Propane Tank Outdoor Storage

[airbiscuit]

Make a well insulated enclosure with 3" styrofoam insulation. Leave two 100W incandescent bulbs on 24/7. (One is actually enough - the second bulb is there in case the first bulb burns out). That system worked for a pump enclosure in Northern WI. Don't ask me how we learned to add a second bulb.:indifferent:

 

[rgr33]

I go along with the light bulb inside an enclosure idea.

I have been using a single 100 w light bulb inside our insulated pump house for over 30 years, never any kind of problem.
I don’t think any passive solar heating would be as reliable in our situation.

 

[gasman1075]

Just wondering....

Vaporization should be affected by the surface area. Those 100 lb tanks do not have much. You might be better off with a permanent 250 gal horizontal tank. Bulk is also cheaper and you do not have to wrestle those 100 leers around.

BTW, I live in Northern MI. Have had -35 and never experienced a propane supply issue running an 80,000 BTU furnace. That was with a 500 gal tank.

At -35 the pressure would still be 3-5 psi in the tank and the 1st stage would be wide open and feeding the second stage 3psi instead of 10 psi. But assuming all the lines are sized properly your appliances would still be working. a 100lb cylinder full has about 22 gallons of LP at will vaporize about 22-23,000 btu at-20'F. A 250 horizontal is good for 145,000 btu at -30'F. lots of useless information after all these years....

 

[airbiscuit]

Think of it as your own Easy Bake Oven!

 

[Deere Dude]

I would consider closing it in and insulate. Put a small electric heater and hook to a thermostat to where if the temp in the room drops to -10 the heat would kick on to raise it to zero F. That is just my thought.

 

[user.69169]

Awesome 42 years in the gas business and I learn something new everyday.

Burnin de gas longer myself I plenty glad to learn from dese fellows.

 

[Bronco82]

Thanks for all the replies. I am leaning towards the well insulated lean-to type shed with a light bulb in it, as I think it is the most cost effective way to keep minimize their exposure to the elements and provide some warmth. I will wire up a switch in there as well, to turn the bulb off in the spring time, rather than just unscrewing the bulb.

 

[LouNY]

That will provide some warmth, you could even use a reflector housing with a heat lamp bulb.
A 100 watt bulb if your electric cost is $0.14 per KWH will cost about $10.25 per month to run,
2.4 KWH per day.

 

[Bronco82]

A 100 watt bulb if your electric cost is $0.14 per KWH will cost about $10.25 per month to run,
2.4 KWH per day.

Sounds like the winning plan. Thanks again folks. Appreciate it.

 

[fried1765]

Sounds like the winning plan. Thanks again folks. Appreciate it.

Make that $10.25 = to $13.49 CAD.

 

[jaxs]

PROPANE AND COLD WEATHER

Propane Depletion
When the temperature drops, propane can be greatly reduced inside the tank. The propane shrinks due to the unforgiving winter cold, leaving an unsuspecting person shocked to find the tank level gauge reads well below what it did before the winter hit. Once this depletion has occurred, the only choice is to refill the tank wasting precious time and money..

Awesome 42 years in the gas business and I learn something new everyday.

You could spend another 42 years in the business and not learn as much as you will in one week here on TBN. For instance the above information is something you won't find anywhere other than TBN. Propane sales would crater if consumers found this out and put sweaters on all their tanks. Up to now noone could figure out why they had to buy twice as much propane during cold weather as in warm weather. Now we know.

 

[airbiscuit]

Does a custom made sweater fix everything that shrinks in cold weather?

 

[fried1765]

Does a custom made sweater fix everything that shrinks in cold weather?

If so.......I just learned something VERY important!:laughing:

 

[jaxs]

Does a custom made sweater fix everything that shrinks in cold weather?

That is an interesting idea.

 

[AlexIT]

Hi Bronco, I can suggest an heating jackets for drums, like a gas bottle blanket for domestic or industrial environments.

 

[mikester]

Have you thought about talking to your local propane delivery supplier? Can you go to an underground tank?

If you have a local costco you can't be that far north you can't get a bulk delivery setup.

 

[Egon]

On a 500 gallon tank a light bulb under the metal dome on the regulator is usually enough to keep propane flowing. If the flow rate is really high addition heat in this area may be required.

There have been instances where fires have been lit under the tank at temperature below -40 F/C.

For all those wanting to build a shelter or put the tank in a pit make sure you have checked out all the applicable codes for your area. Propane is heavier than air and will collect in low or enclosed areas. That makes for the possibility of an explosion or asphication on entry.

Confined space entry!

 

[Bronco82]

Have you thought about talking to your local propane delivery supplier? Can you go to an underground tank?

If you have a local costco you can't be that far north you can't get a bulk delivery setup.

I have thought about that idea, but they can't beat the price of Costco for refilling. I don't mind throwing the tank in the truck when going to Sudbury to refill it for a much lower cost.

I have never heard of an underground tank, but that would make sense for temperature regulation, and be doable for the location where my propane line runs into the garage. Unfortunately, the upfront cost and again the need to refill it at a cost greater than refilling at Costco doesn't make it feasible for my application.

Hi Bronco, I can suggest an heating jackets for drums, like a gas bottle blanket for domestic or industrial environments.

I have thought about that idea when I noticed the heat trace cable, but again, up front cost, and the wattage required for the heating jacket, are greater than I want to spend.




I haven't tackled this one yet, but still leaning towards the lean-to type shed off the back wall of the garage, insulate it well, and put one or two 100 watt light bulbs in there for when we get a good cold snap. This winter has been cold. -35 Celsius this morning, -31 Fahrenheit. Luckily it is calling for a short mild spell coming up.

 

[PILOON]

Another consideration.

High propane demand from a tank and using a small regulator (like BBQ size) can actually freeze up quite fast.
That phenomenon is from 'venturi effect'.**

Heck even automotive carburetors have some heat source to prevent that effect.
Early VW's had a summer/winter lever to cure that problem by deflecting some manifold heat onto the carburetor.

** air/gas that rushes thru a venturi will create enough cold to actually ice up.

 

[Diggin It]

I don't deal with that kind of cold, but would a regular household bedroom electric blanket accomplish anything? Maybe under a fiberglass wrap? I would think it would consume much less electricity than a specialized blanket, but I'm not sure it would provide enough heat.