How safe are those huge propane tanks that sit behind homes for heating etc?

Question

I'm looking to buy an investment property that has a huge propane tank in the back of the house to fuel the home. How safe are these and what is the advantage of propane vs other fuels in terms of home use? Also what are the costs compared to electric or other gases?

Answer 1

the folks i work for have been in the propane business for 20+ years. they have never had a tank rupture. ive never heard of one being struck by a stray bullet. i suppose it could happen. ive heard of stray bullets hitting people.

i dont know where folks are coming up with their data, but propane is the cheapest fossil fuel to heat with. its cheaper than nat gas, and oil. per volume propane gives off twice the heat energy of nat. gas.

depending on the climate where you live, and the heat load on the house, a 19 seer air to air heat pump might be cheaper to operate than a gas furnace with a/c. if you are up north, geothermal heat will pay for itself in a few years time.

in my humble opinion, the best situation is what we call a duel fuel system. it is an ait to air heat pump,with a gas furnace back up. when the outdoor temp falls below a point where the heat pump becomes ineffient the gas furnace takes over to heat the house.

another thing to keep in mind with propane is the fact that as long as the tank has gas in it, you can have heat. we sell and install ventless heaters and fire places that do not need electricity to operate. with all the folks in the dark in the last few months, im sure some of them wish they would have thought ahead for power outages.

we also sell propane powered backup generators that can sit for a year at a time with out any maintanace and will start every time. again as long as there is gas in the tank, the generator will run.

another advantage with propane is the ability to pre buy. most gas companies will sell you the entire winters worth of gas on the 4th of july, when prices are typically lower. they will then deliver it as needed.


Hope this helps,
Possum, hvac guy

p.s.
hank hill was not harmed in the answering of this question

Answer 2

I live in a rural area where these are common and, have a client who is in the propane business. The only accident I have heard of in 50 years is where a farmer was moving a tank with a tractor and ruptured the valve and a spark ignited the resulting cloud of gas. But then, a neighbor had lightening strike his front yard and ignite the UNDERGROUND natural gas pipeline that was buried. That fire was hard to put out. The tanks are very heavy and they are quite safe. Consider that everyone with gas heat, stove or hot water heaters has gas in pipes and flexible tubing inside their homes. Accidents are rare. Rest easy. Electric may be cheaper in some locations but more expensive in others. Consumers will usually choose natural gas if it is available and will usually choose propane over electric heat.

Answer 3

I'm 48 years-old and I don't think I have ever heard of a propane tank exploding in my entire life. I had one as a little boy growing up and I used to place a saddle on it and ride it like a horse. Propane is a bit more expensive than natural gas and a LOT less expensive than electricity. Generally they are a good form of energy.

Answer 4

Well propane tends to be a little more expensive the natural gas. If you don't have a natural gas hook up (probably the property doesn't because it has the tank) your only options is propane, or going all electric, which is even more expensive. As far as safety goes.. they are safe as long as you don't do anything stupid... Incidents with the tanks are really rare because it's highly regulated by the government.

Answer 5

Assuming you don't have natural gas available due to the remoteness of the home, propane is your best bet.

1) it stores well for an extended period.
2) if there were a leak, it won't contaminate the ground.
3) it's clean burning.
4) It's a hell of a lot cheaper than electric heat.

Answer 6

I am a fireman in a rural setting with mainly a farming community. those tanks are constructed with at least 1/2" steel in the main body. As far as a fire goes, the tank has a pressure relief valve that virtually eliminates the possibility of an explosion. I have personally seen at least 20 or so of them completely surrounded by fire. I have seen two of them actually on fire due to the valve being knocked off. I haven't seen one explode yet.

Answer 7

I always thought they'd be pretty dangerous in those rural farm lands where you see them used the most.

There's so much deer hunting going on in those areas and I know a high power rifle bullet if shot even from a good distance could penetrate one of those tanks.