Propane Tanks 101
Learn How to Choose the Best Tank for Your Home
At Fall River Propane, our expert team of technicians and sales staff can help you find the ideal propane tank for your home. Additionally, we can even set you up with wireless tank monitoring, so you always know how much fuel you have on hand.
With our industry expertise, we also want to provide families here in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming with the knowledge to help determine their fuel storage needs and identify their tanks’ different components.
If you’re unfamiliar with propane tanks, here’s a brief rundown on the different propane tank sizes and features to get you caught up:
Which Propane Tank Size Is Right for My Home?
There are many kinds of portable and stationary propane tanks on the market. When you think of grilling and small appliances like fire pits, you’ll probably want the standard-sized 20-pound propane cylinder.
However, regarding on-site home propane tanks, here are some of the most common sizes and their applications:
| Tank Size | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 120 gallon | This can hold up to 96 gallons of propane and is normally used to power a combination of lower-usage appliances (ex. stove, clothes dryer, gas log, water heater, etc.) |
| 250 gallon | Holding about 200 gallons of propane, this can fuel whole-home heating systems on a smaller home, plus one or two appliances. |
| 500 gallon | Holding up to 400 gallons of propane, this is a good choice for a ~2,000-square-foot home and with several appliances. |
| 1,000 gallon | This holds up to 800 gallons of propane and is generally for commercial use. |
The team at Fall River Propane can discuss your home needs and budget and help you right-size your propane storage.
Learning the Parts of Your Home’s Propane Tank
If you have a stationary tank on your property, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with its different parts and pieces. That way, if you notice a performance or safety problem, you can accurately describe the issue when you call a service technician to repair it.
Here are some of a stationary tank’s main components:
Fill Valve — A fitted gasket to allow more fuel to be added.
Fixed Level Liquid Gauge — This gauge allows delivery teams to confirm that the tank is adequately filled.
Float Gauge — This sits atop liquid propane in your tank to give you an approximate percentage in the tank.
Liquid Withdrawal Valve — This tube allows emptying the tank before service or transportation.
Safety Relief Valve — This spring mechanism opens automatically if an unsafe amount of pressure has accumulated.
Service Valve — This permits propane to flow to your home’s systems and appliances. It should be closed if there’s a propane leak.
Vapor Return Valve —This valve releases gas if the tank becomes over-pressurized.
At Fall River Propane, we lease, sell, install and service propane tanks of all shapes and sizes. Let us keep you comfortable all year long. Contact us for a FREE consultation or to learn about our available services and payment options.