safely from what? why not just keep it full?

 

Very costly right now, trying to get to summer when prices are down. Is there a percentage at which pressure drops and causes issues with furnace?

 

There should be a low lp pressure switch in the furnace that would cut it out, that's if it was installed. I've heard them say like 5-10%


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"Technically" the tank can supply gas to the appliances that use it right up to the point at which it's empty. The problem(s) come when there is a draw (using gas from the tank) and it's cold outside.

Why:

The propane is in a liquid form when in the tank. It has to vaporize or turn into a vapor/gas to be transferred to the home and burnt by the appliances. As the liquid vaporizes it reduces the temperature of the liquid. At -44°F the liquid can no longer vaporize. So............ If there is enough gas used from the tank..... and there is very little left inside the tank..... you "could" effectively reduce the temperature of the liquid left in the tank to a temperature so low that no more vapor would be produced.

Another "factor" that will affect gas supply will be how much your appliances draw at any given time. A very large furnace/boiler can require a lot of gas per hour. The faster (larger volume over time) the gas is taken from the tank the quicker it will cool off the liquid left in the tank.

Make sure the entire tank body is free of snow cover. Snow insulates the tank and as it gets less in it the remaining liquid is of course sitting at the bottom. If the bottom is buried in snow it can't absorb heat from the air to warm it above -44°F.

Hope that answers your question.

 

there are variables too. i don't know what your set up is or anything but being in Minnesota i am guessing you won't make it. again, i am guessing. i know i wouldn't make it here. if you let it run out it will cost even more money. get the minimum if that's all you can do.

 

If possible, lower the temp on the heat pump, and use some space heaters to augment.
Gotta be cheaper than propane is now.

 

I have a 500 gal propane tank which they usually only fill to 80%; my supplier said to call for propane when it reaches 30% of a tank.
That obviously for other reasons than it won't supply the gas to the furnace.

The percentages turn red at some point on your tanks gauge; best to call for propane before it reaches that point.

We are getting blizzard & white-out conditions here tonight, up to 45-mph winds plus wind chills to -45°F below zero (tomorrow night); I wouldn't want my tank approaching any low percentage here! You can feel the cold air infiltration tonight, it is very windy...!

 

up to 45-mph winds plus wind chills to -45°F below zero (tomorrow night); I wouldn't want my tank approaching any low percentage here!

Windchills dont apply to anything that does not have a water evaporation chilling effect. (simply, people sweat and are affected by wind. evaporating water makes the temperature feel colder.)

 

At 40%, you still have about 200 gallons left, varying with accuracy of the gauge. If you see it get to 20% before you get back into temps that your heat pump will be working. call for propane. High demand at with less then 20% and temps in the teens tends to use up the vapor faster then the liquid boils off. Besides causing you no heat, it can soot up the furnace/boiler.

 

I was at a house today and they let there tank run empty and now they have thousnds of dollars of damage do to broken water pipes flooding the place

 

What if a renter can't afford propane & lets the tank get too low & pipes freeze & rupture flooding the owner's home?

Also, some supply companies are rationing propane; that could lead to homes getting flooded...

Exporting too much propane is costing us plenty...too much...
The profiteering exporters have no responsibilities to American customers?

 

You can get some oil filled electric heaters .

 

vstech post; follow-up:
In that case you would need some SAFE Effective Methods to heat the propane tank so the liquid would begin to boil-off creating enough pressure to heat your home.

You could post your ideas concerning some effective methods...I can think of a few...