Propane tanks come in several sizes and have various uses in commercial industries. The right propane tank for your business will depend on several variables, including your type of business and the number and size of the appliances you want to power with propane. Use this guide to help you determine the appropriate propane tank size for your business and estimate how long it will last.
What Are Common Commercial Propane Tank Sizes?
Commercial propane use usually requires large tanks for significant volumes of usage, although it’ll really depend on your specific needs. There are several options when it comes to tank sizes for your business. Refer to this commercial propane tank size chart for standard sizes and what they could be used for:
- 20-pound tank: Used for resale and with outdoor equipment like propane grills, patio heaters and generators.
- 33-pound tank: Used to power propane forklifts.
- 100-pound tank: Contractors use this size tank for temporarily heating a job site or for single appliances.
- 120-gallon tank: Used for heating smaller spaces, dry cleaning, commercial cooking and temporary heating.
- 320-gallon tank: Used for supplemental heating or up to two appliances like fryers, grills or water heaters.
- 500-gallon tank: Used for various agricultural applications, commercial cooking, generators, heating and temporary heating.
- 1,000-gallon tank: Used for large commercial appliances, heating and refueling company transportation or fleets.
This list is far from complete, but you should have a better idea of some propane tank applications in accordance with their sizes. It should also be noted that some tank sizes are available for underground operation. It’s best to discuss your propane needs with a professional service like Foster Fuels to ensure you’re getting an appropriately sized propane tank for your business.
How to Choose the Right Propane Tank Size for Your Business
Choosing the right-sized propane tank for your business isn’t easy. There are many variables that can affect what size tank you need, including how much propane you use. Luckily, the professionals at Foster Fuels can assist you in finding the right size tank for your business. To determine the proper tank size necessary for your needs, we’ll use BTUs to measure your propane consumption. Leave this step to us so we can determine the correct tank size for your needs.
BTUs and Propane Tank Sizing
A British Thermal Unit, or BTU, is essentially a unit of measurement used to measure consumption. Propane companies use BTUs to determine an appliance’s load, or how much propane it uses per hour. This number allows the company to choose an appropriately sized propane tank to install.
With that information under your belt, you can better estimate what size tank will be appropriate for your business’s needs. To estimate what size tank you’ll need, add up the total load of all your commercial appliances that will use propane and divide that number by 91,500. This equation allows you to estimate how many gallons of propane your appliances will use per hour.
For example, if your total load is 750,000 BTU, your system will use about 8 gallons of propane per hour. Remember that this number represents the appliances running at full capacity. If the system runs at full capacity for 10 hours a day, you’ll consume 80 gallons of propane per day. At this consumption rate, you’d likely want to have a 1,000-gallon tank — or more, depending on your needs.
Keep in mind that we’re more than happy to take care of this step for you. Our team of professionals at Foster Fuels will take care of all calculations to remove the guesswork and ensure we set you up with a properly sized propane tank.
Commercial Propane Tank Installation Options
Once you choose the right tank for your business, you have two installation options. You can either have your propane tank installed above ground or underground. Let’s look at both options more in-depth.
Above Ground Propane Installation
Above-ground propane tanks tend to cost less and can be installed faster than underground tanks. Although these tanks are visible, they can be hidden with landscaping or fencing. Above-ground propane tanks are often the more effective option for commercial businesses. They allow for easy access, which means maintenance and refills are much easier.
Underground Propane Installation
Underground propane tanks are optimal for colder climates and extreme weather. To have an underground tank installed, the area it’s going in will need to be excavated. Certain jurisdictions require a permit to do so. Because of this stipulation, the installation process takes longer and is costlier. However, underground tanks are effective options for businesses wishing to maintain their property’s appearance.
How Long Should You Expect Your Commercial Propane Tank to Last?
Propane tanks are built to last. As long as you keep up with proper maintenance, you should be able to keep the same tank for a couple of decades. To keep your propane tank in good condition, keep an eye out for other signs of wear on your tank, including:
- Kinks in the gas line
- Missing or damaged dials, valves or indicators
- Corroded equipment
- Proper ventilation
Although your tank itself will last for years, you’ll have to regularly get the tank refilled with liquid propane. As you use propane to run your appliances, it’ll eventually run out. So, how do you know how often to have your tank refilled? Consider the example we provided earlier regarding BTUs. The information in that calculation can also be used to help you estimate the frequency of refills for your tank.
Therefore, if you have a 1,000-gallon propane tank, and your appliances consume 80 gallons per day, your tank would need to be refilled about every 12 days. Of course, this example assumes your appliances are operating at 100% every day, so it’s likely you won’t need to refill your tank this often. If your system is operating at this rate on a regular basis, you may want to consider having more than one tank to use.
Your tank also has a gauge on it that will indicate the capacity level. You can use this indicator to determine how close you are to needing a refill. However, on top of business operations, you may find it difficult to remember to check the propane levels. In this case, you may want to consider remote fuel tank monitoring to help prevent forgetting to call and have your system refilled.
Ultimately, how often you need to refill your tank will depend on your business’s level of usage.
Contact Foster Fuels for Propane Services Today
Determining your propane needs can be challenging on your own, and getting an inaccurate estimate is a possibility. Foster Fuels can help take the guessing out of your commercial propane needs. Whether you need tank maintenance, installation or refills, our expert team is the one to call. With over 100 years in the business, you can trust our reliable services and products.
For more information and to learn how Foster Fuels can provide commercial propane tanks for your business, contact one of our representatives today.
