How To Keep Propane Tank From Freezing‍

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How To Keep Propane Tank From Freezing‍

Keeping a propane tank from freezing when the outdoor temperature drops to -20°F, or lower is a must. Failure to do so can result in a frozen tank and no heat or hot water during the coldest days of winter. If your home has natural gas, follow these tips to help keep your propane tank from freezing:

How To Keep Propane Tank From Freezing?

  1. Don’t store your tank outside.
  2. Keep your tank covered when not in use.
  3. Keep the tank in a dry, cool place free of drafts and heat sources such as furnaces, hot water heaters, etc.
  4. Don’t store the tank in an unheated garage or shed during cold months of the year (which means any time between October and March).
  5. Don’t leave propane tanks unattended for prolonged periods of time during cold weather. (If you must leave a tank unattended for several hours at a time, disconnect it from the gas line first.)
  6. Clean your propane tanks regularly to remove any built-up residue that can form on the outside of the tank over time and result in corrosion inside the tank, which can cause leaks or corrosion damage to nearby components or piping systems that are connected to your vaporizer’s gas line system (such as an attached stove or hot water heater).  If you have an old “Ronson” type lighter with a flint wheel and burner head, this is an excellent way to clean your propane tanks! Just fill it with some extra-clean kerosene (about 2 quarts) then light it up and let it burn out completely before refilling with propane again! The same thing can be done with Coleman Fuel Stations as well if you have one available!   It’s important that you not just pour kerosene into your tank. 
  7. Keep your tank at least 6″ above the ground level and in a dry, well-ventilated area (away from heat sources such as furnaces and hot water heaters).
  8. Don’t store your tank near an open flame or a stove with a pilot light (even if your stove is switched off) since this can result in an explosion of flammable vapors which can ignite and burn the tank, causing damage to nearby components or piping systems that are connected to your vaporizer’s gas line system (such as an attached stove or hot water heater).
  9. If you want to use a propane tank in the winter months, make sure you first use all of the propane from it before storing it for the winter season. This ensures that there is no excess liquid Propane inside the tank when it’s cold outside and there is very little vapor pressure inside so that it does not freeze when temperatures drop below freezing. 
  10. Lastly, if you have any questions about how to keep your propane tanks from freezing over during the winter months, feel free to contact me! I’m happy to help!

Tips To Keep Propane Tank From Freezing?

  • Keep your tank covered! This is a very important tip. Don’t forget to cover your tank in the winter even if you are not using it. If you don’t cover your tank the wind will freeze it and the cold temperatures will damage it. If you have a small propane tank and need to store it outside make sure that it’s covered or stored inside a garage or shed where there is some natural heat from the sun or heat from inside your house.
  • Insulate It! Another very important tip is to insulate your propane tank. This tip can be applied for other things such as keeping water heater pipes free of snow and ice so that they don’t freeze and crack. The same goes for any other part of your home that needs insulation like windows, doors, etc…
  • Don’t leave propane on at night! Another important tip is to turn off your gas appliances at night so they don’t run during cold temperatures which can cause damage to them and make them work harder than normal which could lead to freezing up later on down the line when temperatures start dropping again in the winter months.
  • Leave propane tanks outside if they are small! Another good tip is if you have smaller propane tanks then it’s best not to leave them out in the cold weather at all since these smaller tanks are more susceptible to freezing up if exposed to freezing temperatures especially if left outdoors unprotected even for short periods of time.
  • Make sure the tank is full! Another important tip is to make sure that your propane tank is full at all times, especially during the winter months when temperatures can drop quickly and freeze up tanks that are not full. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to leave about half an inch of space for every pound of propane in the tank.
  • Keep it clean! If you want to keep your propane tanks from freezing then you should make sure that they are kept clean. If possible use a high-pressure hose and wash the outside of the tank down with warm water so dirt and grime won’t build up over time which could lead to it freezing up.
  • Keep your pipes clear! Another important tip is to keep your pipes clear like water pipes, gas pipes, etc… so that they don’t clog up or get damaged by debris or ice build-up which can cause leaks in your home or even worse cause fires if broken pipe connections start leaking gas into the home causing a fire.
  • Put insulation on gas lines! Another good tip is to insulate all gas lines, especially in older homes where heaters have been replaced with electric heaters. This can greatly reduce the amount of heat lost from your home in the winter months which can help prevent pipes from freezing up and cause gas to leak into your home causing fires or explosions.
  • Make sure you have proper ventilation! Another important tip is to make sure that your home has proper ventilation so that excess moisture doesn’t build up inside of the walls and pipes which could freeze up over time and cause leaks.
  • Run a heater! Another important tip is to run a heater in your home during cold weather so that you don’t have to use as much electricity especially if you live in an older home that doesn’t have central heat or a central air conditioner.

Wrapping Up

If you do not want to wait until your propane tank freezes and then can’t get it refilled, you can call a propane company to come out and refill your tank. You may also want to ask your neighbors if they would be willing to help you out. This is a great way to help out the less fortunate in your neighborhood, as well as help yourself.

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