Propane Tank - What to do

[L120]

Hello friends,

After buying this beautiful country home, we have first of all gutted the house and installed new central air/heat heat pump. NOW...we are left with this huge silver propane tank in the back yard that isn't being used. I had the tank filled the first winter we were here that ran individual room heaters (scary shtuff). The tank gauge reads 60% full.

Can I tap into this fuel tank to refill my propane tanks for grilling delicious meats? Maybe there's alot more involved to do something like this.

How do I get rid of this tank?

 

[Jack Murdock]

Hello friends,

After buying this beautiful country home, we have first of all gutted the house and installed new central air/heat heat pump. NOW...we are left with this huge silver propane tank in the back yard that isn't being used. I had the tank filled the first winter we were here that ran individual room heaters (scary shtuff). The tank gauge reads 60% full.

Can I tap into this fuel tank to refill my propane tanks for grilling delicious meats? Maybe there's alot more involved to do something like this.

How do I get rid of this tank?

Do you own it or does the LP company ? If it is yours and you are sure you do not need it I would suggest you contact LP companies in your area and inquire about having it evacuated and perhaps they would want to purchase the tank from you. There is a lot involved and transferring liquid propane is not for the un-trained or un-equipped. You could connect your gas grill permanently and would probably have enough gas for many many years.

 

[L120]

Hi Jack,

Yes, the tank is mine. I remember the guy who filled it for me was very nice. Thought it best to ask some people what to do before contacting them. So my gas grill can use this same gas. Wouldn't be a bad idea, but it's in such a strange place in the backyard and I'd need to run pipe over to the grill. Now I'm hungry for steak...!

 

[Jack Murdock]

The grill runs on vapor just like the house. If its a 500 horizontal at 60% you could have as much as 300 gallons it it ( + or - 7% ). You cant sell it or transport it full but 300 gallons would fire a normal grill for over 700 hours........if you think the advice or price offered is crazy run it by me I have been in the gas business almost 40 years.

 

[L120]

Thanks again for reply. Wife agreed we could use it to fire the grill until propane is all gone. The reason I'm making such a fuss over it is because we are fencing in the backyard for the dawgs to do what they do.

 

[AVIVIII]

I'm in the same situation. Our house came with a 1000 gal tank in the ground. We have about 200gals left not being used. I just hooked it up to a pretty sweet outdoor LP fire pit and its fun. Doesn't throw heat like wood, but WAY easier.

 

[3gunr]

Good used tanks go for between 500 and1000 bucks around here and can be hard to find.

 

[JerryK]

I would consider keeping it. You could use it for a whole house generator/backup power, heat for a workshop in a future barn, or fire pit/grill like above. The propane does not really go bad and maybe you can put it to use someday.

 

[HillStreet]

If you’re going to fence the yard, removing the tank could be a problem when you finally want it gone—-machines, trucks, etc. 300 gallons is a lot of propane for a gas grill. You own it, you are liable for it. If its old, if its corroded, if a regulator fails its on you. You are spending a bunch on the house, get it done right. Somebody will pump out the fuel, remove the tank, case closed.

 

[BLSXJ]

I bought a house with a heat pump, and installed a giant propane tank. but I'm a little farther north
propane doesn't go bad... and the price only really goes up over time.

if you see your self using the fuel for you bbq, fire pit, whole house gen set etc keep it.

if not... cal the pros

 

[Deere Dude]

Why not keep the tank for a gas fireplace to make the living room nice and toasty?

Gas companies will pump the gas out if you are sure you want to get rid of it. People are looking for those tanks quite often and will pay maybe $4-500 for a nice used one, they haul.

 

[jaxs]

I don't know where CCL Texas is but might be able to help if it isn't far away.

 

[tomplum]

The grill runs on vapor just like the house. If its a 500 horizontal at 60% you could have as much as 300 gallons it it ( + or - 7% ). You cant sell it or transport it full but 300 gallons would fire a normal grill for over 700 hours........if you think the advice or price offered is crazy run it by me I have been in the gas business almost 40 years.

The bit of important info you left out was that L120 could throw a heck of a TBN BBQ with that!

 

[Oldoak]

You are spending a bunch on the house, get it done right. Somebody will pump out the fuel, remove the tank, case closed.

That is what I would do. Call your local propane sales and delivery companies. Ours will pump it out and pay you for the propane, and the tank if it is in good shape. Naturally they will not pay you the full retail price of course.

 

[Diggin It]

I would consider keeping it. You could use it for a whole house generator/backup power, heat for a workshop in a future barn, or fire pit/grill like above. The propane does not really go bad and maybe you can put it to use someday.

I like this one.

 

[L120]

Thanks everyone for your input. It was scary when I demo'd a huge area of rotten subfloor having access to the gas gas pipes it became even more of a nightmare. Barely touch some of them and they crumbled. Probably original from 1964 laying in the dirt under the house rusting away with bug buggers holding em together. Now non-smokers for 6-months; we smoked cigs in the house that year.

I need to print off some screen shots of my AutoCAD drawings of the house * lot for ya'll to see what I'm describing. In our home renovation, it's always one thing holding up another thing holding up another. Planning is key to also help keep sanity during it all.

 

[ch1ch2]

I don't know where CCL Texas is but might be able to help if it isn't far away.

I was thinking the same thing.

We bought an old 250 gal tank a few years back and cut the ends off to make fire pits.

 

[Threepoint]

Thanks everyone for your input. It was scary when I demo'd a huge area of rotten subfloor having access to the gas gas pipes it became even more of a nightmare. Barely touch some of them and they crumbled. Probably original from 1964 laying in the dirt under the house rusting away with bug buggers holding em together. Now non-smokers for 6-months; we smoked cigs in the house that year.

I need to print off some screen shots of my AutoCAD drawings of the house * lot for ya'll to see what I'm describing. In our home renovation, it's always one thing holding up another thing holding up another. Planning is key to also help keep sanity during it all.

L120, congratulations on the new place. Will you be putting in a swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub or both? Pool/hot tub heaters for extended-season use run on propane or natural gas.

 

[LouNY]

Before I decided anything I would find the last test date stamp on the tank.
Most areas require a retest every ten years on tanks.
Without a valid test date many outfits will not fill a tank.
I don't know the latest Texas regs on homeowner tanks.

 

[joecoin]

I'm thinking, 4th of July, open the top valve and light it up!