Trying to understand everything you need to know about propane tank installation before you switch your home to a cleaner energy source? Here’s a comprehensive guide to installing propane tanks for your home, from start to finish.
Why Choose Propane for Your Home?
Propane is a reliable fuel for homes that can keep your family comfortable all year round with minimal environmental impact and relatively little market volatility compared to other fuel types.
Some other benefits include:
Steps for Residential Propane Tank Installation
At a glance, these are the factors to consider when installing a propane tank for your home:
Safety Guidelines for Propane Tank Installation
Maintain Proper Clearances
If you’re wondering how close a propane tank can be to a house, there are some regulations to know. Propane tank clearances require strict adherence to keep your home and other outbuildings safe from the risk of fire. Most regulations for homeowners require above-ground propane tanks to be at least 10 feet away from your home, property line, or any exterior source of ignition that could cause a fire, such as window AC units and central AC compressors. This includes 10 feet away from any exterior source of ignition, openings into direct-vent gas appliances, or mechanical ventilation air intakes.
The tank should also be less than 80 feet away from your driveway. Minimizing the distance between the two makes it easier for our trucks to fill up your propane tank.
If activated, safety release valves will vent propane vertically—therefore, the tanks cannot be installed under a building overhang or awning. Your propane tanks may also need to be further away from the nearest building depending on the tank’s size, or if there are multiple tanks you need to install. Additionally, there may be other federal, state, or local ordinances and industry regulations that you may need to consider before your install.
Avoid Overhead Hazards
In addition to the regulations around your propane tank’s distance from the house, you also need to designate a place for it that is away from overhead power lines, wires, or poles. Find a place free of any overhead tree branches or underground tree roots that could destabilize the propane tank’s foundation over time.
Ensure the Tank’s Stability
The tank needs a space that is stable and less prone to settling or cracking. A professional installer knows how to spot a stable foundation for your propane tank.
Keep the Area Clear
Your propane tank is a source of heat and energy for your home—not an open area for storing seasonal equipment, or other things destined for the recycling center.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
You should have a routine schedule planned for both refilling and checking the functionality of the propane tank. This ensures you’ll catch potential leaks before they become a problem and always keep your system running normally.
However, if you experience a disruption of service anywhere in your system, you need to light your pilot light, or your tank pressure drops, don’t wait until your next scheduled maintenance appointment. Call our team right away, 24/7, so we can help you take the steps you need to resume service.
DIY or Professional Installation?
In short, having a propane tank installed professionally isn’t just a recommendation—in most places, it’s a requirement. However, in addition to professional home propane tank installation being an outright requirement, there are multiple reasons why you should never try to install a tank yourself.
The Risks of DIY Propane Tank Installation
You may be trying to learn how to install a propane tank yourself to save money and improve your DIY skills. However, with flammable substances like propane, we never recommend this. Some of the risks of installing a propane tank yourself include:
The Benefits of Professional Installation
Professional installers are intimately familiar with residential propane tank regulations and clearances, so you know they’ll place your propane tank where you need it while still maintaining compliance with local codes and regulations. Here are some other benefits of working with a professional installer:
What to Expect During Tank Installation
At a glance, this is what the residential propane tank installation process looks like:
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