How To Buy Propane
Propane, also known as liquid propane gas (LPG) is a high-energy alternative fuel known for its low emissions because of minimal carbon levels. Propane can power many things, from portable stoves to complete home standby generators, home heat, outdoor living and more.
how to buy propane
Smaller propane tanks, like 20-pound cylinders are used to fuel things like patio heat and barbecue grills. These cylinders can be found and exchanged at most gas stations, home improvement, convenience stores, hardware stores and your local propane supplier. Many of these stores offer tank exchanges or propane exchanges. Usually with these smaller cylinders, the empty tanks can conveniently be filled or exchanged.
Larger tanks such as 120-pound, 500-pound and 1,000-pound cylinders fuel hot water heaters, space heaters and pool heaters, up through full-home and appliance needs. These larger cylinders can be purchased or leased through a distributor/supplier like Paraco, which will sell or lease a tank, deliver propane to you, and service your propane equipment.
Propane can be sold either by liquid volume or by weight, and the price for propane will vary depending on usage and the overall market cost of steel and propane. Propane is dispensed in liquid form, so gallons can be measured as the LPG passes through the pump. Though propane is commonly measured by gallons, it can also be measured by pounds. And one gallon of LPG equals 4.2 pounds.
It's important that you never dispose of your propane cylinder by throwing it in the trash. Exchanging a tank is an appropriate way of recycling your old propane grill tank. Simply find a location near you to exchange your old tank, or contact us to to help you safely dispose of your propane tanks.
From grilling and tailgating to generators and patio heating, we're wherever you need us! With over 54,000 locations nationwide, find AmeriGas propane at your favorite hardware or home improvement store, convenience store, gas station, and more.
Propane.com offers shopping guides for grills and patio heaters or contact your local propane supplier for suggestions nearby. Some propane suppliers offer appliance showrooms featuring everything from space and water heaters to kitchen appliances and fireplaces.
Your local propane supplier is an excellent source of information for things like propane appliance servicing and repairs. Contact them with your questions about servicing, repairing, or replacing propane appliances.
We assume that all propane companies take safety seriously. However, when the supplier owns the tank and equipment, they are better positioned to take extra precautions with the integrity of their tanks and related equipment and will replace parts and equipment as needed.
Prospective propane customers often have the option of either buying or leasing a propane tank for their needs. There are pros and cons for both the rental and purchase of propane tanks that should be taken into consideration when deciding between buying a tank or leasing one. It really boils down to a few things:
Additionally, propane companies have differing policies that factor into the decision of whether to rent or buy. There are obviously too many factors involved with tank rental versus purchase while individual circumstances vary widely but the overall process is outlined here and will hopefully help with your decision.
Purchasing a propane tank is more common than renting one in some parts of the country. A propane tank purchaseprice will generally include the piping from the tank to the house as well as all regulators, fittings, gas and otherinstallation related parts. These costs associated with a tank purchase are common throughout the propane industry andare explained to customers prior to the installation. Most companies will not sell and install a tank without fillingit with propane. Nor will a dealer sell a tank to an unlicensed individual for installation by themselves. If choosingto buy, the gas company selling the tank will likely have financing available for qualified buyers or the tank can bepaid for at the time of installation. One of the primary advantages of buying and owning the tank is that the customercan buy propane from whatever gas company they choose. Other issues to consider with buying a propane tank:
Leasing a propane tank is an option that many potential customers have, provided they meet certain requirements.Many propane companies require a minimum annual propane usage, a certain number of appliances be on propane or totalBTU load is at or above a minimum threshold. For example, a company may require three or more propane appliances inorder to lease a tank but standards such as these vary widely by company and by region. Also, propane tanks aregenerally leased to credit worthy applicants so expect the propane company to perform a credit check prior toapproval. Know that all piping, fittings, parts and connections are purchased by the customer and cannot be rented.Several things to think about if renting a tank is an option:
All in all, the differences between buying a propane tank outright and leasing one boil down to the maintenance ofthe tank and who is responsible for the repair cost. Also see Choosing a PropaneCompany
Some companies will even offer propane price protection programs to help you save money. For example, the Pre-Buy program from Euliss allows you to pre-buy all of your fuel for the entire year based on the lower summer rates, and guarantees that price through March. Programs like these are a great way to be smarter with your money.
Here at Euliss, giving the customer great value and a great experience is of utmost importance. We offer scheduled propane delivery, price protection programs, appliances and so much more. Contact us today to find out how we can help you save money on propane.
Suburban Propane Partners, L. P. , through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, renewable propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels. The company operates through four segments: Propane, Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels, Natural Gas and Electricity, and All Other. The Propane segment is involved in the retail distribution of propane for space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying in the residential and commercial markets; for use as a motor fuel in internal combustion engines to power over-the-road vehicles, forklifts, and stationary engines, as well as to fire furnaces as a cutting gas to the industrial customers; and for tobacco curing, crop drying, poultry brooding, and weed control in the agricultural markets. It also engages in the wholesale distribution of propane to industrial end users. The Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels segment engages in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings.
FAQ:What are those charges listed on my propane bill? Answer: Propane cost: The price per gallon, the number of gallons delivered, and the total (price per gallon times the number of gallons) must be listed for residential deliveries. The total cost must be shown for all deliveries. Sales tax: Sales tax for delivered heating fuels is not included in the cost per gallon. State law requires that be sales tax be added to the selling price. The state sales tax rate is 4.75% and the local sales tax rate is 2% or 2.25%, except for 2.5% in Mecklenburg County. This makes the total sales tax rate 6.75% to 7.25%, depending on the county, The sales tax will probably be charged on the entire amount, including extra charges, listed below. Charges: Many companies add on extra charges that they feel reflect their cost for doing business. Some companies include these charges in the propane cost per gallon. Others list them separately to keep the quoted price per gallon lower. These are often a flat fee per delivery. "RC Charge" or "Reg. Com. Charge" is regulatory compliance charge. It is a charge many propane companies add to the bill to reflect that it costs them something to comply with state and federal regulations. It is not a tax. It is a charge that the propane company keeps as a way to compensate them for their costs in complying with the rules. "T Fuel Charge" or "Fuel Surcharge" is similar. It stands for transportation fuel charge and reflects the cost of fuel the propane company pays to operate their trucks. This may vary month to month as fuel prices change. There may be other charges, too. Some companies add a fee for delivering a hazardous material (HAZMAT). Ask your supplier about fees listed on the bill. You are entitled to know the entire cost for delivery, as required in the next paragraph.
When you are comparing propane costs, be sure to ask about fees for deliveries. If they call it a tax, then it is to be forwarded to the government agency responsible for collecting that tax. If they call it a charge or fee, then it is an added price the company is collecting.
If you have a cancelled check or a credit card statement showing a large payment to the propane company at that time, it may be for purchasing the tank. Compare the check or statement to your propane bill to see if there is a correlation.
There has been a lot of activity recently of propane companies being bought. Sometimes records of transactions prior to the sale may be missing or harder to find. If you to press for them to find the records for installing your tank, they may find them. That should clear up any confusion.
Our legal section has supported the actions shown in the following paragraph. However, there is nothing in the state laws that gives us authority to require a propane company to remove a tank not in use. New rules in the LP-Gas Code, 2017 edition, gave us authority to require that some unsafe situations be corrected, usually by picking up a disconnected tank. 041b061a72