Saturday, 17 August 2013

Various Items About Underground Propane Tank Installation For Home Owners

By Helga Stokes


Most people may be surprised to find out that underground propane tank installation has a whole different set of rules to follow than your typical installation. The tanks themselves generally have special design features to allow them to be buried safely for extended lengths of time. Despite what anyone thinks, above ground and below ground tanks are not and never will be interchangeable.

Most people already know about the benefits of using LP gas. It burns cleaner than oil or wood. It stores considerably easier as well. It has been shown over time to be quite safe and more reliable than electricity. It may also be used with furnaces, water heaters, drying your clothes and stoves to name a few.

With a staggering number of useful applications, this item once used only in rural areas is slowly finding more usage in intercity and suburban areas. Most homeowners do not want to install a 200 gallon bright silver tank somewhere in their already shrinking yard. This is where the new method of placing the tanks below ground really begins to show value.

Once it is deep underground no one should ever know it is buried there. Generally the only thing which is still visible from the road is a small raised dome. Inside the raised dome all the valves, gauges, hoses, and the very important regulators are hidden. This makes for easy servicing should it need repairs, as well as simple filling as it is emptied.

Basically the tanks are constructed from a very heavy steel and double layer tig welded. They are generally pressure tested to 600 PSI before being put into service. Unlike their above ground counterparts, they are painted with a thick mastic coating to help prevent any corrosion. Typical tanks will last for around 30 to 40 years of service.

Any metal which is underground will undergo a naturally slow electrolysis process. Most LP tanks undergo this as well. To help with protecting them from this naturally slow process they are buried along with an anode bag to act as a sacrifice. The bag will absorb any natural current while protecting the tank. Many bags will have a slow rate of depletion so they last longer than most tanks they protect.

In places that have higher than average ground water, some steps should be implemented to make sure your tank will not float away. If the fill level of your propane in the tank ever drops under the ground level of water, it could become buoyant. To over come this issue the tanks bracing feet are frequently covered or submerged with concrete. Other options to use are ground anchors with a steel strap to help them stay down.

Generally when getting ready for your underground propane tank installation your homework and the professional you hire to do it are critical. Get bids for the job from 3 different contractors. Carefully go over any bids before going with one. The typical home owner may possibly put their own tank in, but this could be dangerous. As with other construction or home improvement project safety should always be the first concern.




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