Do Propane Tank Gauges Get Stuck?

[Diggin It]

I own my 500 gallon LP tank and have never had any problems. But the gauge has been at 30% for a few weeks now. It's been a very mild winter, so I haven't used a lot, but it seems like it should have moved at least some. I also cook with LP. It's been mild, but too cold (40s-50s) to see any condensation line form on the tank.

 

[Wagtail]

Sure they do... a mechanical gauge can be 'pegged' anytime it's engaged after the tank is filled, which means that it's now out of calibration = indicates 30% but is actually at another percentage. The gauge is an indication only.

Anything exposed to 'the elements', including temperature variants, can get stuck at a certain position too.

All I can recommend is to turn the propane off at the tank, remove the gauge (it should drop to "zero/empty"), put the gauge back on and turn the propane back on.

 

[3Ts]

Yes it does. The display part of the gauge gets stuck and has to be freed up from time to time.

Note: the display head is separate from the level sensor so the tank pressure does not have to be released. IDK how they connect but it looks to be magnetic.

 

[Diggin It]

All I can recommend is to turn the propane off at the tank, remove the gauge (it should drop to "zero/empty"), put the gauge back on and turn the propane back on.

No can do. Gauge is mounted in the body of the tank, like this example:

 

[Fuddy1952]

No can do. Gauge is mounted in the body of the tank, like this example:

Mine is exactly that that also and I don't think it's accurate.
What about this?

 

[3Ts]

No can do. Gauge is mounted in the body of the tank, like this example:

Yes, you can. The Gauge is a two part assembly. See the 2 screws on either side of it? See the big hex nut underneath the gauge? The hex nut is solid, do NOT turn that! If you remove the 2 screws the display part will come off and the rest of the gauge is still sealed to the tank. I watched my propane dealer replace the display head, since it was a rented tank he did it. I suggest that when you get a refill for your tank, you have them bring a new display head for the gauge out and replace the one you have and he will be able to tell if the float inside the tank is sticking.

Mine looked just like that, complete with red pressure regulator. I now have a buried tank so it is now a little different, but gauge still works the same.

 

[bigtiller]

Drop the lid. Let it bang on the tank. The tank will vibrate like a church bell. The vibration will release a sticky float. I always let my lid bang on the tank twice when I check the gauge.

 

[oosik]

I've "whacked" the side of my tank with a nylon dead fall mallet a couple time. The internals will loosen right up.

 

[Deere Dude]

Fill the tank and see if it goes up.

 

[ovrszd]

Sure they do... a mechanical gauge can be 'pegged' anytime it's engaged after the tank is filled, which means that it's now out of calibration = indicates 30% but is actually at another percentage. The gauge is an indication only.

Anything exposed to 'the elements', including temperature variants, can get stuck at a certain position too.

All I can recommend is to turn the propane off at the tank, remove the gauge (it should drop to "zero/empty"), put the gauge back on and turn the propane back on.

Last year was my first experience with heating using Propane. Had the rented tank set and filled. New hydronic floor heat system in my shop. No idea how efficient it would be.

Checked the tank regularly. Thought the gauge was a bit erratic but it continually dropped. Couple months later I go in the shop and the heat isn't working???? Go to the tank, gauge says 30%...… Look at the pressure gauge and it's on 0%. It's 20F degrees outside. Water in my floor lines.

I was upset mainly because the tank was freshly refurbished before being set at my location. But, the experience taught me to never trust the gauge. I also now have some historical data to rely on in regards to usage. When the gauge registers less than 50% I call for refill.

I also use propane for domestic hot water. So I always have usage. If I ever looked at the my gauge and it read the same as last time I looked I would immediately call for fill up so I'd know where I stand.

 

[stephenh]

I have the same set-up on a 500-gal tank. I went to a propane equipment supply and purchased a new gauge. Five minutes to install. I want to say it cost me around $30.

 

[Jack Murdock]

Gauges on brand new tanks can be off 5-7% they are never that accurate. internally is a mechanical float on an arm ( just like the old toilet bulbs ) replacing the gauge and cleaning the magnet pick up underneath the gauge usually clears up and issues. The bobtail driver uses the fixed liquid level gauge to tell when the dip tube internally is at the liquid level internally. Usually to 80%

 

[bigtiller]

Some propane suppliers use a "degree day meter" to put a number on how much gas you use in a day. It measures the temperature and wind for this number. Then after the tank is used and refilled, the delivery driver will divide the total degree days from the meter by the gallons used.

He keeps a running total of degree days and will know what day you will need another delivery....If you are on a keep-full basis, you will never run out/low of propane and you'll never have to check the gauge again.

Some suppliers don't have this meter so they go by the "by guess by golly" method.

 

[scott_vt]

Some suppliers don't have this meter so they go by the "by guess by golly" method.

Good Afternoon Bigtiller,
Any company with a driver that knows what the heck he is doing, can fill the tank using the bleeder nut. When liquid propane starts to come out of the bleeder the tank is at 80% !
I delivered for a local company for a couple of years, and a tank filled using that method should never out gas when the weather gets hot ! I never got called back because of an overfill using this method. I will mention that when its really cold out in the dead of winter that you can get away with stuffing more propane into the tank because it will be long gone before the warm weather comes back Just my 2 cents worth ! Guages are not to be trusted !

 

[bigtiller]

Good Afternoon Bigtiller,
Any company with a driver that knows what the heck he is doing, can fill the tank using the bleeder nut. When liquid propane starts to come out of the bleeder the tank is at 80% !
I delivered for a local company for a couple of years, and a tank filled using that method should never out gas when the weather gets hot ! I never got called back because of an overfill using this method. I will mention that when its really cold out in the dead of winter that you can get away with stuffing more propane into the tank because it will be long gone before the warm weather comes back Just my 2 cents worth ! Guages are not to be trusted !

I agree, I delivered propane for a satellite branch of a national company also.
I wasn't talking about the actual filling of the tank.
I was commenting on when to fill the tank with the metered observations at the suppliers office.

 

[scott_vt]

I agree, I delivered propane for a satellite branch of a national company also.
I wasn't talking about the actual filling of the tank.
I was commenting on when to fill the tank with the metered observations at the suppliers office.

Good Bigtiller,
Gotch you, thanks for the clarification ! Agreed !:thumbsup:

 

[Diggin It]

Whomped the tank in a couple of places with a rubber mallet. Needle vibrated and wiggled, but didn't move otherwise. Guess it's probably OK. I really haven't used a whole lot of gas, so it could be right.

 

[coldsteelva]

Just remember that the gauge is measuring the liquid volume (20% to 80%) and that has nothing to do with the effective vapor pressure. It all varies with temperature. Also a big difference between a buried tank and an exposed tank.

 

[cdaigle430]

I have just one answer-Natural Gas. JK-I can say for certain that I tried two guages for my grill and ended up getting rid of them because they are so unreliable. Instead I installed a weight guage (rather it came with the grill). Wont give me pressure but I know very reliably when its low or about to go out....have it refilled.

 

[pmsmechanic]

So propane is a liquid which would mean that on a warm afternoon (after a cooler night) you should be able to tell how full the tank is just by feeling the side. The level of the propane would be colder than the surrounding air and you should be able to feel that on the side of the tank.