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Post by nana on Aug 23, 2020 16:26:38 GMT -5
Since getting our geothermal system put in, and since Marilyn is on her own separate propane tank, the only thing that was on my old propane tank was my old gas dryer, which I hardly ever use. Mainly just for towels and wet snowpants and jackets, etc. I like hanging up my laundry. Anyway, I told the gas company about 5 years ago that I would call them when I needed more gas. Last month they contacted me and said that since I hadn’t ordered gas in so long that they were going to start charging me $100 a year to “rent” the tank. I can’t really blame them. It was their tank, and they were not making anything off of it. But I told them I didn’t want to do that and that they could come pick up the tank, and send me a check for the gas still in it. So far so good. I was planning on eventually replacing the gas dryer with an electric one, but that would involve getting an electrician to come and put in a 220 volt outlet...not something I am prepared to do right now.
So my question is, can I get a barbecue sized bottle and hook it up? The copper line going to the dryer is all intact. They just removed the tank, nothing else. So is it possible and how would we do it? We probably need some kind of regulator, but since I don’t own a gas grill I don’t know anything about the bottles and what they come with and how to hook them up. Mach12, I’m thinking you might know!
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Post by dwayner2 on Aug 23, 2020 18:38:18 GMT -5
What!? No gas grill? Here in Texas the size of your gas grill shows how wealthy you are....it’s a must! 😃
Yep, Mach12 is the man for sure. We’ve used a 30 gallon LP tank at our camp for years. You can switch it out with a 5 gal BBQ tank in emergencies too if the big one runs out.
One thing Mach12 mentioned to me about getting was a “2-Stage” or “Dual Stage” regulator so the gas pressure stays constant at 10” or 11” WC pressure. Just don’t get confused and buy a “2nd-Stage” regulator. That’s the one you put PAST your first regulator to do the same thing. The 2-Stage one already has both regulators built into it. I think they run $45-$55 on line.
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Post by mach12 on Aug 23, 2020 22:16:06 GMT -5
That's correct on the 2-Stage regulator. The first stage drops it down to a constant pressure that the second stage then keeps at whatever it's set to. They normally come preset at 11" WC and that's good for a line running a single appliance like you're running. Lowe's sells a 200,000 BTU Dual Stage regulator that I've installed in off-grid setups for people and it's approved for appliances.
You definitely need a regulator and I'd recommend getting the larger 100 LB tank, though getting that size tank to and from where you fill them can be a hassle depending on whether you can back right up to where you use it (or them). You could probably get by with a 40 pound or two 40's connected with a manifold. The normal tanks that are on BBQ's are 20 lb. tanks, though people are always calling them 5 gallon tanks, even some propane places. You can start with one of those if you already have one and see how long it runs the dryer. Tanks and bottles come under two different certifications, ASME and DOT, and the DOT bottles are what BBQ's and RV's use. DOT Tanks are generally referred to by weight and ASME tanks are generally referred to by volume. Places like Lowes and Tractor Supply normally have decent prices on them.
Placement of the tank is important and with the portable DOT tanks you measure to the relief valve built in to the valve on the top of the tank. A DOT tank that isn't filled on site has to be 3 feet from any opening under the house, a window, etc., and 10 feet from any source of ignition, like a heat pump or A/C unit. Two things to remember are rain and snow. There's a vent on the regulator and it needs to be installed so that rain and snow don't get into it. That becomes a problem with shorter tanks sometimes, especially where snow is more common and where it tends to drift.
Edit - Reading through this it sounds like I'm recommending Lowe's and I want to be clear that I'm not. That's the closest place to me so I tend to go there and am familiar with what they have. Also, I mentioned bottles and the difference between calling a BBQ bottle a 20 lb or a 5 gallon because it's sometimes confusing. I get asked about that a lot so thought I'd mention it. When asked I tell them the difference and that it really doesn't matter except when you're shopping for bottles/tanks.
I also meant to mention bottle recertification. ASME tanks are filled on site and the suppliers are all required to be trained to inspect the bottles, valves and so on when they come to refill it so ASME tanks don't have to go through a recertification process. DOT tanks do require recertification, the first time 10 years after the date of manufacture and then every 5 years after that. An option with the 20 lb./5 gallon BBQ bottles is to just take your empty, expired bottle and exchange it for a filled bottle at a store that has those exchange cages.
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Post by dwayner2 on Aug 23, 2020 23:22:58 GMT -5
Since your line is intact you should be able to just hook up the 5 or 30 gal bottle we’re it was disconnected at the tank (30 gal is better). Just figure out what connectors you need to go from the new 2-Stage Regulator to the old line.
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Post by Chuckie on Aug 24, 2020 13:39:27 GMT -5
What!? No gas grill? Here in Texas the size of your gas grill shows how wealthy you are....it’s a must! 😃 My boss always had NATURAL GAS grills, and whenever he updated, he'd give me his old one. It wasn't until he passed away that his WIFE told me that whenever he decided (or SHE told him!) it was too dirty, he'd go get another one! LOL I'd pick up the old one in my Old Blue pickup, take it to an old car wash close to his house, hose it down w/the degreaser cycle they used to have, and it was perfectly FINE! I used to be a plumber in another life, and ran a gas line out to the back deck. I also put a tee in so I could install a riser, where I attached one of the old gas yard lights from the house next door when I bought it. Said light is in DIRE need of an overhaul---sounds like a job for DWAYNER!!! The other thing I like about it is the electric spit I bought to fit it. S-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O nice to put a seasoned turkey breast, whole chicken, beef rump roast, pork loin, small ham, etc,et al on there of a Sunday and let her go!! NEVER have to worry about fuel supply, or running out on a Sunday when you're about 2/3 full of barley pops, and in NO SHAPE to drive to the local gas station for a propane tank exchange! CHEERS! Chuckie
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Post by mach12 on Aug 24, 2020 16:29:47 GMT -5
Man Chuckie, I'd sure like to have access to natural gas just for the convenience but out here in the boonies we even have to get our sunshine in bottles. I did have a BBQ line Tee installed so I can run a line out to the grill and run the grill on the main tank (whenever I get it installed).
Since I worked around the military and they couldn't ship the bottles for their BBQ grills when they were transferred I collected a bunch of BBQ bottles. I was like the exchange dude. People moving out would give me a bottle and people moving in would come and get a freebie from me. It seemed like a good thing to do but I had to keep it low key since the Post Exchange filed a formal complaint that I was hurting their business doing that. When I retired I had whittled the number down to about 8 bottles and I take them all to the feed store when the price is down and fill them. I need to make a shelf for them in one of the stalls in my upper barn and develop a system of identifying which ones are full and which are empty but right now I have them sitting together in the tack room. When I run out with the grill or the weed torch I take the empty one up there and look like I'm doing some kind of weight lifting routine figuring out which is full. As I get older things like a natural gas line sure do sound nice...
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Post by vaporvac on Aug 24, 2020 16:52:23 GMT -5
Sounds like a Youtube exercise video!
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Post by dwayner2 on Aug 24, 2020 18:42:34 GMT -5
Will do Chuckie, it was the base that rusted off, right?
Let’s see....fix gas light, cut down tree next to the shop and haul off the wood, put flooring in shop attic, FINALLY hook up the old wood burning heater in the shop, replace storm door off the deck, check thermostats and pilot safeties on the Imperial and....switch out the Well on your Chambers. Oh, and drink LOTS of beer too. Looks like I might need to extend my one week visit to two weeks..LOL! But one things for sure, when that white stuff starts falling from the sky, this boy is heading South! 😃. My ETA is Oct 3rd or 4th if Monkey, Mr Murphy and the Good Lord with his Hurricanes say it’s cool to come up there.
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Post by Chuckie on Aug 24, 2020 20:25:28 GMT -5
Will do Chuckie, it was the base that rusted off, right? Let’s see....fix gas light, cut down tree next to the shop and haul off the wood, put flooring in shop attic, FINALLY hook up the old wood burning heater in the shop, replace storm door off the deck, check thermostats and pilot safeties on the Imperial and....switch out the Well on your Chambers. Oh, and drink LOTS of beer too. Looks like I might need to extend my one week visit to two weeks..LOL! But one things for sure, when that white stuff starts falling from the sky, this boy is heading South! 😃. My ETA is Oct 3rd or 4th if Monkey, Mr Murphy and the Good Lord with his Hurricanes say it’s cool to come up there. You've got about HALF of it summed up, I'll have to send the rest of the list via CLOUD, email won't carry it!!
And YOU may not "escape" till spring THAW!!!
CHEERS! Chuckie
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Post by nana on Aug 24, 2020 21:21:23 GMT -5
Thanks, Everyone! I knew I could count on you all!
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Post by vaporvac on Aug 24, 2020 22:10:23 GMT -5
Nana, when I first saw your post, I thought maybe you should put it in the "I have to vent" thread! : 0 LOL!
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Post by nana on Aug 25, 2020 8:31:54 GMT -5
Will do Chuckie, it was the base that rusted off, right? Let’s see....fix gas light, cut down tree next to the shop and haul off the wood, put flooring in shop attic, FINALLY hook up the old wood burning heater in the shop, replace storm door off the deck, check thermostats and pilot safeties on the Imperial and....switch out the Well on your Chambers. Oh, and drink LOTS of beer too. Looks like I might need to extend my one week visit to two weeks..LOL! But one things for sure, when that white stuff starts falling from the sky, this boy is heading South! 😃. My ETA is Oct 3rd or 4th if Monkey, Mr Murphy and the Good Lord with his Hurricanes say it’s cool to come up there. This sounds like that old song that goes “Put another log on the fire, Cook me up some bacon and some beans, Go out to the yard, jack up the car and change the tire...”🤣
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