Propane tank

I own my own tank. Pro: you can shop around for gas. So far i've good luck with my current supplier taking care of all the maintenance.
 
Own mine, at least .10 a gal cheaper this way. I think this year it will be closer to .50 cheaper to own.
 
I have owned propane tanks at 2 different houses for a total of 35 years. You need to keep the paper work that you own the tank as some suppliers won't fill it unless you can prove you own it. There's a law about filling someone else's tank without permission
 
Ted, Have always owned my own LP tanks. You are not locked to one supplier you are Free to shop around and get the best price, service are what have-you.
And if you need to service the Head unit, Like put in new seals you are still free to shop around to get the best price on repair work too! Only way to go!
Later,
John A.
 
Some of it depends on where you are.

In my part of the world (NW Iowa) I have never been asked for paperwork. Course I think I only changed supplier once. I think most suppliers will likely need to do a leak test before they fill but they do this free, so it is no biggy.

The only thing that suppliers balk about here is 100 lb cylinders. Nobody here will fill them no matter if they are new or not.

hth

jt
 
I bought my own tank 4 years ago.
500 gallon, brand new, $1,100.
It is nice to be able to buy propane from other dealers, but.....You also have to prove that you own the tank and any new supplier of propane will pressure check your lines. This is a CYA on their end.
Over all I save 8 to 10 cents per gallon on fuel. In the long run it pays for itself. I likely saved $150 per year owning my own tank.
Now here is the kicker. I just got Natural gas installed. They ran it down the road over the summer and I just got it hooked up 2 weeks ago. But....I am still waiting on the all the stuff Thermostat, orfice, etc. to convert the water heater over to Natural gas.
So, as of now I have Natural gas for the main furnace and propane for the water heater.
After I get the water heater hooked over to natural gas then I will sell the propane tank, I should be able to get $600 for it.
 
If you live anywhere near me I might be interested in your tank. And I can convert your water heater.

Dusty
 
The pressure test is NOT a law or insurance requirement. They just try to get you to agree to it so they can charge you or lock you in to one supplier.

Had one propane supplier out here try that a few years ago. HE went out of business in about two years. Few where buying his propane.

As far as owning your own tanks. I own all my fuel tanks, diesel, gas, and propane. You will save enough in being able to shop around to pay for the tank shortly.
 
I bought my 500 gallon tank new for $800-something. I'm in a rural area of NY. I get the lowest rate this way as long as it gets filled on an ad-hoc basis. Maybe twice a year.

Only slight problem is - I was thinking of changing gas companies and some of the big ones (Amerigas) said they would not fill it unless I could show proof of ownership. Well duh . . . it's on my property and I do NOT have a "title" for it like I do for cars and trucks. After buying a tank and having it for a few years - I'm not sure how someone is supposed to show proof unless the receipt has been saved.

I wonder how a person would react if he/she went t the local gas station to fill up a car and they refused to sell unless you showed proof you owned the car?
 
Yes I did get a receipt, just like I get for just about anything else I buy new. But I don't save receipts for every item I've bought in my life, for my entire life. If I did, I'd have papers piled up past the roof of my house. I've got over a 100 tractors here and I bet I don't have a receipt laying around for any of them.

When I go hunting - even though many of my guns were bought new - I am sure I would not be able to find a "receipt" for any of them.

In regard to the tank - I bought from a guy I've known for years and he was my gas-delivery guy. I bought the tank four years ago and at that time - never imagined I'd be asked someday to show "proof of ownership." Other then that - I can't imagine any reason for keeping the d*mn paperwork. It's not like it's got a warrrantee. It IS on my property and has nobody's company name on it.
 
I bought an old used 125 gal tank from a farmer who had it on a combine. He wrote me out a receipt from one of those generic receipt books.
Supplier didn't seem to care as long as I had a receipt.

Go get a friend to write you out one if you ever need one.
 
I wouldn't waste any time with a company that behaves like Amerigas did. The tank is on MY property and has nobody's company name on it. I told them I owned it and they said "prove it." In other words - they called me a liar until proved otherwise. They can kiss my a*s, along with any others like them. I found two other local small companies that had no problem with my tank.

By the way. I put in a propane tank at my cabin in Indian Lake, Adirondacks, NY (Hamilton Co.) I called up J & R Eldredge from Lake Pleasant. They went over and filled it with no money up front, no proof of ownership, no anything. Just my name, mail address and phone #. I was amazed. These people do not know me and I don't live in that area. That's what I call a good old fashioned business. They later sent a bill, we paid, and that was that. I wish there were more gas companies around like that. Amerigas acted like they'd be doing me a HUGE favor by permitting me to be their lowly and obedient customer.
 
Same here only receipts I keep are for tax reasons.
This lady comes home house is empty ( Bank Mistake )
and they want receipts, crazy they made mistake. Maybe she forgot about the 50 K in cash. Her request seemed fair to me.Then you have autopart store receipts that writing disappears in 20 minutes
Link
 
I have several suppliers in my area.

Two of them are good so far. I have been alternating my fill ups between them trying to stay on good terms with them both and to support them. Never know when an emergancy will crop up.

Amerigas and Ferrell gas are some others around here but DO NOT DEAL with them as you know.

There is another place out of my delivery zone in Amish country. Troyer's he is VERY good to deal with on the pipeing and regulators and keeps them on hand. Many places won't sell you any parts for LP systems around here. They are trying to cover their rears in case someone blows theirselves up.
 
How would a leak test lock you into one supplier? Your insurance may not require it but the supplier's might. Insurance company and lawyers are at least partly the responsable because if there is a fire they will try to find any reason to sue the supplier and recover their loss. Like Wile E said its CYA. If you deliever propane you are taking responsablity for the system. Why would anyone want to do that without knowing it is safe and up to code? NFPA Does require a leak test for any system that has been taken out of service.
As far as requiring proof of ownership if it doesn't look like another suppiers tank okay their tank should be marked anyway. If it does it is easy enough to get the serial number and call the company to find out . To be fair to those who want to be sure it is against the law to tamper with anothers tank.
 
I was in the fuel business for years, if you own your own home, the only way to go is buy the tank. It makes no sense to be locked into 1 supplier. several years ago one of the national LP gas companies saturated local the market with their co owned tanks, first thing you know they are 15 to 20 cents a gallon higher than everyone else. Seen it happen more than once. Most of them are no longer in business around here.
 
I had a 1000 gal underground tank installed 8 years ago. No money left in the budget to pay for it, so I went with one of the local companies that I somewhat trusted and they installed their tank in my hole. It would have been $2K to purchase my own.

If you figure I have been using ~800 gals per year and that I am being overcharged $0.10 per gallon, that comes out to about $640 dollars that I have paid on my tank. I think I am coming out ahead.

Plus the propane company has been out twice to fix problems with the tank (free). Remember, too that it will be thier problem someday when the tank needs to be replaced.

Based on other people I have talked to locally, my propane price is pretty fair also.

I rent my tank and I am happy with it.

Cliff(VA)
 

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