Can Propane Go “Bad”?

Propane Will Never Spoil—But Make Sure You Store It Right

You probably know that if you leave a car with a tank full of gas, after about six months its chemical properties change, and it won’t burn properly.

Propane, on the other hand, will never “go bad.” That’s why propane is a smart choice for all kinds of appliances and equipment in your home, like water heaters, which you use all the time, but also for those you use sporadically, like space heaters and fireplaces. Propane is particularly smart for whole-house generators. Hopefully, you don’t need to use it often, but you don’t want to worry about the fuel not working in an emergency.

Propane Storage

While propane cannot expire, it’s important that the tank used for storage is maintained properly to avoid any problems. If you lease your propane storage tank from us, you do not have to worry, we take care of this for you. When it to comes to portable propane cylinders, however, you need to make certain that it conforms to Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards. All DOT portable propane tanks must be recertified for use every 5 or 10 years, depending on the cylinder type, condition and previous recertification method. Learn more about recertifying a portable propane cylinder.

Can Propane Freeze?

If you’ve lived in central New Hampshire for a while, you know winters can serve up some frigid temperatures. Average lows are in the single digits around here in January.

People often ask us if they need to worry about their propane freezing, particularly in an above-ground tank. Fortunately, the freezing point of propane is -44 degrees Fahrenheit, so you don’t need to worry about your propane freezing.

Still, extremely cold temperatures can affect propane. Propane contracts when it’s cold. When it’s extremely cold outside, the volume of propane inside your aboveground propane tank will shrink, which creates a loss of pressure. The problem is, if the pressure becomes too low, the propane inside your tank will not be able to reach your gas burner. That means you may not be able to run your propane appliances, including your furnace or boiler, which can be very problematic in the winter. An underground tank will not be affected by cold because it’s insulated. The good news is that you can avoid low-pressure problems in your above ground tank.

3 Ways to Avoid Low-Pressure Problems

1. Keep your propane tank at least 30% full to maintain positive pressure. If very cold weather is in the forecast, check your propane tank gauge and call us to schedule a delivery. (If you’re on automatic delivery, we’ll take the weather into account and there’s no need to call.)
2. Don’t let snow build up on your propane tank. Clear it so sunlight can reach your tank and keep it warmer.
3. If you use propane to heat your home, turn down your thermostat so your heating system doesn’t run as often, giving the pressure inside your propane tank a chance to rebuild.

Have more questions about versatile propane or propane safety or to set up automatic deliveries? Contact Pemi River Fuels today.