Who owns it? Costs? What all is involved in 'plumbing' the building? Something for an aggressive DIY'er?

I'm looking for a direct vent fireplace. B vent rigs need the same chimney height as a woodstove. Ventless ones pump out water vapor, and you have to watch for carbon monoxide build-up. Id that even an issue in a big room like this, for occasional use? The ventless ones sure are a bunch cheaper than a direct vent.

 

[bob15]

Tank: I would look at a 120 gallon tank as a minimum. You can get them from a dealer or used. It depends on your location if you can own or rent the tank.

Plumbing: black pipe inside the building with gas *****. Can be done yourself, easiest if you have a pipe machine. You need to make sure the pipe dope is LP compatible as some are not. Any copper tubing will require the yellow polyethylene jacketed covering and single flare fittings.

Tankless water heater: I've had a Rinnai for 15 or so years and no issues. It is piezo ignition, so no pilot flame.

Permit: pull one and have it inspected to make sure your **** is covered in the case of an accident. When testing the plumbing, I had to show my stem would hold only a small amount of pressure ( I'm thinking it was around 5-15 psi) for maybe 15 minutes (I did it ~15 years ago and my memory is slipping a tad).

One thought would be: if you aren't using the HW for extended periods of time, it might be wise to put a drain valve to drain the complete system down.

 

[TractorJeff]

I agree with Bob!
I installed all the interior piping the same as he described.
I ran two 100lb tanks which lasted about a month (each tank) heating a 30 by 32 by 12 to 55 degrees 24/7.
Only turning up the Heat to 62 everyday when I am working in there.
The 2nd year I contracted with the local supplier to go with a 120 gallon tank which has about 80 usable gallons.
They come about every 3 months to refill at a MUCH Cheaper price than I could get the 100lb'ers filled for, plus the hassle of moving them. They don't charge Tank Rental because I use approximately 300 gallons a Heating Season.
Shop around to see what your local suppliers can do for a Deal.

 

[58Yeoman]

For your size building, I'd go with a 500 gallon tank. Your propane dealer can supply you with one, either to use because you will buy ALL your propane from them, or rent it to you. You will still buy all your propane from them. I own both my tanks, a 500 for the house and 120 for the shop, but I buy ALL my propane from one place only, as they are the best and cheapest in my area, Farm Service (FS). They repaired my 500 gallon tank and didn't charge me.

A 500 should last you quite a while if you're only using it sporadically. This past winter, we had really cold temps, and I let my furnace run constantly for about a week at 40*, and it drew the 120 down considerably. My building is a 24x40 with only 1.5 inches insulation in the walls and 6 in the ceiling.

A non vented heater will put a lot of humidity in the air. My last garage was a 28x28 with one wall heater used as needed. Open a window or it would gas me out. Many tools, etc. started to rust. No more ventless for me.

The 500 tank was here when I bought the place, and I bought the 120 from a farmer who was upgrading to a larger tank. Before FS bought out my first propane supplier, I had called him and asked about how to install the new to me tank. He told me to place it at least 10' from the building, (found out later that's for tanks larger than 120; a 120 can be right up against the building), run copper outside to black pipe inside. He told me that if I'm buying a used tank, to look for one that's less than 10 years old (didn't/doesn't really matter, as long as it's not too old, or it may need to be re-certified). He also told me that if I buy a used one and haul it myself, to paint 'scrap' on the side of the tank. I guess it might not be legal for me to haul it? I did haul it quite a way w/o writing scrap on the side, and didn't have any problems.

When the guy came to fill it for the first time, he checked my installation, and said it was good to go, except I had to install an inside shut off valve within so many feet of the heater. The tank I bought still had 30%, so he didn't have to check that it was safe to use. FS has it where I can call to have them fill it, or they do it on a regular basis. I've told them all the propane appliances that I have, and they have a pretty good idea of how much I use. They fill the small tank at the same time, but I could call them to fill it sooner if needed.

Do not let that tank run empty, or they will have to do a safety check on it and all appliances before refilling. My first company was 30% minimum, FS is around 20%.

 

[yeldogt]

Is the shop sink the same as the sink in the bath with the shower?

Is the barn heated -- or is this fireplace for heat?

The more you want heat from the fireplace -- the less "real" looking it will be. While I do have one set of gas logs -- they are inside a real fireplace in my office. They are vented and look rather nice. Not much heat.

The units you see most builders using are just flames flickering behind glass IMO -- not much of a fireplace. You should go and look at them ... most fireplace stores have various models. To get away from the fake look of almost all fireplaces today -- you see more of the dancing flame types. Frankly -- I find them better ..... no heat from them.

What's you electric rates ? I have a small electric unit that we use at the outdoor kitchen at the beach ..... It's common for people to have tanks as well .... I have never had mine get "funky".

Tankless will work -- question of piping and distance. As to propane -- one you pick the things you want to run you can figure out the tanks. Around me in PA they like to use tandem 120's ..... this gives some capacity w/o having too many deliveries. It's typically easier to rent at that usage ......

 

[MushCreek]

The hot water would serve both the sink in the shop, and the bathroom in the great room. They are back-to-back, so all of the plumbing is in one area. The propane appliances will be about 40' apart, though, with the fireplace pretty far from where I would put the tankless. Doing some quick math, I think 500 gallons would be way overkill for my usage. The stove I'm considering is 28K BTU max. That works out to 1,625 hours run time! The WH would be used for a minute or two several times a day, and very rarely for a 15-20 minute shower if a guest is staying over.

What about truck access to the tank? It's going to be kind of in the woods. How close do they have to get to fill it? Placement may depend upon that.

 

[jrsavoie]

For your size building, I'd go with a 500 gallon tank. Your propane dealer can supply you with one, either to use because you will buy ALL your propane from them, or rent it to you. You will still buy all your propane from them. I own both my tanks, a 500 for the house and 120 for the shop, but I buy ALL my propane from one place only, as they are the best and cheapest in my area, Farm Service (FS). They repaired my 500 gallon tank and didn't charge me.

A 500 should last you quite a while if you're only using it sporadically. This past winter, we had really cold temps, and I let my furnace run constantly for about a week at 40*, and it drew the 120 down considerably. My building is a 24x40 with only 1.5 inches insulation in the walls and 6 in the ceiling.

A non vented heater will put a lot of humidity in the air. My last garage was a 28x28 with one wall heater used as needed. Open a window or it would gas me out. Many tools, etc. started to rust. No more ventless for me.

The 500 tank was here when I bought the place, and I bought the 120 from a farmer who was upgrading to a larger tank. Before FS bought out my first propane supplier, I had called him and asked about how to install the new to me tank. He told me to place it at least 10' from the building, (found out later that's for tanks larger than 120; a 120 can be right up against the building), run copper outside to black pipe inside. He told me that if I'm buying a used tank, to look for one that's less than 10 years old (didn't/doesn't really matter, as long as it's not too old, or it may need to be re-certified). He also told me that if I buy a used one and haul it myself, to paint 'scrap' on the side of the tank. I guess it might not be legal for me to haul it? I did haul it quite a way w/o writing scrap on the side, and didn't have any problems.

When the guy came to fill it for the first time, he checked my installation, and said it was good to go, except I had to install an inside shut off valve within so many feet of the heater. The tank I bought still had 30%, so he didn't have to check that it was safe to use. FS has it where I can call to have them fill it, or they do it on a regular basis. I've told them all the propane appliances that I have, and they have a pretty good idea of how much I use. They fill the small tank at the same time, but I could call them to fill it sooner if needed.

Do not let that tank run empty, or they will have to do a safety check on it and all appliances before refilling. My first company was 30% minimum, FS is around 20%.

I agree on the 500 gallon tank or bigger. I have a hundred gallon tank on an outbuilding and it never makes it through the season.

We like to fill once a year at the summer rate. The winter rates can get crazy.

I would not go with ventless, The slight fumes still have adverse affects on some people.

Our 1000 gallon tank is about 40 ft. From the house. Wish it was further.

We had a friend that had a tank next to their barn. It got hit buy lightening and blew up the barn.

 

[Jackfre]

You will find taht the propane company will supply a tank, but not a 500 for your usage. That much steel in the yard is not a good deal for them. Twin 100’s or a 250 would be best. try to get the 250, or buy a couple 100’s. Call Blossman and have them come out to look. they can quote you on it and you can then decide how much diy you want to get into. As to free standing LP units I would look at Jotul. For hand washing and a bathroom I would not go over 120kbtu. Rinnai is the largest seller in your area and best supported with trained techs. Position the tankless close to the major load to shorten delays on HW delivery.

 

[jrsavoie]

How much do propane tanks cost in your area?

They used to be about a buck a gallon here. Seems they are hard to find and price has doubled or more.

If you need a winter fill and price has doubled or more, having a tankful can go a long way towards paying for the tank. I save at least .20 a gallon every year at fill time by owning my tank.

The little tank for the outbuilding screws me every year. They have a 250 gallon minimum or they charge delivery. So I have the 100 gallon filled and the rest put in the 1000 gallon tank. I need to find and buy another bigger tank.

 

[gmyers]

If you buy your own tank you can have anyone fill it up. In my area there are two options. If I dont use one for a year they send me a promo special for $1 per gallon. If you rent or get a tank from one supplier they are the only ones who can fill it. Tanks are only filled to 80%. Also my propane dealer gives a discount per gallon for tanks 500 gallons or bigger.

Make sure you plum your water heater with a clean out and a drain. I thought I drained mine in the winter and the coils froze and I had a repair job to do. I now have to use the pressure valve to drain it in the winter when I am gone. Not the best way but the only choice I have for now.

 

[MushCreek]

Direct vent shouldn't have any fumes. The exhaust goes outside, and fresh air comes in from outside. It's a closed system, which is probably why they're so expensive. I have my eye on a used, but mint Jotul.

 

[jrsavoie]

Direct vent shouldn't have any fumes. The exhaust goes outside, and fresh air comes in from outside. It's a closed system, which is probably why they're so expensive. I have my eye on a used, but mint Jotul.

I was thinking of ventless.

 

[nadogail]

I used bottled gas appliances for cooking, warmth and water heating when I live in Spain. They served me well 50 years ago.

 

[PoorUB]

The thing you will find with a propane tankless it to supply the amount of hot water for a shower you will want close to 150,000 BTU input to supply a shower and if someone runs hot water in the sink the water it may cool down. Watch out for the specifications. Many manufacturers say they will flow 7 GPM, but you will get around 25 degree temp rise at 7 GPM. If your water is 50 degrees coming out of the ground that is 80 degree water.

 

[MushCreek]

Modern shower heads should only be about 2 GPM. This ain't one of those fancy showers with 27 different shower heads. It's a cheap fiberglass stall with one head. I will do the math to be sure the heater can keep up.

 

[PoorUB]

I looked again, roughly 100,000 BTU will get you 4 GPM at 50 degree rise. If there is any chance someone will be in the shower and another person runs water in the sink this is the minimum you will need.

People do not realize how many BTU it takes to supply a home. I sold tankless heaters for a few years and generally for any home, unless it was a tiny one bedroom bachelor pad, we would start with a 200,000 BTU unit. Some homes we put it two 200,000 BTU units, one I remember we put in three 200,000 BTU units, but they had a large home and they has a herd of children!

 

[jrsavoie]

I looked again, roughly 100,000 BTU will get you 4 GPM at 50 degree rise. If there is any chance someone will be in the shower and another person runs water in the sink this is the minimum you will need.

People do not realize how many BTU it takes to supply a home. I sold tankless heaters for a few years and generally for any home, unless it was a tiny one bedroom bachelor pad, we would start with a 200,000 BTU unit. Some homes we put it two 200,000 BTU units, one I remember we put in three 200,000 BTU units, but they had a large home and they has a herd of children!

By the time you put in 3 units, would it still be cost effective compared to an 80 gallon tank?

Our 80 gallon is 25 years old plus. You have to figure change outs into the eqation too. You can buy a lot of fuel for one change out

 

[PoorUB]

Not cost effective, but they wanted high efficiency. Plus they are relatively quiet and don't take up much room. Stuff one on a hall closet if you want. Plus with tankless you have endless hot water.

 

[jones988]

I would not go with any 100# tanks. These can't be filled by most delivery trucks so you'd have to take them somewhere to be filled. And at least in my area, you pay 3-4x the price for tanks filled by the pound vs the bigger permanent tanks that are filled by the gallon from a delivery truck.

And I would bet you would not find a propane company willing to place a 500 gallon tank for just a fireplace and hot water heater. You might have luck trying to get a 325 gallon tank, maybe. Most will recommend a 120 gallon tank. You would have to check with local propane companies if they would lease a 120 gallon tank or not, mine doesn't. You can lease 325 tanks and up, but they require you to buy a 120 tank. Their argument is most people utilizing a 120, won't go through enough propane yearly to justify a lease setup.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm going to go to the local propane place today and get their take on it.

 

[finn]

For your size building, I'd go with a 500 gallon tank. Your propane dealer can supply you with one, either to use because you will buy ALL your propane from them, or rent it to you. You will still buy all your propane from them. I own both my tanks, a 500 for the house and 120 for the shop, but I buy ALL my propane from one place only, as they are the best and cheapest in my area, Farm Service (FS). They repaired my 500 gallon tank and didn't charge me.

A 500 should last you quite a while if you're only using it sporadically. This past winter, we had really cold temps, and I let my furnace run constantly for about a week at 40*, and it drew the 120 down considerably. My building is a 24x40 with only 1.5 inches insulation in the walls and 6 in the ceiling.

A non vented heater will put a lot of humidity in the air. My last garage was a 28x28 with one wall heater used as needed. Open a window or it would gas me out. Many tools, etc. started to rust. No more ventless for me.

The 500 tank was here when I bought the place, and I bought the 120 from a farmer who was upgrading to a larger tank. Before FS bought out my first propane supplier, I had called him and asked about how to install the new to me tank. He told me to place it at least 10' from the building, (found out later that's for tanks larger than 120; a 120 can be right up against the building), run copper outside to black pipe inside. He told me that if I'm buying a used tank, to look for one that's less than 10 years old (didn't/doesn't really matter, as long as it's not too old, or it may need to be re-certified). He also told me that if I buy a used one and haul it myself, to paint 'scrap' on the side of the tank. I guess it might not be legal for me to haul it? I did haul it quite a way w/o writing scrap on the side, and didn't have any problems.

When the guy came to fill it for the first time, he checked my installation, and said it was good to go, except I had to install an inside shut off valve within so many feet of the heater. The tank I bought still had 30%, so he didn't have to check that it was safe to use. FS has it where I can call to have them fill it, or they do it on a regular basis. I've told them all the propane appliances that I have, and they have a pretty good idea of how much I use. They fill the small tank at the same time, but I could call them to fill it sooner if needed.

Do not let that tank run empty, or they will have to do a safety check on it and all appliances before refilling. My first company was 30% minimum, FS is around 20%.

A 500 gallon tank for sporadic use in the Carolinas is crazy talk.

We heated an entire house in Michigan with a 250 gallon tank, my own house has a 500 gallon tank, and my 48’x75’ shop has a 330 gallon tank.

A friend has a tank that’s, I think, less than 200 gallons, snuggled up against his house. The codes require tanks above a certain size to be 10’ away from the building, so, because of the topography, the smaller tank fits his needs.

The propane companies all have keep fill services, and will also refill upon request in a couple of days, so there’s really no advantage to having an oversized tank.

I would bet that, given the op’s description of his sporadic use, and mild climate.he will probably use less than a couple hundred gallons per year, at most.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Reading the thread, I had a thought for the OP.

Another justification for the larger tank would be if you thought you might want to use it to fuel a backup generator in the future.

It depends on how reliable (or not) your power is at your home....but 500 gallons of propane hooked to a generator would be pretty handy if you lost your power for a few days.

Phil

 

[amkluttz]

If you buy your own tank you can have anyone fill it up. In my area there are two options. If I dont use one for a year they send me a promo special for $1 per gallon. If you rent or get a tank from one supplier they are the only ones who can fill it. Tanks are only filled to 80%. Also my propane dealer gives a discount per gallon for tanks 500 gallons or bigger.

Make sure you plum your water heater with a clean out and a drain. I thought I drained mine in the winter and the coils froze and I had a repair job to do. I now have to use the pressure valve to drain it in the winter when I am gone. Not the best way but the only choice I have for now.

Good advice here! I used to be a service technician for a major propane company. If you can afford to buy your own tank then do so. We always dropped prices by $1 or more, sometimes nearly half, if you had your own tank. It's because you can afford to shop around. When you lease a tank from a supplier you are stuck with them and their pricing. We required paperwork (receipts) stating that you owned the tank and didn't simply paint over another suppliers label. Their scare tactic for you owning your tank is that they won't service it if something goes wrong so they talk quite a few people out of buying tanks and leasing instead. It's a money maker for them.

I'm going to go to the local propane place today and get their take on it.

Take what they say with a grain of salt. They are trying to sell you their product so they will say whatever to get you in the door. It would be like going to a GM dealer and expecting them to tell you if their car is really better or worse than the Ford, Dodge, Toyota, etc. They're going to tell you of course that their GM product is better. The end result is you walk away with a car but maybe not the best one for your needs. They can't be impartial, they're trying to make money.

Call around and ask for pricing. Most places will give you a "first fill" pricing. Tell them you want whatever the standard pricing is and not first fill, new customer. Then ask for pricing for owning your tank. Propane prices fluctuate daily.

 

[jones988]

Good advice here! I used to be a service technician for a major propane company. If you can afford to buy your own tank then do so. We always dropped prices by $1 or more, sometimes nearly half, if you had your own tank. It's because you can afford to shop around. When you lease a tank from a supplier you are stuck with them and their pricing. We required paperwork (receipts) stating that you owned the tank and didn't simply paint over another suppliers label. Their scare tactic for you owning your tank is that they won't service it if something goes wrong so they talk quite a few people out of buying tanks and leasing instead. It's a money maker for them.



Take what they say with a grain of salt. They are trying to sell you their product so they will say whatever to get you in the door. It would be like going to a GM dealer and expecting them to tell you if their car is really better or worse than the Ford, Dodge, Toyota, etc. They're going to tell you of course that their GM product is better. The end result is you walk away with a car but maybe not the best one for your needs. They can't be impartial, they're trying to make money.

Call around and ask for pricing. Most places will give you a "first fill" pricing. Tell them you want whatever the standard pricing is and not first fill, new customer. Then ask for pricing for owning your tank. Propane prices fluctuate daily.

Propane companies must vary greatly across the country! I work for a Co-Op in Indiana who has a good sized propane department and the way we do things are a lot different. I'd like to think we do things pretty fair though as we hear horror stories from other propane companies in our area.

Our propane prices are the same regardless if you own your own tank or lease one from us. We also don't offer a "first fill" price. We do offer cheaper rates during the summer for "summer fill". We also hardly change our propane prices, maybe a few times throughout the year. The only difference in our propane pricing is for "Ag" customers, which is normally a little cheaper due to taxes, similar to off road diesel.

 

[MushCreek]

I wasn't able to get much info at the store, so they're going to send their sales guy out to look over the installation and give me his opinions on stoves and tanks. No charge for him to come out. There's only one local supplier, but there are others further away. I'm not sure how far they'll drive to fill a tank. The girl at the desk said the fill hose is at least 100', so tank location isn't going to be an issue. My wife has indicated that she doesn't want the tank visible from the house.

 

[dcg9381]

If you're still here- a few questions. How big a propane tank, and what's involved in installing and filling? Would a 100 lb. portable be enough? Or get a bigger stationary one from a dealer? Who owns it? Costs? What all is involved in 'plumbing' the building? Something for an aggressive DIY'er?

When I built my shop, I installed a 3/4" hard line (pipe) for propane. We use it for a gas clothes dryer and a tankless (vented) water heater that cost under $350, which provides hot water to a kitchen and the washing machine in the shop. I've also got it setup to provide warm water to a hose bib on the outside of the shop, so our RV can have an "endless" shower when we want to do that. It's worked great.

I really wish I had added a propane heater - that's retrospective after the great Texas freeze where our heat pumps couldn't keep up.

I did all of this DIY using 100 lb propane tanks. They last us (when living in the shop) 3-4 months each. I have two of them. One I keep filled at all times so I can swap them. Here, I can't get anyone to fill these for me on site, so I load them up in the back of the truck (or put them on my trailer) and take them to tractor supply. They are pretty heavy for one guy to do alone, I think about 150-170lbs full, so if you do it this way, be prepared for some hassle. I paid about $150 each for the tanks new.

We just completed a house. On the house, I paid for a brand new 500 gallon propane tank and had it done for me. Cost at the end of the day was almost $4000 for the tank, fill, lines, lines, 2 regulators, turn key. Can you do better than this? Yes.. Quite a bit better, but you'll have to shop for a used propane tank (hopefully with build date of the last 10 years), move it, and either set it up yourself or have someone do it. I shopped for a very long time, but never found used one that I liked.

Typical propane is "lease" or buy. If you buy, you can have anyone fill it. If you lease, they tie you in to scheduled refills, usually at a contracted price.

One thing I added to my "big" tank is a "wet leg kit" - so I can gravity / pressure fill my own propane bottles now..

 

[amkluttz]

Propane companies must vary greatly across the country! I work for a Co-Op in Indiana who has a good sized propane department and the way we do things are a lot different. I'd like to think we do things pretty fair though as we hear horror stories from other propane companies in our area.

Our propane prices are the same regardless if you own your own tank or lease one from us. We also don't offer a "first fill" price. We do offer cheaper rates during the summer for "summer fill". We also hardly change our propane prices, maybe a few times throughout the year. The only difference in our propane pricing is for "Ag" customers, which is normally a little cheaper due to taxes, similar to off road diesel.

Interesting. I guess it comes from being in a fairly major sized service area (Charlotte) and working for a large, profit seeking company. It also could've been my manager who was a sleezeball and was trying to nickel and dime everything he could. Our prices changed almost daily and prices were much higher for people who had our tanks. There was also a lot of competition in our area and my manager would make me call them all and ask about pricing when I was on summer desk duty.

I wasn't able to get much info at the store, so they're going to send their sales guy out to look over the installation and give me his opinions on stoves and tanks. No charge for him to come out. There's only one local supplier, but there are others further away. I'm not sure how far they'll drive to fill a tank. The girl at the desk said the fill hose is at least 100', so tank location isn't going to be an issue. My wife has indicated that she doesn't want the tank visible from the house.

Be careful with sales people. I'm not saying all are like this but ours would promise people the world and when I'd go to do an install I'd find all kinds of issues and violations. More than once a customer was promised they could put the tank in X location by the sales person only to find out there was no legal way to do that because of laws we had to follow for tanks or cylinders (i.e. not placed within 3' of ignition source). Her only goal was to get her name on every sales slip so she got her commission. She was good friends with the sleezeball manager.

 

[jones988]

Interesting. I guess it comes from being in a fairly major sized service area (Charlotte) and working for a large, profit seeking company. It also could've been my manager who was a sleezeball and was trying to nickel and dime everything he could. Our prices changed almost daily and prices were much higher for people who had our tanks. There was also a lot of competition in our area and my manager would make me call them all and ask about pricing when I was on summer desk duty.



Be careful with sales people. I'm not saying all are like this but ours would promise people the world and when I'd go to do an install I'd find all kinds of issues and violations. More than once a customer was promised they could put the tank in X location by the sales person only to find out there was no legal way to do that because of laws we had to follow for tanks or cylinders (i.e. not placed within 3' of ignition source). Her only goal was to get her name on every sales slip so she got her commission. She was good friends with the sleezeball manager.

Yeah, our area is definitely different, about 8 counties in central Indiana (not Indianapolis). As a business overall, we operate very laid back. We bend our own "rules" often to help customers. Our customers are mostly country residential and agriculture users. We also don't have a salesmen either, our technicians are the only ones scouting new installs. It is interesting to hear how others operate doing the same work.

 

[Sighss]

Might be a good idea to consult the true expert...

 

[jrsavoie]

Yeah, our area is definitely different, about 8 counties in central Indiana (not Indianapolis). As a business overall, we operate very laid back. We bend our own "rules" often to help customers. Our customers are mostly country residential and agriculture users. We also don't have a salesmen either, our technicians are the only ones scouting new installs. It is interesting to hear how others operate doing the same work.

Do you venture into Illinois? About 30 miles west of Morocco.

 

[jones988]

Do you venture into Illinois? About 30 miles west of Morocco.

No sorry! I should have been more specific, we are more on the eastern side of the state. Most people say we are in the north, east, central part of Indiana.

 

[Sumboodie]

I'd put in a 30 gallon electric water heater and then if really wanting to do the propane fireplace, run it off a 40 gallon tank.