Thursday, May 26, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Propane Pool Heaters – FAQs and Tips
Should I Consider a Propane Pool Heater for my Pool?
If you live in the Northeast it might be hard to believe this but Summer is almost here. More than ever, if you have a pool you might be considered heating that pool after the chilly May we are having. This blog will explain how pool heating with propane works and gives a rough estimate on how much propane you might burn to heat that pool. Often it’s very costly to run natural gas lines to the pool area as the majority of pools are in the backyard and a great distance from the street connection. Propane is a preferred choice for pool heating.
What size Tank do I need?
For a standard size pool (21,000 gallons) most pool heaters are 300,000 – 400,000 BTU . Because of this you will need at least a 200 gallons of propane to satisfy the amount of pressure to run these heaters. This can be accomplished a few ways. One way is with 2-100 above ground gallons tanks, this is probably the most common application for pool heat. Another option is 1- 250 above ground gallon horizontal tank. Another option would be to install a 500 gallon or 1000 gallon underground tank. This option is much more costly, but is less of an eye sore. If you intend to heat your pool regularly this might be the most expensive option upfront but could actually save you money in the long run.
How much will I use?
A common call after a homeowner runs their pool heater for the first time is, “I think my tanks are leaking, please come out and check.” More often than not, there is no leak and homeowners are shocked at how propane they burned for heating the pool. If you are planning on heating your pool, please know ahead of time it will consume a decent of propane in a relatively short amount of time. Let me explain.
The average pool heater burns about 1 gallon per hour per 100,000 BTUs. Like I mentioned earlier, propane heaters are generally 400,000 BTU’s. Therefore, you will be burn approximately 4 gallons of propane per hour. So how many hours will the heater run for?
By definition The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is the amount of work needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A typical pool is 21,000 gallons. A gallon of water = 8.34 lbs. So you will need 175,100 BTU’s to raise the temperature 1 degree. Pool heaters can be anywhere from 80% to 95% efficient. If we use 80% efficient pool heater as the average, your 400,000 btu heater will actually output 320,000 BTU’s per hour.
Enough math, what’s the simple answer already. If you run your 400,000 BTU heater for one hour you will raise the temperature approx 1.828 degrees. So it will take 4 gallons of propane will raise your pool 1.82 degrees. If you live in the northeast and your pool is 60° and your kids only want to swim in 80°water, you are looking at approx 10-12 hours of running the heater. The cost per gallon of propane for pool heat is approximately $2.50. So the bottom line, its going to cost you about $100 to have the pool party in May.
This is an extreme example. Generally you will not be attempting to raise the pool 20 degrees. While it is not cheap to heat the pool it does have its benefits. Often pool owners can extend their pool season by 2 months with a pool heater. You an open in May and close in October. Having a solar cover will greatly offset these cost because it help maintain the waters temperature and allow to the starting temperature to be greater to begin with and will help keep the heat in overnight.
Cost to hook up?
The hook up costs/fees with vary with what size tank size application. If you go with two 100 gallon above ground tanks or one 250 gallon above ground thank they will be need to be at least 10 feet way from an exterior source of ignition i.e your pool heater itself. So there is be some work for the propane company to run the lines and set the tanks. A ball park figure for basic installation 10ft away from the tanks is $350-$500. In addition, there may be an annual tank rental fee. Some companies might sell the tanks outright and you could expect the costs for tanks and installation to be roughly $2,000 and up.
In conclusion
Heating your pool is not a monumental task but not simple either. With the right heater and good propane company it can be set up relatively stress free for you. While it might seem a little pricey to heat the pool you will be able to spend more time with your family enjoying your pool. With what entertainment cost these days the price is actually in line with other actives. You would spend more money taking your family out to the movies or out to eat you would spend the same amount for 2 hours family activity, versus the hours of hanging out in and around the pool.
At Compare Propane, it’s our job to find you the lowest lp gas prices depending on where you live. Fill out the form and we’ll provide you the best quote we can find!
The article Propane Pool Heaters – FAQs and Tips was syndicated from Compare Propane
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Saturday, April 30, 2016
20 lb. BBQ Propane Tank – Usage & Refill Guide
Grill Propane Tank 101
The weather is finally breaking and the warm temperatures are being felt across the nation. Baseball season has officially begun and the sound of mowers cutting grass can be heard. All of these things point to the start of summer and thus, the start of BBQ season. Although the perfect hamburger recipe can be debated from here until eternity, there are a few definitive tips to save money while filling up that BBQ tank.
THE FACTS
Weight
A typical barbecue tank is also referred to as a 20-pounder. This is because the tank can hold approximately 20 pounds of propane. This equates to 4.7 gallons of propane. Propane weighs 4.24 pounds per gallon so now you get the 20 pound reference.
So, does a full tank weigh 20 pounds? No, because the tank itself has weight to it, too. That is called the “tare weight” which is the weight of an empty tank. Tanks have “T.W.” (tare weight) stamped on the collar of the tank. On average, the tare weight of a propane tank is about 17.2 pounds. Some might be 18 and some might be 16.6.
All in all, a completely full BBQ tank weighs approximately 37 to 38 pounds.
The Tare Weight on this tank is 17.9 pounds.
Valves
An OPD valve is required on all grill bottle tanks. OPD is short for “Overfill Protection Device”. It is a safety feature that prevents the tanks from being overfilled. If you have a tank without an OPD, the company will not be able to fill your tank. If your tank has a fly wheel valve it’s the older style and cannot be filled. The OPD valves are more of a triangular shape (see below).
Above is a non OPD tank and will not be able to be filled.
Above is an example of an OPD valve on a good standing tank.
Date
You will notice that there is date stamped on the collar of your propane tank. The Department of Transportation states that smaller propane tanks have a usable life of 12 years. After that, they will need to be refurbished. For example, if a tank has stamp 04 10 that means it will need to be replaced or refurbished on 05/2022. Most local propane marketers can refurbish out-of-date propane tanks.
To Refill or Exchange
In terms of most value for your dollar, I would recommend having your propane tank filled by a local company versus a tank exchange at a gas station or big box store. The national chains often fill their BBQ tanks with only 15 pounds of propane. This means that you are truly only receiving 3.5 gallons (15 lbs of propane = 3.5 gallons of propane). Your local garden center or propane marketer normally fill your propane tank with 20 lbs of propane or 4.7 gallons.
Some people might ask what the big deal is, because it’s only a difference of 1.2 gallons. However, when it comes to grilling, 1.2 gallon of propane equals about four to five hours of extra grilling time. I could show the calculation of this, but it bore even Steven Hawking.
In addition, the cost at one of these exchanges are usually $20-22 per tank. If you look around many local propane marketers offer deals in the summer time for tank exchanges. The deals normally range from $12-$15 per bottle exchange.
The per gallon comparison looks like this:
Big Box Store tank exchange for $22 equates to $6.28 per gallon of propane.
Local Fill station for $12 equates to $2.55 per gallon of propane.
Knowing When To Refill Your Tank
The simple answer for knowing exactly when you need to refill your tank is to actually weigh it. Use the Tare Weight as your base line and the difference is the amount of propane left.
For example:
TW=17 and the total weight of the tank is 25 lbs. This means that you have 8 lbs of propane (25 lbs – 7 lbs = 8 lbs) or 1.9 gallon left. Note that 1.9 gallon equals about 7 hours or so of grill time.
It’s always fun to leave in the middle of a BBQ with your tank under your arm and go weigh yourself, right? It’s a really cool party move. False.
The best option is to have a backup tank and just swap it out. Also, if you bring a half full tank to get filled you are charged a flat fee and not a per gallon fee. So, it’s also better to run completely out and then get it filled. Having a backup tank allows you to do this.
The post 20 lb. BBQ Propane Tank – Usage & Refill Guide appeared first on Compare Propane.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
How to Switch Propane Providers
How to make the switch
I currently have a propane tank at my house but want to switch to a new company… How do I do that? Is it even possible? These are common questions we get when a customer is looking for a new company, so we decided to write a blog to map out the best way to switch your propane providers.
First things first, you need to figure out what company owns the tank. People often think that if they bought the house, they must own the propane tank on the property. However, that is incorrect. Refer to the seller’s disclosure when you purchase the house for more information. If you want the tank at your home you can basically switch providers as you see fit. The rest of this pertains to propane users who do not own the tank their home or business.
The second question that you will have to answer is whether the tank is above or underground.
Above-ground Tanks
There are a few different size above-ground tanks that could be located at your property. Depending on your usage, we can figure out the size tank. Typically, if you use propane for cooking, fireplace inserts, or space heating you will have a one hundred (100) gallon tank or smaller at your home. One-hundred (100) gallon tanks are approximately four feet tall and two and a half to three feet in diameter. Generally, these tanks are owned by the propane company. It’s obviously best to check your original contract with your provider to determine whether or not you own the tank. If you have a larger tank, follow the same process but there is always a chance that you may own the tank.
If you have don’t own the above-ground tank at your home it’s not the end of the world, you can still switch. First, you will want to figure out the cancellation policy of the current provider. Usually, if you cancel within the first few years of the original contract, there can be a cancellation fee that would be greater than any savings you could realize by switching. If you are out of the cancellation period the chances are your company will not give you a dollar for dollar credit for the gas that is currently in the tank. More than likely, you have already paid for the propane in the tank so you will want to use as much as that propane as possible before switching. To prevent any more deliveries coming to your home make sure you are not currently be delivered propane on an automatic delivery basis.
Now that you have taken these steps it’s time to find a new company. Generally, once your tank is at approximately twenty-percent (20%) you can call your new company to come set their tank. Your new company will simply disconnect the existing tank at your house and set it aside for your old company and place their tank at your house.
Underground Tanks
If you have a below ground tank at your home, the first step again is to determine who owns the tank. It really is equal chances that the propane company owns the tank versus the homeowner owning the tank. Once again, you will have a bill of receipt if you own it, or you will have a contract with the original provider.
If it’s determined that the propane company owns the underground tank at your home or business you will have few options. Option number one is to see if there is a tank buy out option. Generally, a company will offer a deprecation schedule with tank buyout options based on the number of years that the tank has been in service. For example, if you have had a tank at your home for 10 years there might be a buyout of approximately $2,000-$3000 for a 500 gallon tank and it could be more for a 1000 gallon tank. Keep in mind that I am using very general numbers and actual numbers will vary from town to town and from company to company.
If the buyout is acceptable and you purchase the tank you are now a free agent and choose a new provider. If the company does not offer a buyout, it is a little tricky. One option is to have the company dig up their tank and have a company set a new one. This isn’t always the best option. If you fall under this category you can always determine when the contract is up and make the switch then.
Recap:
Step 1 – Determine who owns the tank
Step 2 – Make sure there is no cancellation fee at this time
Step 3 – Cancel auto delivery with current provider
Step 4 – Choose new company
Step 5 – Burn propane in your tank down to approx. 20%
Step 6 – Contact new company to place new tank and remove existing tank
Step 7 – Call your previous provider to pick up their tank
Visit this page for some FAQs on propane pricing and service.
The post How to Switch Propane Providers appeared first on Compare Propane.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)