May 27, 2025
Under Pressure: How Much Pressure Is In A Propane Tank?
Giving It a Full 80%
Homeowners who use propane will have tanks on their property to store it in. These are typically owned by their gas provider. Our delivery drivers are specially trained in safe transport and transfer of propane fuel, as well as tank inspections. Since propane is stored under pressure, tanks should never be more than 80% full at any time. This might sound like a lot of extra space, but since changes in temperature affect volume, the ‘extra’ space in your propane tank is crucial. This is the same reason why your car might detect lower pressure in your tires during the winter, and high pressure during the summer.
Reading The Gauge
The tank fill gauge shows you the percentage of propane left in your tank. See the image of the tank gauge below. It shows 50% full. Having a level of 20% in your propane tank means you are close to running out and the lower it gets, means possible down time if you do run out. We recommend scheduling your propane delivery when your tank reaches 30-40%. This is to help assure that you get your fuel refill before your get below 20%, since the wait time for delivery is generally about a week. This will vary depending on the time of year.
See the chart below to see how many gallons of propane is in your tank right now based on your gauge and size of your tank. You may be surprised at how much is really in there.
Click the image to the right to learn more about reading your tank gauge
Leak Checking
If your tank does ever run out, your delivery or service technician will need to perform a leak check before filling your tank. A leak check must be performed as a requirement in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 58 code after an interruption of service to ensure that there are no leaks and the system is safe.
When your delivery technician is performing this required leak check, it is important that all your propane appliances are not in use. No need to unplug anything, just make sure they are turned off. This check will only take 3-5 minutes. If a leak is detected, your technician will request you leave the premises while the source of the leak is found and repaired.
If you suspect a propane leak at your home or business, don’t hesitate to call us at (603) 898-7986 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or dial 911.
Auto- Delivery
One of the benefits of being a Palmer Gas & Oil customer is we offer an auto-delivery service to help make sure you never run out of propane. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge can be hard to remember, especially when it’s cold outside. If you are signed up for our auto-delivery service, we are able to use your historical use data to predict when your propane tank is getting low and schedule your delivery accordingly. To learn more about Auto-Delivery, please contact our customer service team at info@palmergas.com.