Does your heater recommend a 100# tank?

[coldmark]

I'm shopping for a heater, and most of them recommend a 100# tank. I was planning to use my 2 30# tanks. What should I do?

a) buy a 100# tank

keep looking for a heater that works with a 30# tank

3) buy whichever is the most affordable and hook it up to a 30# tank anyway

Thanks!

[18 inch Crappie]

# 3

The 100 lb thing is maybe so the heater has enough gas to last, the presure would be the same on a 100lber or a 20 lber. Just T the 2 30lbers together and start fishing.....

[coldmark]

A, B, 3...

I'm a product of the Michigan public school system.

[korn_fish]

ditto on #3

[Reynolds]

Unless you have a permanent fish house parked on lake all winter, I would go with 30lb tanks.

[Dave]

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A, B, 3...

I'm a product of the Michigan public school system.

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Ya know you could've have edited your post and nobody else would've know, too

[wayne123]

You could contact the manufacturer and ask them why they recommend a 100lb tank.

[coldmark]

I read something in an owner's manual that said it flows differently out of smaller tanks which might cause the propane to freeze. It also had a warning about the risk of byproducts if a 100# tank isn't used. I'm paraphrasing.

I could contact them, but I'm sure they would give me the company/lawyer statement. I just wanted to know if folks are using smaller tanks without issues.

[Gus]

I have one of those jet engine sounding propane garage heaters. The manual says to use a 100 pound tank. Whenever I do not use the 100 pounder the air gets so stinky your eyes water. I have stopped using the heater but I know it worked up north on a 100 pounder much better. I don't have 100 pounder at home. Might just be coincidence but I don't think so. I might make sure to call and talk to the manufacturer.

[JohnMickish]

The problem with 30# vs. 100#'s is that a propane tank continually loses pressure as the propane is burned off, so a half empty 30# does not have the same pressure as a half empty 100# tank. Outside tempurature plays a major factor in this as well, with colder temps condensing the liquid propane and making the pressure drop even more. When the pressure drops you also lose volume since you don't have the pressure to push the gas thru the pipe. The size of gas line also plays a part in this as well, larger pipe requires more pressure to push the required volume thru it in sufficient amounts for the furnce to burn it. Ever wonder why your portable heater dosen't run right all the time when there is still propane left in the tank?

There is no doubt that any furnace will work off of a 30# tank when the tank is full and the sun is shining on it but probably wont run the way the manufacturer intended it to run when you have 5lbs left and it's -20 outside.

The manufactures recomend a 100# tank to keep you happy and off the phone complaining to them.

[boxcar46]

I have a 30,000 forced air furnace in my shack and I use 2-30 lb tanks. Haven't had any problems.

[love to hunt]

My 15,000 btu heater recommended a 100lb tank, and I run 2 20# on a change over regulator and have no problems sucking them dry. +10 or -30 it has not been an issue what so ever and I have not heard anyone state otherwise.

You requlator is more then likly a standard 11 inches wc which is about 2-3 psi. That will be enough to run a 200,000 btu heater and the pressure in a tank is well over 170 psi at room temp and and can vary up 17 psi depending on temperature.

They recommend 100 lb tanks for shear volume. If you had that heater in your home you would be constantly filling it but in the shanty frequent refills are normal if not expected.

[deepportage01]

This could be wrong but I was told when posible fill your tanks when it's cold out like below 15deg and that should keep the presure rite and give you a little more gas for your $$$ please let me know if this is wrong

[love to hunt]

Hot or cold you are still only going to get an 80% fill, unless the guy filing your tank is a buddy and shoots you a little extra. If he does he is not much of a buddy though because, you can still be in a dangerous situation if the temp starts to climb.

As far as the pressure if you fill the tank at night when it is cold yes the pressure will increase during the day but will will go back down in the evening. So depending only when you tank decides to go dry will this matter.

I fill my tanks when they are empty, warm, cold or otherwise. They still manage to be totally empty when the heat goes out.

[hanson]

I've been using a 20lb tank on my shack at Upper Red Lake. I just bring a couple up there with me and then stuff isn't left on the ice. My heater is a 15,000btu Empire direct vent and it has worked just fine, even to 30 below zero on the 20lb tank.

What I have run into problems with on my furnace is a positive/negative pressure situation between inside the shack and outside the shack. I think I built my house so tight I have an air pressure problem which causes a considerable draft to come through the furnace. So much so that you can't light the pilot at times. Simple solution I stumbled across was cracking a window open a couple inches and the draft disappears like that! Its really crazy and I wish I would have built some vent holes into the house now for this reason.

[love to hunt]

Hanson,

Great tip!!

I had the same problem and you are axactly right about the window trick.

I actually installed a small 2" round closable vent right below the heater and that solved the problem.

[nytelyter]

i actually have 2-100 pounders strapped to my shack and run a 24k can style heater in my shack.i do not have both tanks turned on at the same time but usually have no problems. temp DOES effect the flow. more so when then are low. and hanson what i have done for vents is use the 2-1/2 inch round soffet vents have then on the outside and the inside to give a more finished look. ... paul

[Sonicrunch]

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A, B, 3...

I'm a product of the Michigan public school system.

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Ya know you could've have edited your post and nobody else would've know, too

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Yes, but being a product of Michigan education system, ...well, you know...

[coldmark]

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Quote:

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Quote:

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A, B, 3...

I'm a product of the Michigan public school system.

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Ya know you could've have edited your post and nobody else would've know, too

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Yes, but being a product of Michigan education system, ...well, you know...

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Hey, I resemble that remark!