Whether you are building a new house or thinking about changing your current propane tank, it is impossible to perfectly predict the size you will need. There are various factors that affect propane usage, which can help you decide on the appropriate tank size.

House Size And Configuration

If you have a larger home, you will likely need a larger tank than if you lived in a smaller home. However, the configuration can also affect the tank you need. If you have a home with more than one story, it will take more effort for your heating system to warm the home to the desired temperature, meaning you will need more propane. The energy efficiency of your home will also matter. Older homes often have deteriorating insulation, unsealed crawlspaces, and a roof that is not energy-efficient, which requires more propane. If you have a home that is not energy-efficient, you should consider doing an audit of your home. There may be simple fixes that can help. If you need more expensive remodeling, you might want to weigh the upfront costs of fixing these issues versus the savings in propane.

Climate

Areas that experience harsher winters will require more propane. Warmer climates or at least, mild winters, often means you do not use your heat as much during the colder months. Additionally, during the warmer months, you do not need as much propane to heat water. If you have a fireplace that uses propane and you experience harsh winters, you will need more propane, especially if the fireplace is a significant part of heating your home. People who use their fireplaces sparingly or in emergencies may not even factor this into their needs.

Appliances

There are numerous appliances that can use propane. Generally, the most common are heating and your water heater. People who only have a couple of appliances that require propane may be fine with a smaller tank. When you add on appliances that use propane, such as for cooking and laundry, the amount of propane you need may drastically increase. Certain appliances may require more propane than others. Usually, clothes dryers require extensive fuel, especially if you dry many loads of laundry each week. Some people choose to offset the use of their clothes dryer by air drying some of their clothes during the warmer months. You may inherently use less propane during the warmer months since you may avoid using the dryer and oven as much as the temperature rises.

The appropriate size of your propane tank can vary drastically depending on many factors and it might change at different times of the year. Generally, most homes that use propane for heating and water will find at least a 250-gallon tank is necessary to be comfortable and use major appliances consistently.

For more information, contact a company such as Propane Man.