Best price for propane...

[nehog]

I went in to my local propane supplier and we had a talk about gas prices and how I could reduce the cost to heat my shop. I've about 2000 sq ft heated with a 150K BTU heater, works great.

I was paying 3.99 a gallon, they supplied the tank (and regulator.)

I learned that if I buy the tank (and regulator) my gallon price drops to about 2.50 a gallon! We worked out payback as being less than a year probably.

So this post is just a 'reminder' to check different options for your propane and you may end up saving. I never realized by using their tank I was paying so much more for the gas!

 

[lametec]

I've been looking for a 1000 tank myself for that very reason. I'm locked in @ $1.89/gal this winter, though.

 

[slip knot]

Paid $2.10/gallon to fill my 250 gallon tank back in June. Lookin back I've paid anywhere between $1.15 to $2.65 over the last 10 yrs. I own the tank and dont have a contract with anyone but have used the same company for years because we have an account with them. It may be time to do a little price comparion!

 

[Red_Barn_Garage]

We did the same thing when we built our house. Once I learned that we payed more per gallon using their tank, we bought it to get a cheaper price per gallon. We fill our tank 1 - 2 times a year and always call around to fnd the best price. You usually need the receipt to prove tank ownership when dealing with a new company the first time. It's amazing the price difference you find between different propane companies. Last time we filled up the price per gallon ranged from $2.09/gal - $3.11/gal

 

[5lima30]

Purchasing your own tank vs. leasing is the way to go IMHO. It makes you a "free agent" when it comes time to buy LP you can shop around and get a better deal. My savings in 3 years paid for my tank. During the winter I can buy gas about $1.50~ a gallon cheaper than those that rent tanks. BTW, it is about $1.75 a gal currently.

 

[Ricoch3T]

just got done talking with the guy about putting one in for me... i dont like the idea of being locked in

price wasnt too bad for in ground 500 or 1000

 

[tdkkart]

Here in farm country everyone that uses propane contracts their's mid summer for the upcoming winter months, comes out considerably cheaper than doing random buys in the middle of winter.

 

[csp]

Even with a contract the price is higher than the mid-summer price. With a large enough tank you can buy it at the cheapest price of the year and have enough to take you through the winter and into the next cheap season. I bought at $0.50/gallon cheaper than the contract price recently. Should have enough to make it through May or even June.

 

[joes169]

Kind of suprised how high some of these prices are for propane...........

I can pre-buy "x-gallons" of propane @ $1.51, and I don't own the tank either........The only downside is that it has to be paid in full by September 1.......

 

[vwsaabvt]

I do prebuy every year, this year it was 1.70 a gallon, but there is a minimum of 600 gallons.

 

[ponjohn]

For those that do own thier own tank.

How do you deal the certification date?
Have you ever owned one that expired?

 

[nehog]

For those that do own thier own tank.

How do you deal the certification date?
Have you ever owned one that expired?

Tanks (generally) have to be certified every 12 years. My gas supplier can re-certify the tank, it is not difficult.

My tank, that I'm buying, is due for certification now. I told them and they are going to take care of it. Of course that may not happen for months, since I'm not using it right now.

 

[Jackfre]

I own my 250 and checked around in June with all the L{P cos in the area. Best was $1.59. I had done a favor for one of the gas companies (I'm in the business) and got $1.44. Filled my and my daughters tanks.

 

[WVBrady]

Tanks (generally) have to be certified every 12 years. My gas supplier can re-certify the tank, it is not difficult...

Can they do this when it is full, without moving it?

 

[nehog]

Can they do this when it is full, without moving it?

Yes... I believe it is a visual inspection, but he did say it was inspected onsite, and was easy to do.

 

[lametec]

For those that do own thier own tank.

How do you deal the certification date?
Have you ever owned one that expired?

They don't expire. Permanent tanks (like the big ones used for a house) are ASME certified tanks. They do not need to be certified again. These tanks just need a visual inspection (done at every fillup), and as long as they're not excessively rusted, dented etc., they're good to go.

Portable tanks, however, are DOT certified, and need recert every so often.

 

[Pingatpro]

I have checked into owning a tank vs using the suppliers tank for me I felt it was best to use their tank.

I prebuy all of my propane for the house and my shop in July. This year 1.699. Now I can save about .10 /gal if I owned my tank but, most of the companies here charge you to perform an inspection of your tank, lines and devices before they will fill your tank. Cost, the adverage is 100 bucks. back that out of the savings and it just takes to long time to pay for the tank set. Unlike the OP who is saving around 1.40 /gal.

I found its better for me when I go in to complain about the price and tell them they need to get a sharper pencil and they will normally take 5 cents to 10 cent a gal off. Write the check and they take care of it from there.

 

[86turbodsl]

True, ASME tanks do not expire, but if the data plate rusts off, the tank is done permanently. I had a friend with that problem.

I own my tank, 1000 gallon, and buy one tank in the summer. $1.44 this year, that will easily get me through the winter. Tank cost was about $800 used. It was an old anhydrous ammonia tank. They are the same. Just different fittings.

 

[CARS]

I can't believe what you guys a paying for a gallon of LP.

Summer fill price was $1.10 and once that was gone/done the price will be $1.39.

I rent one tank for around $50.00 a year (500 gallons), and own the other.

The only "issue" i've had with owning my own is that about every 10 years they need to replace the regulators. But after a rebate from the co-op, both of them cost around $20.00 each and with labor the bill was right around $100.00.

 

[Ricoch3T]

I can't believe what you guys a paying for a gallon of LP.

Summer fill price was $1.10 and once that was gone/done the price will be $1.39.

I rent one tank for around $50.00 a year (500 gallons), and own the other.

The only "issue" i've had with owning my own is that about every 10 years they need to replace the regulators. But after a rebate from the co-op, both of them cost around $20.00 each and with labor the bill was right around $100.00.

I can't believe it... last time i had my rented tank filled it was 2.79/gallon

I think he figured 2.41 to fill the new one

 

[58Yeoman]

I own my 500 and 120 gallon tanks. Last February, we paid about $1.9x per gallon; this week it was $1.3x per gallon. Wish I had a 1000 gallon tank for the house.

 

[toyotadriver]

Currently it's $1.15 per gallon where I live. Last winter it was about $2 per gallon.

 

[3pedal]

I am buying a place that uses propane. It will be a first for me. The current owners lease the tank. It sounds like buying a tank isn't a bad call. Where do you guys buy them from, the propane dealers? I saw a couple of craigslist, but the pictures look sort of rough. I have no idea what to look for in a tank.

I think I would want to go with a good sized tank. The house uses the propane for furnace and hot water. I'll add heat to the shop at some point, and will be looking for backup generators too.

 

[green.bubbly]

What is the approximate cost to purchase say a 500 gallon tank? I only want it to possibly fuel a 10kw to 15kw backup generator. Anybody know about how many gallons this size generator would use if it ran for one week straight?

***edit*** found the answer to how many gallons. A Generac 10kw Gaurdian consumes about 1.25 gallons at half load and almost 2 gallons per hour at full load. That could get expensive to run for a whole week, not that that happens very often.

Does propane ever go bad?

 

[fastjohnny]

I paid 500 for 500 gallon tanks, used.

I don't think propane has a shelf life.

 

[HD FLHX]

Man like others have said, I can't believe some of the prices you guys are paying for propane. I lease my tanks (500gal for the house & a 250gal for the shop). It costs me $75 a yr for the tanks. I have them top off the tanks in the summer then do a 10 cent down contract. Meaning I pay 10 cents for every contracted gallon up front and pay the remaining when they fill the tank. Contract prices are usually 10 cents higher than whatever the truck price at the time, which was a $1.35 this year. One other benefit of contracting is they monitor the tank level and fill it as needed.

 

[58Yeoman]

My supplier monitors my tank, although I said that I would do it. After almost 4 years, they kind of know my usage. They offered to sell me a 120 for the shop, but they didn't have any left. I bought the small one from a farmer that got a larger one. The supplier said to look for one that isn't older than 10 years. If it's empty, they would have to inspect/test it. When I bought mine, it still had about 40% in it.

 

[toyotadriver]

Price for an empty tank is usually about $1 per gallon size.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

I paid $1250 for new tank installed with new regulators.

had a hard time finding someone around here that would sell me a tank.

Almost all the suppliers around here said they would not sell me one and if I was lucky enough to find someone nobody would fill it.

Now that I 've got it, they all want to fill it...........bunch of whores.

Best thing I ever did, had it about 4 years and its almost paid for itself.