Propane Tank Cost [By Number of Gallons & Weight] | Upgraded Home (2023)

FAQs

How much propane does a 2000 square foot house use? ›

Propane Usage Based on Household Square Footage

1,000 square feet will use an average of 440 gallons on an annual basis. 1,500 square feet will use an average of 670 gallons each year. 2,000 square feet will consume up to 900 gallons on an annual basis.

First, tanks only hold about 80% of the rated capacity. So a 500-gallon tank only holds 400 gallons. Propane is like gas—prices vary by location and change daily. The current national average of propane is $2.337 per gallon, meaning it costs about $940 to fill up a 500-gallon tank.

A 500-gallon tank holds 400 gallons of propane and can last several months, ranging between 2 to 14 months. On average, homeowners can expect that the tank will last around 5 months with regular use of appliances.

Here's the wide range answer: a 1,000-gallon propane tank will last anywhere between 2 months and 11 days to 2 years and 4 months (847 days, to be exact).

A 500 gallon propane tank is an efficient option for larger homes (1,500 square feet or more) that use propane for several appliances.

That means, propane is more than twice the energy of natural gas. While the cost per gallon is less for natural gas, you'll use more of it to heat the same appliances. If you get two times the heat from propane, naturally, you'll use less fuel. In this combined round, propane wins for efficiency and overall cost.

Ideally, the 500-gallon tank is best for homes running multiple appliances and are under 3,500 square feet. If your home is larger than 3,500 square feet, you may want to upgrade to the 1,000-gallon or even 2,000-gallon tank.

It's cheaper.

On average, it is about $1.76 per gallon cheaper to refill a propane tank versus exchanging. Refilling your own propane tank costs about $3-$4 per gallon while exchanging at a third-party retailer is usually around $5-6 per gallon.

Propane is cheaper than electric.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating a home in the U.S. with a propane heating system costs far less than heating with an electric system.

How many gallons of propane should a house use in a month? ›

Furnaces, hot water heaters, and gas fireplaces use the most propane in your home. Here's how much propane they use. The average 100,000 BTU propane gas furnace uses approximately 1-gallon-per-hour or 500-1,200 gallons per year.

Depending on the number of bathrooms you have in your home or the number of people living in the house, your daily average usage may vary. However, most homes will average about 1.5 gallons of propane a day for their water heater or roughly 200-300 gallons a year.

How long should a propane tank last? Propane tanks are built for the long haul: on average, a high quality, properly maintained galvanized aboveground propane tank or propane cylinder should last 30 years or more, while some aluminum and composite cylinders can last even longer.

You will have to install a tank that is generally between 250 and 1000 gallons. A typical whole house generator burns about 36 gallons of propane a day. That means even the small tank will run the generator for a full week.

If it's a bitter, cold winter, you can use up to 300-400 gallons between November and March alone! These estimates show just how fast your propane supply can be used during winter. That's why you need a propane delivery company you can count on. Want to learn more about how to estimate your propane usage?

500 or 1,000 gallon tanks are the recommended size for most households with a whole home system. Medium sized homes (approximately 2500-3500 sq ft.) are usually best fitted with the 500 gallon tanks and large houses (3500+ sq ft +) are best with 1000 gallon tanks.

A standard 500-gallon tank holds 400 gallons of propane and is generally installed for central heating and small commercial applications. Each tank is 9' 11” long and 37½” in diameter. The recommended minimum pouring pad size: 5 x 12 feet, 6” deep.

This guideline means that a 500-gallon propane tank refill is actually 400 gallons. All told, the average homeowner can expect to fill their tank roughly two to three times a year.

How long does a 100 gallon propane tank last for a house? ›

These primarily depend on the size of our house (square footage). As we will see further on, if we take average US household size and propane consumption, 100-gallon propane will last anywhere from 11 days to 85 days (almost 3 months).

Con: It Produces Fewer BTUs Per Gallon Than Oil

When you measure how hot propane burns alongside other fuels, it's a little disappointing. Propane doesn't produce as much heat as oil. That means that although the cost of propane might beat oil, you're going to have to use more to get the same cozy indoor temperature.

Propane vs.

The Size of Your Home - Most propane furnaces are 90% efficient, while electric heat is 100% efficient. As energy usage increases, the more that difference in efficiency adds up.

Propane also burns hotter than natural gas (2500 BTU's vs 1000 BTUs), which some grilling purists believe is one of the most important factors to keep in mind. Propane is considered to be environmentally-friendly because there's no lead, has low GHG emissions and produces water vapor and carbon dioxide.

250-gallon propane tank: This tank could be used for whole-house heating for a small home, typically 1200 sq. feet or less.

The size you need depends on the number of gallons your propane tank holds: 120-gallon tank: $50–$75. 250-gallon tank: $75–$125. 500-gallon tank: $125–$175.

100lb propane tanks are great for mixed heating systems or residences with limited propane usage.

In 2008, to help control these rising costs, Blue Rhino followed the example of other consumer products companies with a product content change. We reduced the amount of propane in our tanks from 17 pounds to 15 pounds.

Blue Rhino is not a deposit program. Retailers do not provide cash for the return of empty tanks. When you exchange a tank with Blue Rhino, you walk away with a tank you own and that you can use however you wish.

Turn down the thermostat 10 degrees when you go to work, and again when you go to bed -- a total of 16 hours a day - - and you can save about 14% on your heating bill. Keep a close eye on your tank gauge. Don't let your tank run out of propane which may add special delivery charges.

What is the cheapest way to heat a home? ›

As a general rule, heating your home with a natural gas furnace is the cheapest way to keep warm through the winter months.

Because propane is a more efficient fuel, it costs less to operate. Propane appliances also generally have a longer lifespan than their electric counterparts, saving you both money and peace of mind in the long run.

US Residential Propane Price is at a current level of 2.698, down from 2.702 last week and down from 2.84 one year ago. This is a change of -0.15% from last week and -5.00% from one year ago.

The fire code requires that this size propane tank be set ten feet from a building and a property line. A 250-gallon propane tank holds 200 gallons of liquid propane.

Early Fall is the Perfect Time to Buy Propane

In fact, prices are always fluctuating, even in the summer months where people are buying propane for grilling or camping. And the higher the demand, the higher the prices go. But early fall is the perfect time to buy propane.

If you heat your home with propane and it's cold outside, you are going to use more propane. The same goes for heating with natural gas or electricity. The United States encompasses such a large geographic area that the climate regions of the country range from frigid to tropical.

The main cause of a propane tank run out is simply improper management. Perhaps sudden cold weather caused an unpredictable surge in your home heating, or the fuel supplier is unable to deliver due to bad road conditions or poor planning. In any case, a propane tank run out should not be taken lightly.

Factors to Consider

Here's a rundown of typical propane usage rates for some of the most common home fixtures: Furnaces: 1 gallon per hour. Water heaters: ~1.5 gallons per day.

1,000 square feet will use an average of 440 gallons on an annual basis. 1,500 square feet will use an average of 670 gallons each year. 2,000 square feet will consume up to 900 gallons on an annual basis. With 3,000 square feet or more, you can expect to use 1300+ gallons or more per year.

1,000 square feet will use an average of 430-450 gallons annually. 1,500 square feet will use an average of 640-680 gallons annually. 2,000 square feet will consume up to 800-900 gallons annually. With 3,000 square feet or higher, you can expect to use 1300+ gallons or more annually.

How many years does a 500 gallon propane tank last? ›

While 500 gallons of propane can get you through several months, the tank itself will last much longer. On average, a propane tank can keep fueling your appliances for over 30 years.

Lifespan of a 1,000 Gallon Propane Tank

Propane tanks made of galvanized steel and typically last over 30 years when properly maintained.

So, for 2000 square feet, you will likely need 5 gallons of interior house paint. For the top rated interior house paint, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 – $80 per gallon.

A mid-sized home of 2,000 square feet would need approximately 50,000 to 60,000 Btu to heat it properly. With a less efficient furnace operating at 80 percent efficiency this would require a 60,000- to 72,000-Btu furnace.

Depending on the number of bathrooms you have in your home or the number of people living in the house, your daily average usage may vary. However, most homes will average about 1.5 gallons of propane a day for their water heater or roughly 200-300 gallons a year.

If it's a bitter, cold winter, you can use up to 300-400 gallons between November and March alone! These estimates show just how fast your propane supply can be used during winter. That's why you need a propane delivery company you can count on. Want to learn more about how to estimate your propane usage?

2,000 square feet x 20 BTU = 40,000 BTU. Since 1 ton equals 12,000 BTU, you'll divide 40,000 by 12,000 with a math equation that looks like this: 40,000 BTU / 12,000 BTU = 3.33333 tons. Round that up, and you're looking at a 3.5-ton AC unit.

How many gallons of paint do I need for a 2400 square foot house? ›

McCormick Paints recommends one gallon of paint per 300 square feet of interior. For an easy reference, you can use our paint calculator.

For example, when considering what size air conditioner is needed for a 2,000 square foot home, you would likely choose a 3 or 3.5 ton unit, depending on the climate where you live.

500-Gallon Tanks

The 500-gallon tank is the most common size propane tank for residential propane use. It is often used for home heating, generator powering, cooking, pool heating, and more.

1,000 square feet will use an average of 440 gallons on an annual basis. 1,500 square feet will use an average of 670 gallons each year. 2,000 square feet will consume up to 900 gallons on an annual basis. With 3,000 square feet or more, you can expect to use 1300+ gallons or more per year.

Determining the Square Footage

In colder climates, you'll want a furnace that generates 40 to 45 BTUs per square foot. At this amount, you'll need 100,000-112,500 BTU furnace to heat a home of 2,500 square feet.

Propane is cheaper than electric: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating a home in the U.S. with a propane heating system in recent years has cost far less than heating with an electric system.