Posted: October 23, 2023

Are you a propane customer who has checked your propane tank’s levels right after your tank has been filled only to discover that it is not actually full? Maybe you were disappointed to find out that this was the case, but not filling a propane tank all the way is actually done intentionally.

A reliable and trustworthy propane supplier will never completely fill your propane tank as a safety precaution.

Propane is a liquid and liquids expand when they are heated. Propane actually expands faster than water does and it expands more than water does (we’re talking about 17 times more!).

Therefore, there needs to be extra space in a propane tank to allow for this expansion. Above ground propane tanks are usually filled to about 80%, which accounts for rising outdoor temperatures that heat and, in turn expand, propane. It’s safe to fill underground tanks a little more than 80% since the ground’s insulation provides protection against high temperatures.

The Right Propane Tank Size

Knowing that your propane tank should never be 100% full may influence your decision regarding the tank size you feel you need.

There are many different propane tank sizes and selecting one depends on the size of your home and the number of propane appliances you use. Here is a breakdown of the common residential sizes:

• 20-pound to 100-pound propane cylinders: These tanks are generally used for grills, portable heaters, stoves and RVs.
• 100-pound to 200-pound propane tanks: This size tank is recommended for houses that use propane appliances (with the exception of home heating systems that are powered by propane) and that use about 50 gallons of propane a month.
• 325-gallon to 500-gallon propane tanks: If you power your home heating system with propane, use a number of other propane appliances throughout your home and your propane use totals about 100 to 200 gallons a month, this size range is appropriate.
• 1,000-gallon propane tanks: Propane tanks that are this large are mostly used in industrial settings and by commercial businesses. Sometimes large homes that store propane for heating and generators use tanks of this size as well.

Allied Propane’s Tank Installation And Services

Northern California residents can rely on Allied Propane Service when it comes to both underground and above ground propane tanks.

Our services for above ground propane tank installations include:

• A thorough look at your property from one of our technicians to pick out a safe and convenient location for your tank
• Recommendations regarding tank size
• Installation of your new tank and checks to make sure your new tank is safe to use
• Instructions from one of our technicians on how to use all your propane appliances

Our services for underground tank installations include:

• A thorough look at your property conducted by one of our technicians to pick out a safe and convenient location for your tank
• Filing all necessary paperwork for permits and research regarding local and county codes
• Soil testing
• Installation of your new tank and checks to make sure your new tank is safe to use

Let Allied Propane Service Take Care Of Your Propane

Whatever your propane and propane tank needs are, Allied Propane Service can help. We are not just a propane provider – we are the leading provider of propane energy in the Northern California Bay Area. So contact us today and get all your propane needs taken care of!