Propane has become an increasingly popular choice among homeowners looking for better ways to power their homes. Propane isn’t just more efficient, affordable, and eco-friendly than natural gas and electricity. It’s also incredibly versatile and can be used in everything from home and water heating to cooking, laundry, and more.
Still, converting your home to propane power can be complicated and involves more than simply choosing and installing propane appliances. So, if you’re planning on making the switch to propane, here is everything you need to know about propane appliance installation and how to prepare your home for it.
Choosing a Propane Tank
Before you can even start thinking about appliances, you’ll need a propane tank to store the propane they will run on. While this may seem like something you don’t need to put much thought into, taking the time to choose the right propane tank for your home is essential to the success of your propane conversion.
When choosing a tank, the size of your home is the biggest factor to consider. In general, you can calculate your ideal tank size by taking the square footage of your home and multiplying it by 0.2. For example, if your home is 2500 square feet, it will need a 500-gallon tank.
However, the size of your home isn’t the only thing you should think about when choosing a tank. You should also consider what you plan to power with your propane supply. If you just plan to use propane for heating, you’ll use a lot less propane and require a smaller tank. But, if you use it for heating, electricity, cooking, water heating, and more you’ll need a bigger one.
Preparing Your Home For Propane Tank Installation
Once you’ve chosen a tank, you need to find a good place to put it. You can install propane tanks both above and below ground, with above-ground installation being the far cheaper option.
For safety reasons, tanks of up to 500 gallons should be installed at least 10 feet away from any property lines, structures, air conditioners, and intake/exhaust vents, while larger tanks of up to 2000 gallons should be placed at least 25 feet away. On the other hand, you can place underground tanks closer to these parts of your property, as long as they are still 10 feet away.
Choosing the Right Propane Appliances
Once you have your propane tank, you can start thinking about the propane appliances you want to install. Propane is incredibly versatile and can power all sorts of appliances, including heating systems, electric generators, water heaters, and more. The key is to find and choose appliances that meet your needs and are as efficient and low-maintenance as possible.
In this case, the best thing to do is find a local propane appliance supplier who can listen to your needs and budget and walk you through the ins and outs of all the best options.
Professional vs. DIY Propane Appliance Installation
Propane appliance installation can be incredibly complicated and even dangerous if you don’t have much experience. Because of this, if you want to ensure that your appliances get installed safely and correctly, it’s almost always best to find a company that can install them for you.
However, if you are a determined DIYer, it’s not impossible to install these appliances yourself. The installation process can vary widely depending on the type of appliance you’re installing. However, most appliances come with detailed installation directions that you can follow. Just be warned that you’ll need to follow these directions to a tee and will most likely have to do a lot of cutting and drilling to connect the appliance to the propane line.
At the end of the day, there is no room for error when it comes to propane appliances, so you should almost certainly leave the installation to the professionals.
Propane Appliance Installation Safety
Propane tanks and appliances are completely safe if installed correctly. Still, safety concerns are the number one reason why you’re better off trusting the professionals with installation and maintenance. Propane is very flammable and can displace oxygen, so making connections and lighting pilot lights can be particularly dangerous for inexperienced DIYers.
Even once everything is installed correctly, you should still be vigilant about looking for potential leaks. If you notice any rotten smells, hissing sounds, or abnormally colored stove flames, you should contact emergency services immediately.
MAZ Propane: The Leading Name in Chester County Propane Conversion
Are you thinking about installing propane heating in your home but are unsure where to start? MAZ Propane is here to help!
As the leading propane delivery and conversion company in the Chester County area, MAZ propane is uniquely qualified to help you choose and install the propane furnaces and water heaters you need to make your home as efficient as possible.
Propane appliance installation is tricky, but MAZ’s talented propane technicians are experts in their field and have installed countless propane heating systems in homes all over southeastern Pennsylvania.
From the day MAZ Propane opened their doors, it’s been their goal to make it as easy as possible for homeowners to switch to propane power. And, with so many happy customers all over, it’s safe to say they’ve done just that. So, if you’re ready to make the switch to propane, there’s no better option than MAZ Propane.
Contact MAZ Propane Today
Are you ready to switch to propane power? Give MAZ Propane a call! Their friendly team is always there to answer questions and will happily schedule a free estimate and consultation so you can start making the switch. So, don’t push off switching to propane any longer. Contact MAZ Propane and start saving with propane today!