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FAQ

  • Propane for Your Home

    • Should I buy or rent a tank?

      Pros:

      • You can buy propane from whichever supplier you want.
      • You control your propane supply and delivery.

      Cons:

      • You’re responsible for all inspections, maintenance, and repair.
      • You’re responsible for fixing defects or performance issues with regulators.
      • You must purchase and maintain an external anode bag, which protects the tank from rust.
      • You’ll owe property tax on the tank.
      • The cost of your homeowner’s insurance may increase.
    • What size tank do I need?

      Choosing the right propane tank size is a matter of balancing your fuel and delivery costs against the initial cost of a tank and its installation. The best tank size for your needs depends on the size of your home, the number of systems or appliances that need power, and whether you have a backup generator.

      You'll find the various tank sizes that suit most home applications on our propane tank sizes page.

      But don’t worry, you don’t have to figure it out yourself—we’ll send a technician to properly size a propane tank for your home. We offer both above-ground and underground tanks, and we stock a wide variety of tanks for permanent and temporary installations.

    • How do I know if I’m out of gas?

      People usually ask this when one or more appliances aren’t working. If one appliance isn’t working but others are, it may be an issue with just the one appliance. If nothing’s working, get a percentage reading from your propane tank gauge. If the tank is empty, the gauge will be pointing at zero. Plus, there’s usually a sulfur odor coming from the tank when it’s running low.

      In general, you want to fill your tank before it gets below 20%. Once the level drops below 20%, the tank could lose pressure, which might cause some appliances to stop working. That’s why we recommend taking advantage of our auto-fill service, so you never have to worry about running out of gas.

    • How often will my propane get delivered?

      Typically, we monitor our customers' propane use over time, along with putting customers on a hassle-free automatic delivery schedule.

      Remote monitoring: This service is available to any heating customer upon request. Currently, we monitor all heating accounts in Rhode Island’s Kent County, Providence County, and South County. We’re working to provide the same service for 100% of our customers in southeastern Massachusetts by 2025. It’s a costly endeavor, but it’s worth it to us to invest back in the business and provide you with the highest possible service.

      Automatic schedule: For customers with regular year-round use, such as gas cooking, clothes dryers, or water heaters, we use a Julian schedule based on calendar days. Typically, a 500-gallon tank for an all-gas home will get deliveries 4 times per year, while a 1,000-gallon tank might get deliveries 3 times per year.

      For customers with primary heating appliances, we use a degree day method, which factors in your usage rate and seasonal temperature changes. If temperatures drop in a given period, more degree days occur and your heating fuel needs increase, so your fuel delivery takes place sooner. If temperatures rise, resulting in fewer degree days, you won't need a new fuel delivery as quickly.

      Will-call delivery: You call us when you need a delivery. We don't recommend will-call if you use propane for your primary heating, because you’re at greater risk of running out of fuel. That can cause a serious safety hazard and requires that a service technician check your system before we refill your tank. Will-call delivery can also be more expensive than the other methods, as additional fees may apply if we don't have enough advanced notice.

    • Do I have to be home when my delivery arrives?
      As long as our driver can get to your tank to fill it, you do not need to be home during a delivery. Just make sure there’s a clear path to your tank, and please keep the area around the tank free of brush or debris. Also, while we love our furry friends, please be sure to either put your pets inside or secure them away from the tank, so our driver can safely deliver the propane.
    • How do I check for leaks?

      One of the easiest ways to identify a propane leak is with a sniff test. Because propane is naturally odorless, propane manufacturers add a solution that smells like rotten eggs (or a skunk, or a dead animal...you get the idea).

      If you’re not sure about the smell, you can test for a leak with a simple solution of dish soap and water. Use a sponge, a dishrag, or a spray bottle with a sharp stream to apply the soapy water where the propane tank’s cylinder valve and regulator outlet connect. If there’s a leak, bubbles will form.

      Propane vaporizes when released into the air, so it won’t leave a mess—but it’s still flammable. DO NOT use a match or lighter to check for leaks.

      If you suspect there’s a leak, let us know and we’ll send a technician to assist you.

  • General Questions

    • What is propane?

      Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a hydrocarbon gas produced as a byproduct of crude oil refining and natural gas processing. It gets compressed into a liquid for storage and turns back into a gas when used. Propane is non-toxic, colorless, and odorless. Most manufacturers add an odorous liquid called ethyl mercaptan to help detect leaks.

    • Is propane safe for my home?

      Propane is one of the safest ways to power your home! Here are a few safety advantages of propane:

      • Propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels.
      • Propane leaks are easy to detect, thanks to their strong rotten-egg odor.
      • Propane is non-toxic and non-caustic. If it ever leaks, it vaporizes into the air without leaving a mess or polluting the environment.

      Most importantly, the Propane Plus team makes your safety our highest priority. We regularly participate in local and national safety trainings, we keep our equipment and vehicles in top condition, and we complete a rigorous System Performance Analysis for every installation.

    • Is propane safe for the environment?

      Yes, propane is safe for the environment! In fact, propane is listed as an approved, clean fuel in the 1990 Clean Air Act and as a clean energy alternative in the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Here’s why:

      • Propane is among the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels, with one of the lowest carbon emissions per million BTUs.
      • Using propane instead of gasoline or fuel oil reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
      • Since propane vaporizes and dissipates when released into the air, it doesn’t contaminate groundwater, drinking water, or sensitive ecosystems.
      • When propane vaporizes, it produces virtually no ozone-harming effects.
    • Does propane go bad?
      Some fuels, like kerosene, diesel, and gasoline, degrade over time. But propane doesn’t have an expiration date, and it won’t lose potency while stored. However, you’ll still need to monitor the integrity of your propane storage tank. Be sure to get regular inspections by a qualified professional, including a review of the tank, regulators, and piping, as well as a leak check of the piping system and appliances.
    • How is propane priced?

      Because propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, the price of propane usually falls between those two commodities. The prices of all of these fuels can fluctuate based on economic, political, and other factors that affect global markets. But, compared to conventional fuels and some alternative energy sources, propane generally costs less, even when fuel prices fluctuate.

      Propane prices are also affected by fluctuations in supply and demand, such as during extremely cold or warm weather. In colder months for instance, heavier home heating needs can boost demand for propane and cause propane prices to rise. Those changes may be reflected in the wholesale price of propane for us, and, consequently, in the prices you pay as a consumer.

    • How does propane compare to other forms of energy?

      Propane provides similar performance to natural gas, and anything in your home or business that can run on natural gas can run on propane. However, propane burns less volume per hour than natural gas, which can save you money in the long run. Plus, while natural gas is restricted to a municipal grid, propane can be supplied anywhere.

      In addition, propane can cost up to half as much as electricity, saving you 30% on your hot water alone. And, unlike electricity, propane will keep your systems running even in a power outage.

      Propane also produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than diesel, gasoline, and electricity. It’s nontoxic and safe for soil and groundwater supplies. And, because propane burns cleaner than other fuels, propane-powered appliances require less maintenance.