This again?

Lol! So topical!

I think he meant 100 lb, not gallons. 100 gallon would be ~400 lbs! 100lb tank is still heavy though.

I asked my gas company to take me off automatic delivery, and change my account to deliver on request only. I check the tank gauge every six months or so, and call them when it's down to about 20%. (Actually these days I don't have to call — there's now a link on their website to request a delivery).

The larger tanks have the ability to hold temperature better. If the heater is using a large amount of propane the smaller tanks can ice up quicker than the larger tanks.

And yes the pressure drop isn't noticeable in short runs but some use 1/2" black pipe like natural gas and a grill size tank will have a hard time if you're out like 20ft.

There’s a difference. It will be listed as a minimum tank size in the manual for proper performance.

No, likely won’t be enough pressure to run it.

[removed]

Wait what? The volume does not matter for pressure. For propane/butane tanks only the temperature is of importance as they liquefy on lower temperatures and the pressure decreases. Also pressure drop in tubing/piping is neglible in low flow short run conditions. Smaller tanks do run empty quicker though.

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/propane-butane-mix-d_1043.html

Use a hand truck. Problem is transporting it. As it should be vertical. Hopefully you have a trailer or pickup truck.

Is that the same WHO who told me to wear a mask‽. My friend on faceplace said they were a secret corrupt government agency. /s

I used to fill tanks, a twenty pound tank got twenty pounds of gas, which leaves space in the tank which could’ve held ~29 pounds of gas

Thanks, interesting and helpful.

My understanding is that typical 20lb tanks and sizes that are filled and transported commercially for resale at gas stations and what not can't be filled to max.

While you or I can take the same tank and have it filled to the max level. I have a few 20s and a single 100lb tank I use for a water heater. The 20s almost always end up at 4.5 gallons and the 100 is usually around 23.6 gallons or so when I get them refilled.

The pipe material is usually PVC? PVC doesn't exactly transmit heat very well, in fact, it's one of the materials used to improve the thermal properties of window joinery. Neither does terracotta if you've got pipes that old but they're not usually used above ground.

The only pipe materials you're going to have a problem with creating thermal bridges are metal and for a waste pipe, that probably means cast iron. If your house has cast iron waste pipes then there may be some thermal efficiency benefit to replacing them with PVC, otherwise the pipe material is basically an insulator.

The air in the pipe will generally match with the outside air whatever you do because pipes are vented (don't block the vents...) but air isn't much of a conductor of heat either - the biggest problem with air when insulating is letting the inside air escape and be replaced by outside air. This is easily managed by sealing around the pipe where it goes through the wall.

I had the same problem so I just checked on buy and sell sights until I could get a 40 gal one. Now I am looking for a second one as a back up just in case. It fits in my trunk and is easy to get refilled.

I would guess not. Only issue I can imagine is if the 20lb tank has too low of a pressure (but again I would guess not). Can't be for sure though so I don't want to give any definite answer.

You’ll need to transport it vertically. Once home strap it to a handtruck and wheel it down a ramp. To where ever you plan to keep it. I would advise a tie dow. For the tank.

https://youtu.be/mApuvB3Ll2M

Here is a video of a elderly couple loading 100 pound tanks off a trailer.

Is there any drawback to simply having two 20lb tanks? Switching w/ out leaving the property isn't so bad. Obviously OPs situation is more complicated than my outdoor grill.

This is the best way. Most people don't realize that propane tanks are sold as pounds of propane capacity, whereas liquid propane is sold as gallons. A gallon of propane weights more than a pound.

The place where I refill my large tank requires an open vehicle (like a truck) and for the tank to be transported upright when you leave.

Since you only burn 2 gallons or so a winter, you can probably get by on a full 100 gallon tank for a few years (assuming you don't have to burn a pilot light all the time). And when it's empty, find a friend with a truck, or rent a Uhaul or Home Depot truck for an hour and transport it yourself.

The back of my Minivan is lower than the bed of most trucks.

My buddy who has a large tank like that absolutely uses his truck, but I'd lay down the seats and toss it in my Van if I needed to.

Probably not ideal.

I have a vent free log in my fireplace too. I use a 100 lb cylinder which holds about 26 gallon of propane. Mine says in the instructions to use a 100 lb tank minimum for proper operation. I have two of them and switch when one empties and never run out of gas. Usually one will get me thru the winter in southern Indiana.

A 20# tank is about 4.6 gallons so even at 70% you'd have about 3.2 gallons. More than the 2 gallons you used.

That's a pretty thin margin though so I would suggest you find a supplier in your area with 40 or 50 # tanks. That way if you have a cold snap you won't have to run out in the middle of it to refill. Also shouldn't be too large so that you have an issue transporting it.

This is exactly what engineers do ,find Solutions to problems that don’t exist