Bulk propane

I like to own my stuff , renting (besides property rent =TAXES ) leased is a trap in my eyes.
100# is the largest I can move filled . I buy expired 100# if there clean for dirt cheap on craigslist .
Use my 100# in date tank to refill the expired one for storage .Delivery trucks here is the most expensive way to buy LPG.
the dated tank in service is always used till the stove go's out . Then that tank is ready to refill & little pig is open up , tank is used till the in service tank is back & if I don't need to transfer .
I have 2 in service tanks 4 years gone on 12 Year tanks (USA Tanks), Canadian gets 10 years , but they sell them a year old or more sometimes ) Auto switching regulators LPG This way there is no tools needed when I need to transfer tanks NOW , just turn on the mini pig that's always hooked up . 2 tanks can be hooked up but only one is supplying LPG. I can gang my tanks as well Sloth

 

Look for the date stamped on the tank. You have to be within 12 years of the latest date stamped on the tank to be able to be legally filled. At least that's the way it is here in my AO. I've taken any old rusty dirty grill sized tank to any exchange site and just swap them out for a filled newer tank. Usually around 15 bucks. Tractor Supply will refill them with 4.7 gals for about $ 12.75. If you have an out of date tank, you can try calling your main propane supplier and they may be authorized to re certify the tank. I've got a 100 lb tank they said they'd re certify for me for 5 bucks.

 

I assumed it was proof the tank wasn't stolen, but it might have to do with leased tanks.

Funny thing, one of the 500 gal tanks I got was for free. Friend of a friend has a company tank (leased) on place he bought, and didn't want to use that company for gas, so he calls them and says 'come get your tank off my place'....calls them a couple times, and the last time they said 'we have no record of that tank, ain't ours, (despite their name painted on it), quit calling us'.....so the guy was sort of "OK...now what do I do ?".

Enter me....ahahaaaa. I went and picked it up...took a rented Bobcat and another buddy with a trailer for the tank out there, picked it up for free (guy just wanted it gone), and it was 60% full ! Took it home, sanded it down, repainted it, and called the SAME company (they were the cheapest at that time) to come fill it. The put me a new primary regulator on, and tied the line into my existing setup for a small fee.

I keep that tank and the other tank I bought in reserve, and use the underground tank for our house supply. Tank full lasts me a year (cook top, water heater, small wall heater rarely used), so I have a minimum of 2 years in reserve. Also keep a dozen 100lb bottles stored, so that's another ~275gal, and maybe 6-8 of the 20lb bottles.

Our biggest consumption of propane by far goes to water heating. IF times get tough, and it doesn't look like re-supply is much of an option, I'd change the propane water heater to a wood fired one....which would mean building a fire under it to get hot water, no more "on demand" convenience, but propane for cooking only would probably last us a decade or more.

Stainless steel water heat tank (neighbor of mine works at local American Water heater plant) I plan to use for wood heat.

 

Is that a natural gas SS heater vessel?

 

Yes....it had a coil up inside originally that the hot exhaust gas from the burn was to circulate thru...also the bottom was convex dome like the top. I took it to a welding shop, they cut the bottom off and reversed it....taking the loop coil out at the same time. Then they welded me a 6" SS pipe up the center for a chimney/heat exchanger so I could use wood under the bottom. Finally pressure tested it to 175psi.

 

I think propane prices are down from winter highs.
I finally found a $5 20lb tank at a yard sale, went to exchange it and noticed that the price for an exchange went from $19.99 back last time I bothered to look in jan/Feb down to $14.25 today.

 

Space heater. On a 30lb tank.

 

During the summers here it's hot enough to only let the pilot maintain heat , but during the winter months I switch it on and off as needed.
My brother went to a tankless water heater , but I see that as a serious disadvantage if things go south.
At present my 80 gallon propane tank lasts me a year or more ,and having 3 -25 gallon tanks and 4- 20# full are a satisfying back up I've not had to use yet. I refill my own 1# tanks and found some "brass caps" for them since they tend to leak after once being used.
That saves me a lot of grief and gas . That said it's a good idea to cap off all gas tanks ,both keeping them clean and reducing leakage if any and protecting the threads .

 

Hey you stole my cabin back up heater I love those heaters and they are actually pretty easy on the gas on the low setting. I use mine in the mornings when the wood stove has burned down and it would otherwise be cold until the firebox was going again. And the wood stove struggles to keep the cabin warm when it gets below 10 degrees and that one little heater is just enough boost to compensate.

 

I have 2 of those.
They were my emergency heaters for when I lived in town and had an electric ignition and forced air heater that didn't work with the power went out or some electric component broke. I replaced that old electric controlled heater with full mechanical controlled natural gas wall heater. So these propane heaters didn't see much action from 2012 to 2017 till I moved to a new place with all heat pump heating using central and splits and one of the split heat pumps isn't working that well.

In other propane news I bought a propane grill that is fully functional for $40, it was just dirty didn't come with any tanks. So I'm going to pickup some more 20lb pound tanks.

 

Rhino has a $3 mail in coupon for a tank exchange - my local Ace Hardware just ran a tank exchange weekend for $11 a tank .... spring is the time to get ready for winter when it comes to propane ...

 

I'm thinking of getting an earth quake valve since I live in earth quake territory .

 

I would get an earth quake valve even living in fairly low quake risk area.

I have ace coupons for stuff I guess I should use them for a new tank. Just have to make sure I'm not paying more with a $10 off a $50 purchase coupon when compared to lowes.

 

Is that a 100# size ?

30 # size

5USG size ?
@arleigh

Thats with 5USG /20 # of propane ?
@Illini Warrior

My exchange tanks in Tax Canada is 37.50 with less than 20 # fill /

I get expired old tanks & fill them myself as required , all from an 100# tank .

Sloth.

 

Nope 100# tank is all I can move myself , TW is 81 & the 100# LPG is 181 # , thats my hand truck limit

 

It is wise to limit your self to what you can handle alone but keep in mind that what you hook up should be supported so that it can't fall over accidentally.
Even on my large tank I can't move, I have chained down in the event of an earth quake it can't move much.
The tall 25 gallon tanks get strapped together as a safety precaution.
We have been getting a lot of earth quake lately .

 

Went to the tractor auction and found 2 partially full 100lb tanks got them both for $100.
Next week I will get them filled.

 

Then today I found a 100lb bottle with valve stem cover at the scrap yard for $15.

 

The really old 100lb cylinder, with cap I bought from the scrap yard for $15 was too good to be true.
Turns out some tweaker lost the bleed screw and all its paint has been scorched off by the sun.
So the propane place is going to put a new valve stem on it.
The tanks are supposed to have 50% paint coverage. This one has about 2% paint coverage.
They are going to put a new valve stem then once it cools off I'm going to sand blast it and paint it what ever color I have on hand then fill it.

So when buying used tanks check 3 things.
Paint, at least 50% coverage, unless painting it isn't a problem for you.
Check for damaged valve stem and missing bleed screw, if it is damaged make sure you get it cheap.
Rust, make sure the bottom isn't rusted out. If the bottom is rusted out can't use it for propane, no one will fill it.

In some over regulated states it may just be easier to get new or like new tanks.
In new Mexico they will pretty much fill anything they don't think will blow up on the filling pad.