DO YOU KNOW HOW TO READ YOUR PROPANE GUAGES?
Be sure you are looking at the correct gauge. Some of the tanks have fill gauges and pressure gauges. In the picture below the gauge on the left is the fill gauge and the one on the right is the pressure. Notice the pressure gauge goes to 300 and the fill gauge only goes to 95.
FILL GAUGE & PRESSURE GAUGE
This is confusing as sometimes people read the pressure gauge and think that is the amount of propane they have in their tank. Remember the gauges fluctuate with temperature changes (See below: Pressure Fill & Temperature Fluctuations.)
GAUGE FOR AN EMPTY TANK
GAUGE FOR A TANK WITH 30%
Pressure & Fill Temperature Fluctuations
Liquid propane volume is affected by significant temperature changes. The following example assumes a 250 gallon propane tank has 100 gallons of propane at 60 degrees Fahrenheit (which is universally recognized as the base reference for liquid propane volume correction).
- The float gauge will read 40%
- 100 gallons of propane weighs 424 pounds (4.24 lbs. per gallon)
If there is a significant temperature drop (over 20 degrees F) the gauge will indicate there is less propane in the tank. Assuming the gauge dial sits between 35% and 40% following the temperature drop, there are still 424 pounds of propane in the tank. Although the propane volume has decreased, the amount of propane has not decreased. It has simply become more compact (dense). The amount of usable energy has not decreased. If the temperature were to rise by the same amount, the gauge would indicate a higher volume of propane but there would still be 424 pounds of propane in the tank.
Simply put, as the temperature drops the propane becomes more compact or dense and as the temperature raises the propane becomes less dense and expands.
Propane users can become quite confused during periods of cold weather following a propane delivery because their gauge may read less than when they expect it to read.
In contrast, the customer’s gauge may read more than what they expect it read in the summer months.
Propane delivery trucks have meters that measure the amount of propane pumped into the customer tanks. These meters include volume correct devices know as automatic temperature compensators. The temperature compensator takes into account the temperature of propane running through the meter and automatically adjusts to correctly deliver the amount of propane the customer ordered. By law these devices are required to be calibrated and are adjusted based on the temperature of the liquid at the time of calibration.
When a delivery of propane is made to your home or business, know the amount you paid for is the amount you are actually getting regardless of the temperature.
Portions of this article was taken from the website: propane101.com
PROPANE SAFETY RELIEF VALVE
The safety relief valve is one of the most important and vital valves on any LP Gas container. All propane tanks and cylinders are required by law to be fitted with pressure relief devices designed to relieve excess pressure. The function of a safety relief valve is to keep a propane tank from rupturing in the unlikely event of excessive pressure buildup. Propane tank relief valves are also known as pop off valves, pressure venting valves or relief valves.
Sometimes during the summer months, especially if your tank sits in direct sunlight, the relief valve on your tank may “pop off”. Even though this is alarming it does protect your tank. If this happens, please contact our office as we will need to check your tank and schedule a time (when the tank is empty) to replace your valve.
FACT: WE ONLY FILL YOUR TANK TO 80% OR LESS TO ALLOW FOR TEMPERATURE (PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONS!)
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
It is a good idea to have Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home. CO is a colorless, tasteless and odorless compound produced by incomplete combustion of carbon containing materials. It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because it is virtually undetectable without using detection technology and most do not realize they are being poisoned.
Elevated levels of CO can be dangerous to humans depending on the amount present and length of exposure. CO detectors are designed to measure CO levels over time and sound an alarm before dangerous levels of CO accumulate in an environment, giving people adequate warning to safely ventilate the area or evacuate.
What do you do if your Carbon Monoxide Detector goes off? CALL 911!
Our Service personnel do not have the equipment to detect Carbon Monoxide and it is not safe for them to enter your property if Carbon Monoxide is detected or suspected. Therefore it is essential you quickly exit the premises and call 911 immediately!
