LPG/propane questions
I hope this is the correct forum for this question…
I currently have a 250 gallon LPG (propane) tank at my house, and use it for water heater, furnace, clothes dryer, and cooktop. I use about 700 gallons a year, normally during the winter for the furnace and water heater. However, even then I don’t use very much because I live in southeast Texas near the coast.
Since power outages due to hurricanes are a concern, I just had a 22kW standby generator installed and am about to order a new LPG tank for it. I am getting a 500 gallon tank so the generator should run for five days or more between refills with the generator running continuously (2 gph at 50% load, 3.3 gph at 100% load). The generator is located about 200 feet from my house, so that’s another reason for getting a new tank.
I’m also considering replacing my existing 250 gallon (above ground) tank at the house with a 250 gallon buried tank because my wife thinks it’s an eyesore (and so do I).
So now I’m wondering…instead of getting two new tanks and burying one, maybe I should get one new 500 gallon tank and run a line to the generator (15 feet away) and a line to the house (200+ feet away). The generator is unlikely to run for long periods during the winter (not hurricane season) when I would be using propane the most in the house (furnace and hot water heater), and vice versa. However, there may be times when I would use all propane the appliances including generator at the same time, so I need to be able to do that just in case.
So the question is…is it even possible (and a good idea) to get the single 500 gallon tank and run the line all the way to the house, or is that too long of a run? Can a 500 gallon tank support a generator, furnace, dryer, cooktop, and water heater all at the same time? Any reasons, other than the downside of having a gas line running 200+ feet across my yard, not to do this? Assuming 250 feet, what size pipe would need to be run? Are long, “un-obvious” runs like this usually protected somehow, maybe by running it inside PVC pipe?
What you are looking to do is not uncommon (using a single tank for the house and generator).
In your situation, I would recommend one tank feeding both the house and the generator. A 200 foot run of underground gas line is not uncommon and would likely be done with a seamless piece of high-density polyethylene plastic gas line, either 3/4 or 1 inch depending on the total BTU load of the appliances in the home.
When installed, it should be buried 12 a minimum of 12 inches although I recommend 18 to 24 inches and be bedded with 6 inches of sand all around for protection. If you have a lot of rock then I would sleeve the line in PVC pipe or similar and make sure both ends are sealed at the risers.
Finally, when the gas line is back filled, make sure metallic marking tape with “caution-buried gas line” is placed approx 6 inches from final grade to prevent it from being dug up with any future excavations.
Note, the outline of an installation of this time as outlined either meets or exceeds local code for NY (where I preform these types of installations). The use of a qualified gas installer in your area, with knowledge of local codes is recommended.