What You Need To Know Now Before You Choose Your Propane Tank

Most of us use propane tanks for smaller needs like an outdoor grill or for a recreational vehicle trip. Homeowners that live in suburbs or remote areas often use propane to heat their houses. Propane is economical and efficient to heat homes and businesses. It is considered a clean fuel under the 1990 Clean Air Act. What do you need to know about propane tanks before you lease or buy one?

You need to consider the size of tank and your need. Rest assured that propane tanks are very safe.

Tank Sizing Depends On Your Needs

Propane tanks aren't made alike. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The kind of propane tank you need to lease or buy depends on what you are using it for:

• Small tanks: these are the 120 to 325 gallon ranges suitable for RVs, grills, and hot water
• Medium tanks: 500 gallons tanks can heat an entire home
• Large tanks: 1000 to 1990 gallon tanks are suitable for large homes and businesses

Small propane tanks can be bought at your local hardware store and refilled at any propane filling station. You can often find these outside gas stations. The larger tanks can be leased or bought and installed by a certified propane technician. You should consider maintenance, cost and service before leasing or buying a medium or large tank. The company leasing your propane tank or the company you choose after buying a propane tank is responsible for filling it.

The 80 Percent Fill Rule

Propane tanks are never filled to the brim with gas because propane expands on a hot day. It's for your safety. If you are grilling out on an unseasonably warm winter's day, the pressure in your propane tank will be less than if you grill your steaks on your cement driveway in the middle of summer. So if you want to know how many gallons of propane are in your newly filled tank, just multiply its total capacity by 0.8. It's not just the small tanks that follow the 80 percent fill rule, it's all propane tanks.

Propane is affordable, abundant and is easy to work with in all homes and businesses. Did you know that the U.S. is the world's leading producer of propane gas? So pick your size and go ahead and grill those steaks and heat those homes, there's plenty of clean propane gas to fit your needs. For more information, talk to a professional like Taylor Gas Company Inc.