How to Save Money on Propane

By Bob Santucci | January 5, 2019 |

Propane is a liquefied petroleum product that is a three-carbon alkane when at standard temperature is a gas but liquefies under pressure for storage. It burns hotter than natural gas.

Please take a look at the photo that is with this article. This tank is located in the Russian River area. You are looking at a 250 gallon propane tank that is on a lease. With propane tanks you have the choice of leasing the tank or purchasing your own. The cost to purchase equals roughly seven years of lease (leach) payments. If you lease the tank you have to purchase the propane from the company that is leasing you the tank.

ALL PROPANE COMPANIES ARE SET UP TO CHARGE YOU AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE and they have a lot of ways to do it.

Is your tank full now? No it isn’t and I bet that if you are on automatic delivery then why isn’t it full now? Your contract says they will keep it full but they are waiting for the prices to go up about a buck a gallon. That is at least $150.00. Call them on Monday and tell them to fill it at the lowest price of the summer. They will say “no.” You say”I think that my tank is not safe and I need it replaced.” That always gets their attention. All companies you call fro a quote will be 10% lower than your current company so leverage that.

How to Save Money

In October prices for propane begin to increase due to supply and demand. If you want to save money on this product then PURCHASE enough propane to get you through the coldest portion of the season that requires heating your home.

If you have to lease the tanks then check them to see if they are installed to the latest code. They are probably out of code. Tell your current provider that they have been filling your tanks unsafely. That should get their attention and allow you to operate from a position of strength. When they come out to do the repairs (at no cost to you) ask them to bring a bigger tank with them and to exchange it while they are there. This should all be done at no charge in exchange for you continuing the current lease. Get the biggest tank possible or but one. You will save at least 35% this year if you use every trick and 20% every year after this.

How to Save Your Life

During the Lake County Valley Fires propane tanks were exploding like bombs everywhere. I paused to think that if you built a cinder block wall / containment area is needed. Build it around the tanks so that it would create a safe blast wall and direct the force of the explosion straight up.

Take a look at the photo again. This tank is not supported on one end but just sitting on the ground. There is no safety barrier between it and the driveway. It is at the base of the stairs of one building and near the rear exit of the other home. In a fire the occupants have to escape by going right by this tank. Our research this week found that sixty five percent of the tanks we saw had these same conditions.

A concrete pad with a cinder block wall for your propane tank may be the best home improvement project you can do this season. It provides the opportunity to.

Have your propane company get honest with you and develop a way to save you money this winter.
Tame that huge explosive device in your yard with a safe aesthetically pleasing improvement.
Provide peace of mind and possibly save a life.

This blog is dedicated to my Mom & Dad. A school teacher and a publisher who taught me everything.