Saturday, September 27, 2014

Adding A Bit Of Artistry To Your Propane Tank

By Cath Buhr


There are many reasons to love propane. It's a clean burning fuel that can be quite inexpensive to use to heat your home and run appliances. It also provides you with a source of energy even when the power goes off. Of course, you do have to have a large tank behind your home to store the propane and rather than settle for a dull, bland and ordinary tank, spice it up with a coat of paint and turn it into something really amazing.

Generally there are requirements as to how far away from your house the tank must be, so while you might be tempted to simply hide it behind your house, that simply might not be the best location. One idea would be to build a fence or garden wall in front of the tank and surround the area with potted plants. A picket fence surrounded by flowers also might be an attractive idea. You simply need to try and have it blend in with the landscaping already in place in your yard. So use the same type of flowers and fencing that you have used elsewhere.

Many people paint their tanks and this can be a lot of fun. We have seen tanks that resemble large watermelons, submarines, huge logs, giant ears of corn and much more. People paint their tanks in honor of their favorite college or pro sports team or use the tank to express their own style of art. You could paint an ocean mural on your tank or perhaps a farm mural. The only limit is your imagination.

It is important to note that painting the tanks does have a few safety issues. Many states regulate the colors that you can use when painting your tank. This is because very dark colors that do not reflect light will cause the tank to heat up, and this makes the propane in your tank expand, which can be dangerous. Using light colors that are light-reflective will help keep your tank nice and cool. It's also important to remove the rust, as this can also make the tank heat up. You also should use paint that repels rust, as well as rust-repellant primer.

Be sure to ask your propane company if painting is permissible if you rent your tank. If you really want to paint the tank, it might be wise to consider buying a propane tank. Thrifty Propane, for instance, offers tanks for sale and you can even have a free tank provided you pre-purchase propane. For instance, if you pre-buy 2,500 gallons, you can get a free 500-gallon tank. Just be sure to buy when the propane prices are low, typically during the hottest months of the year. A typical new 500-gallon tank would cost at least $1,000 plus installation costs, so pre-buying for a free tank can be a very cost-effective option.

In some areas, you also could consider the option of having your tank buried underground. Generally the tanks that are buried are larger, from 500 to 1,000 gallons. The price is also a bit higher because of the extra cost of digging and installation. You might pay about $200-$300 more for an underground tank, but this extra expense might be worth the cost to you.




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