From home and water heating to cooking, generating electricity, and more, propane is an incredibly versatile fuel that has become increasingly popular among homeowners all over the country. However, if you decide to make the switch to propane, one of the biggest things that you'll have to get used to is managing your propane supply and scheduling new deliveries before your tank runs out. But, just how do you tell if your propane tank is low on propane in the first place?
Signs That Your Propane Tank is Low on Propane
While you may not always have access to accurate measurements of exactly how much propane you have, when your propane tank starts to run low, there will be signs.
A lot of the time, you may notice that some of your propane appliances start struggling before you entirely run out. This could come in the form of flickering pilot lights or inconsistent flames on your propane stove top or if you use propane for heating, you may notice that your home doesn't feel as warm as it should be. Either way, all of these signs point to the fact that your propane tank level is getting low.
Eventually, if you don't schedule a refill soon enough, all of your propane appliances will stop working altogether, meaning that your tank is completely empty, and you'll need to schedule an interruption of service inspection before you can refill it again.
How to Tell How Much Propane is in a Propane Tank
Ideally, you should always schedule new deliveries long before your tank starts running low enough for you to notice. But that leaves the question, just how do you tell exactly how much propane is in a propane tank without letting your tank level go dangerously low?
Well, this largely depends on what type of propane tank you're talking about. Large above and below-ground tanks are very different from the small portable ones you might use for your grill. So, naturally, you'll need to use different techniques for each one. Still, if you need to know how much propane is in your tank, here are a few of the best ways to do it.
How to Check the Propane Level in a Large Tank
If you use propane for home heating and more, you'll need to know how to check how much propane is in your large tank, and luckily, large tanks are generally the easiest to get an accurate reading on.
Unlike smaller portable propane tanks, large tanks almost always have a tank gauge built right in. This tank gauge is typically located on the top of the tank under the tank lid, so all you have to do to check the propane level in your tank is lift up the lid and look at the gauge.
Still, some of the largest propane tanks can be quite tall, which could make it difficult to reach the gauge at the top. In this case, you may be able to call your propane provider instead. If you receive automatic deliveries, your propane supplier is keeping track of your propane usage to ensure that they can schedule deliveries on time, so they have the information if you need it. All you have to do is call and ask.
How to Check the Propane Level in a Small Tank
Smaller portable propane tanks can be a bit more challenging to get a read on because they lack the built-in tank gauge that larger tanks come with. But just because they don’t have their own tank gauge doesn’t mean that there isn’t any way to measure how much propane is inside.
By far, the easiest and most precise way to check the propane level in a small tank is to use a separate propane gauge. While you will need to go out and buy one, these gauges are easy to use, widely available in most hardware stores, and relatively inexpensive to purchase, making them well worth the investment.
Once you have your gauge, all you need to do is attach it to any tank that you want to check, and you’ll get an accurate measurement of exactly how much propane you have left.
The Water Test
Don't you feel like going out and buying a separate propane gauge? Well, while that is by far the most accurate way to do things, the water test is another easy and safe way to get a general idea of how much propane you have left in your small portable propane tank.
All you have to do to conduct this test is to fill a glass up with warm water and dump it on top of your propane tank. Then, touch the top of the tank and slowly move your hand down until it gets cold.
Propane is naturally very good at absorbing heat, so while the warm water will continue to feel warm on top of the tank, as soon as you get to the level where the propane is, that heat will disappear, making it easy to get a solid estimate of whether your tank is full or running low.
Contact MAZ Propane Today
Are you interested in making the switch to propane power? Give MAZ Propane a call. Their team of friendly propane experts is always there to answer questions and will happily tell you more about how propane can transform your home and your finances for the better. They'll even offer you a free consultation and estimate if you're ready to start your conversion. So, don't miss out on the many benefits that propane has to offer. Call MAZ Propane and start your propane journey today!