r/propane

Hello everyone. I live in a small half double, and every time my neighbor gets their tanks filled, over half of my downstairs smells strong enough that I get a headache if I don't open my windows to have it air out. I talked with the guy who was filling it yesterday, and he said it's because they open the bleeder and that it is normal. The tanks are about 2-3 feet from the property line, and less than 6 feet from my living room window.

Am I overreacting? I don't think I should be afraid of flipping a switch in my house after they are refilled.

I have been using a 100 lb cylinder for the stove in our cabin and honestly I'm getting a bit old to be switching these out every year.

I have a 500 gallon tank that feeds my workshop (hot water boiler and forge) that is approximately 100 feet from the stove.

What size type L soft copper do I need to run from the regulator to the stove for proper operation?

Second question.

There is a regulator on the tank and another one on the building where would I make the connection?

Contracted with a local Florida propane company to install a new 250-gallon aboveground tank to service a new standby generator. On install date, the company shows up with a dark green tank. After unloading and placing it, they told me they didn’t have any 250-gallon white aboveground tanks, so they bought this one, which they will have to come back and paint white, because a dark tank is unsafe in the sun. The dark green tank they delivered is a combination aboveground/underground tank in a ready-to-bury configuration.

Later, I called the tank manufacturer and asked them if letting the propane company paint the tank will void the manufacturer’s warranty. They informed me that it will void the 5-year paint warranty. Understandable, since it would not be their paint anymore. I also found out that the company sells the same aboveground/underground tank in either white or dark green. Either can be buried, but only the white one can be used aboveground as-is in warm environments.

I’m now in a back-and-forth with the propane company, trying to get the tank exchanged, because I know painting the tank is going to void the tank warranty, their paint job is not going to be the same quality as a factory finish, and I don’t feel like I’m getting what I paid for. They admitted it’s their usual practice to buy whatever aboveground/underground tank is cheapest, and then paint it for aboveground installs, so they can “pass that savings on to the customer”.

My questions for the community:

1. Has anyone else had a similar experience when buying a new aboveground tank, where an installer wants to paint it instead of delivering a tank that’s the proper color to begin with?
2. Is it common practice in the industry for an installer to paint a new dark-colored tank, originally intended for direct burial, instead of just ordering the proper colored tank?
3. Are dark green ready-to-bury aboveground/underground tanks really so much cheaper than white tanks, to the point that it would offset the labor to paint them?

My company signed me up for the Service and Installation Technician class and test at the end of next month I just need help on what to study now, I want to be prepared and not wait until I do the class and take the test same day.

Hey friends!
Anything gas related makes me pretty nervous. My grandparents had an intense fear of gas explosions for some reason and it rubbed off on me some. I just got a propane grill, and a 20lb (I think) tank to go along with it. I don't have a garage or detached shed to store it in.

Would it be safe to store on my wooden covered back porch up against the brick of my house? The only possible ignition source would be string lights hanging over head that I plug in and unplug every night.

I appreciate your help.

I live in northern Westchester (NYS) and have leased a 120 gal tank that I rent from suburban propane since I moved here in 2021. Since entering into contract with them, my rental price has gone up 500% and I have been paying almost $7 a gallon for refills. I am a low usage customer, so they are gouging the hell out of me currently. I use around 50 gallons a year max. (Currently use propane for a fireplace). I am now considering buying my own tank or changing who I rent from. Has anyone here switched to owning and found it easier and worth it? I have read that companies won’t send a truck out to deliver unless you have atleast a 120 gal tank on property. Looking into smaller tanks and bringing them to be filled. This would obviously require smaller tanks, heavy lifting and more trips to BJs/tractor supply. Would love to hear from anyone who’s made a similar switch to owning and their experiences. Thanks!

I have a 2007 Keystone 5th wheel RV that has dual 30 lb propane tanks mounted in the front corners of the trailer. I've been having issues getting proper pressure out of the right hand propane tank. Left hand tank works well. When using the right hand tank, I get propane to all appliances, put at lower than normal pressure. The flame on the stove top is only about 1/3 of normal on this tank. Had different propane tanks in this location with the same issue. The propane routes from this right hand tank into a rubber pigtail that is then connected to a hard line. At the other end of the hardline is another rubber line that connects the hard line to the manual tank selector switch. I replaced the rubber pigtail at the right hand tank and that made the problem better for a while, but the issue has returned. Is there a way to test the pigtail to determine if my new pigtail is defective? Should I replace the other soft line in this connection? Could my problem be in the manual selector switch? Getting tired of having to carry the right tank to the left side when the left tanks runs out.

My 20# tank has frost going about half way up the outside of the tank after using for a while. The regulator is cold but has no frost.

Is this a sign that the regulator is going bad?

Thanks.

I got a Outland Living FireCube. When I hooked it to my propane tank (standard "grill" tank), it leaked like crazy at where the black plastic end is screwed to the tank. I looked inside the end of the black knob/regulator and it seems a rubber gasket is missing. I can see one in the same place on my Gas Grill regulator. When I connect the tank to the gas grill it does NOT leak. Can I just get a rubber gasket to put inside there? We go camping next week and wanted to bring this.

https://preview.redd.it/iexhrzzy6eyg1.jpg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=db2be37c2e0742284f3e2f4b0987e96cb228cadc

My propane tank was disconnected for 24 hours.

They reconnected it.

The company left a note and said, turn on valve.

I turned the valves off to my furnace, stove, and water heater.

Do I now just go outside and turn on the valve on the tank and then come back in, open everything up and light my pilot lights?

I have a new fire table with a 5 gallon propane tank, completely full.

When I open the tank’s valve just a little bit at first and then ignite the table, it works normally. It creates a nice large flame with no issues. However, if I open the valve on the tank all the way right from the beginning, then I only get a small blue flame from fire table no matter how much I turn the knob on the table up.

Is this supposed to happen or is it defective?

Thank you

I've got a an older popup and I want to make a modification to the propane system but want some input from people potentially smarter than I.

Currently, it is set up to go from the tank to a high pressure regulator. From there, I have a T. One side goes to the outside connection for the factory outdoor high pressure stove. The other side goes to a 2 stage low pressure regulator that feeds the indoor stove and 3 way fridge.

What I want to do is take out the high pressure regulator. Go directly to a T and split it off between the indoor stove and outdoor connection. I would then split the outdoor port between the factory stove with repurposed regulator and a small Blackstone griddle with its own regulator.

Biggest thing is would that 2 stage regulator be able to handle tank pressure and regulate it or is it relying on the step down from the other regulator? Any other issues to consider? Or is this a bad idea?