Construction & Contractors Blog
Installing a new propane service on your property is not overly complicated, but there are some things that you will need to address when you are creating an area for the tanks. The propane company may have specific requirements that you must meet before installing the propane tanks, so it is essential that your contractor has all the information to do the job right.
Level Ground
The area where the propane tanks are going to sit must be level. The propane company will not install tanks on the side of a hill or a site that will cause the propane to not flow properly out of the tank.
In some cases, the propane company will want a concrete pad to install the tanks on, and other times a level area with some gravel under it is enough. In either case, if the ground is not level, the contractor will need to bring in some equipment to grade and compact the pad.
If you use a concrete pad, the contractor will need to construct forms and prepare the area. Adding lags to the concrete that allow the tank to be bolted to the pad is easy to do and can secure the tanks, making them safe and ensuring they will not move over time.
Installation Location
You should talk to the propane company about the location requirements of the propane tanks before work begins. Some suppliers want the tanks to be away from the structure and may have a guideline like one hundred feet, for example.
If your propane company mandates some distance between the house and the tanks, the contractor working on your installation will need to dig a trench and run some underground conduit to protect the propane line from the tank to the house.
PVC pipe is often a good choice because it is strong and can protect the gas line should someone be digging over it later on. The tube can come up through your concrete pad so that the gas line can be routed through it and then come out under the house.
The PVC needs to has drainage holes in it, and the trench should be lined with gravel to let any water runoff. If the PVC fills with water, it could freeze in the winter and damage the propane line, so you might want to ask the propane company if they have a way to run it that works better in your area.
Tank Delivery
Once the site is ready, the propane company will bring the tanks to the location and set them in place. The company will also run the propane line from the tank to the home and make any connections required before filling the tanks the first time.
To learn more, contact a propane company in your area.
Share8 March 2021
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
