propane tanks

[1966chevelle]

I am getting ready to install a 75k heater in my 40x40x12. The barn has 2 insulated 10x12 overhead doors, 1 service door and zero windows. I had tyvek put on the walls and roof before the metal went on. I installed R36 on the ceiling and R13 on the walls before I installed the metal on the inside. I am torn between having the LP company drop me a tank or just buying a couple 100lp bottles. I plan to leave the barn set to 40-45 degrees at all times. I have read threads about guys taking there 100lb bottles in to get filled and am curios how often they have to take them in? I know this depends on a lot of things but just looking for a rough idea. I have a call in now to see what fees the LP company is going to charge me for dropping a tank. A buddy of mine has to pay $150 a year to rent his tank from a different company and he told me that he feels like he bothers them when he calls to get it filled. I called the same company that fills my house tank so maybe since they will be there anyways they wont charge me any extra.

 

[Krzewinskibe]

75K will burn just under 1gal/hour (assuming 91,333 BTU/gal) of actual heater burn time.

100lb holds about 24 gallons...so you only get 24 +/- hours of actual run time per fill

You can purchase 100gal tanks and have propane companies come and fill on site. I paid $1600 for 3x100gal tanks last week. Renting them forces you to use that company for fills (and you will pay a big per gallon premium). Buying outright allows you to shop around for propane

 

[Adk Mike]

Before you buy three 100 gallon tanks. Consider a 500 above ground. It is a much better value. Also that heater will only run 20 minutes an hour . So 24 gallons a day is incorrect. You’d go broke at that rate. Hear in NY the avarge workshop were the owner has a day job they use 150 gallons for the season. If it’s part time only used on weekends a couple 100 gallon tanks are fine. They are a poor investment. Like I said before a 500 is a better value.

 

[Bretny]

That seams like an awfully big building for a 75k heater. I have one 100lb propane tank hooked to a 50k and it usualy lasts me about 2 weeks working on the weekends and keepinf it above 40*. I have a wood stove for when i want it 60*.
100lb tanks just may be a bit to small for what your doing. Have you actualy called around to the gas companys?
Have you looked into buying a used tank?
I know the cheap gas company here charges $320 for the good heavy 100lb tanks empty. These are the ones that dont need to be reinspected every 12yrs..like the cheaper ones.

 

[tyme2par4]

Ultimately it will depend on your LP supplier.
Some charge an annual lease fee. My oil company (also does LP) doesn't charge if you use at least one full tank per year.
They also tend to charge a different amount depending on how much you use.
I currently have a different LP supplier than my oil, and I'm getting screwed. They charge over $4/gallon because they only put in like 10 gallons at a time (cooking only). Plus a $50 lease fee. My problem is, my current tank location isn't technically legal (right next to garage door), so my oil supplier won't fill it. I don't have a lot of options for other locations.

 

[yeldogt]

I had 2x200gl tanks for my 1600sf studio -- they were there when I bought the house. Because of the size I was always getting charged for small deliveries .. and if I did setbacks and my use dropped .. then I did not use enough for the year and had a surcharge.

Check all the fine print --- I would go with a 500 above ground. Or tap into or upgrade the house tank. I'm doing a buried 1k --

Propane companies are now using the cable companies customer service model.

 

[Krzewinskibe]

Before you buy three 100 gallon tanks. Consider a 500 above ground. It is a much better value. Also that heater will only run 20 minutes an hour . So 24 gallons a day is incorrect. You’d go broke at that rate. Hear in NY the avarge workshop were the owner has a day job they use 150 gallons for the season. If it’s part time only used on weekends a couple 100 gallon tanks are fine. They are a poor investment. Like I said before a 500 is a better value.

3x100 vs 500 is a similar price, however 500 required substantial offset from the building...didn't want a tank sitting in the middle of my yard. I could put the 100s right up against the building.

 

[bjcouche]

I would say 100LB tanks are too small for your use. 100 GAL tanks, two or three of them, might be an option. I like the 500 gal option best, however if you don't have a good location to place the 500 gal tank far enough from the structure, then I'd go with the 100 GAL options.
Any way you go though I would HIGHLY recommend that you BUY your tank(s) instead of renting them. Renting the tank locks you in to that supplier until you have them come and take their tank back. That friendly local company you rented the tank from, might be sold out to a large national company in a couple years and they might start jacking your price sky high. If you own your own tank, the per gallon price is usually lower and if your supplier jacks your price up, you can just call a different company up.
Remember propane companies will only fill their own tanks or your tank, not a different suppliers. I had Amerigas with a rented tank, and got fed up with the sky high rates. I bought my own tank and had Amerigas come and take theirs back. In TWO winters, the tank I bought has paid for itself. The payoff time varies based on how much your current supplier is gouging you....

Brian

 

[6768rogues]

We have to pay sales tax if we go get the propane, not if it is delivered.

 

[achirdo]

Just signed up with amerigas and rented a 500 gallon tank. They are installing and doing a gas check for free. Also the first fill up is half price. So I'm getting 400 gallons at 1.30/gal

 

[yeldogt]

Buried 1k tank needs 10 feet -- structure / property line/ other equipment

 

[1966chevelle]

Thanks for all the advice. I finally got a call back today from the propane company. They want $600 to tap into my house tank since it is 150 feet from the barn. I am not a fan of paying $600 just to have the line ran to the barn. The lady I was talking to then said please hang on a minute the installer just walked in and I will have you talk to him. He told me that he can bring me two 420 tanks which will be a total of 250 gallons and install the tanks, hook them up and due a leak check for the one time lease fee of $10 since I am on a keep fill for my house. He said since they are vertical tanks he can install them right against the building. I asked about being charged a small amount delivery fee and he said no as long as I get 150 gallons at a time there is no fee. He said if your barn tanks cant hold 150 gallons he will just top off your house tank while he's there so there is no extra charge.

 

[TractorJeff]

That sounds like a good deal!