Written on: February 21, 2022
With the recent winter blast here in South and Central Oklahoma, you may be wondering about the cold and its impact on the propane in your home’s tank.
The freezing point for propane is -44˚ Fahrenheit. The average low temperature in our area in February is 35˚. The record low is -10.5˚. Those figures mean that it is extremely doubtful that your home’s propane supply will freeze. However, there is still a reason to be concerned about your propane supply in cold weather.
Propane, like other liquids, shrinks as the temperature falls. The propane volume inside your above-ground propane tank decreases with extreme cold. As a result of the reduced volume, there is a loss of pressure. If the pressure in your tank dips too low, your appliances, such as your home heating system and water heater, will be unable to operate because the propane gas will be unable to reach them thanks to that low pressure.
We’ve put together some tips to help protect your propane supply no matter what winter sends out way. These suggestions are simple to follow, and they don’t come at the expense of comfort.
In the winter, your propane tank should be at least 30% full at all times. This ensures that there is adequate positive pressure in the tank to provide gas to your burner. Automatic Delivery allows you to have peace of mind, knowing that your propane supply is secure. We use your previous propane usage and present weather conditions to determine when you’ll need a propane delivery and deliver it to you before you run out of propane.
When the winter weather hits, the last thing you probably want to do is go outside. But it is necessary to protect your propane supply and we need safe access to your propane tank to make a delivery. After snow or icy weather, remove ice or other obstructions from vents and flues to allow your appliances to vent properly and safely. When clearing your driveway, make sure the cleared space is wide enough for our truck to drive in and that the path to your tank is safely walkable.
Leave the heat on but set the thermostat around 5˚ lower than you normally have it. This lower temperature prevents your heating system from cycling on as often. The longer time between the heat being turned on allows pressure to build in the propane tank.
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