Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Propane installation questions

Anyone have it done lately? I have a raised foundation. Want it prepped for water heater, stove, and furnace.
Approx cost ? Im assuming I need to call a plumber.
What is approx yearly cost for propane at todays $$ ?
Any tips on having it done? How close or far would you install the tank from house? Above ground or below?
This is new to me. I have plumbed for natural gas before and guess I could do it for propane also. I have used both nlack pipe and the yellow flexible pipe.
Not sure whats needed for propane.
Thanks in advance

Your supplier should know all that.

You can use either blk pipe or flex(stainless)
Flex is more money,but faster than cutting and threading.

Underground tanks are nice,but read the fine print on how long you need to stay with a supplier,or buy it out right.

Gold. Pure gold.

Gonna have to bookmark this one.

If you do it yourself, be sure to check for leeks

Why? Will they give him indigestion?

Ask the supplier. Here they have requirements that are silly but they won't connect you if you don't follow their requirements. We just had a cabin hooked up.

Just the fireplace, or the whole house?


Had our gas stove line ran and stove converted and installed for $750 I believe. Dude was a pro, did a fantastic job.

If you plan to own this building for a while and if you expect to use a fair amount of propane over time, I'd strongly consider buying and installing an underground tank of an appropriate size. I use about 700 gallons each year and I buried a 1,000 gallon tank.

I like buying my tank because my propane is cheaper (no tank lease cost built in) and I have complete flexibility on where I buy it. That can save you quite a bit over the years. Don't let the tank installer force you into signing an agreement to buy propane only from them.

I like burying it for security, aesthetics and convenience. I don't have to mow around it or worry about an idiot driving into it, etc.

As others have said, your local propane system installers can answer the other questions for you.

We did the gas log thing a few yrs ago package deal not that bad I did have to fix a pad for the tank to sit on but no big deal 👍

I would imagine its needs a pressure/leak down test. Just like a natural gas setup.
Im also assuming I will need a permit and pass inspection.

We don’t have a fireplace and no room for one without adding on. That is a possibility though. I have a electric water heater in the house, plans for a gas rangetop and a furnace in the garage . House was built in 08 and Im sure its the original water heater and furnace. No doubt its going to be a lot of expense to add propane and change appliances and vent as needed.
I need to pencil it all out, maybe better to sell,lol.

What I did was keep my water heater electric so I didn't have to run a vent, since it went out at the same time as I was swapping the stove, and had the stove and fireplace ran to the tank through the basement. Propane is cheaper than electricity out here right now.

You will need a permit as your propane company most likely will not hook up to a line that has not been inspected and tagged., some folks out in Calif use the flex line than comes in a roll. If it’s a short run, maybe just go coated black iron. High efficient water heaters and furnaces use a pvc pipe for a vent. You have to figure usage and distance to size your line . In the gas line right before the appliance, they want a drip leg. Just google it. This is an easy job. Forgot, check with the building dept on how close you can put your tank. Most building departments have a free install sheet. Alan

That is a great job you did googling answers to the question at hand.

You need to go back to deep cover school.

I forgot to mention if you go plastic type line underground, you will have to add a tracer wire so it can be detected.

I have a 500 gallon tank. I'm on a flat rate plan that I pay monthly. Just paid 2.50 a gallon for propane. My stove, water heater, and furnace are propane. They fill it to 80%. Summer is usually less expensive.

It requires a license from the Railroad Commission in Texas. Take a class and a test, easy thing for plumbers. The line should have no traps. I’d use black pipe, looks much better in my opinion. It needs tested, every joint soaped. I’d hire it done, propane is heavier than air, will accumulate in low areas, more dangerous than natural gas. Drip legs on each piece of equipment. It needs to be sized by the combined BTU’s of appliances

We have just a gas fireplace. A 120 gal tank supplied and filled by Amerigas. We actually use about 150 gal/year just to keep the chill off of the daytime use area of the house, without cranking up the thermostat on the electric furnace.

Our case is a bit different than the OP, as our fireplace was plumbed to the exterior of the house. Amerigas did the installation of the tank and service line, hooked it up to the house, and did the leak down test.

I wouldn’t mind plumbing to the outside for a fireplace
But That will require adding on. Im not sure if you were in the house when you were here it has a Piss poor layout. Great views though. My other issue maybe digging to lay the pipe from the tank pad to the house. I guess a lot of lava rock.

I guess I will need to figure out what appliances I want to get the set up right.

A trencher with the right teeth for the job will cut lava rock . I forgot to say if you go with plastic type pipe, on the ends come up from the bottom of the ditch with black iron. Some things you need permits on . This is one. If your house burns down and your insurance company finds out, you could be in a mess!

I wonder if I would be better off doing a built in generator and forget adding propane?
I would still have the ability to run the house minus water. Our shared well doesn’t have a generator to run the pump.

Insurance is getting to be a pain. I don’t owe on this house and contemplate telling them to cancel my policy. So far I have been able to keep the premium close to the same price for the last few years. Even with 40% increase quotes.
They have been able to change programs and keep the premium low. About $1000 annually plus umbrella. We have been with them for 25 years and never had a homeowner claim
Last year we had the house being painted and had to move a steel pergola away from the house to fix dry rot. Approx 50 mile an hour winds blew it over. I notified the insurance but have not filed the claim yet. Im afraid they will raise the rates or cancel us. I have a $2500 deductible and the approx cost to have it re done is about $7000. I may just build a wood pergola or a patio cover. I have a few months to decide.

Propane is a nice fuel source. A generator you still have to fuel. You could plumb for a propane generator. If you figure your deductible plus a possible increase with a claim , you might be better not filing a claim. If I build a shop in the future, it will be fire resistant. Concrete walls, metal roof, etc with fire sprinklers. I will not insure for fire, just public liability in case someone gets hurt on the property. I think we are going to see big changes in material choices soon do to insurance premiums.

Helped a friend lay out for propane tank, trench, through foundation for furnace/ water heater. Furnace guys did install and leak test twice after failed flex connection.
Inspector looked past a couple things and passed it.
I never checked to see if they grounded it to the panel.
Did my own myself with black pipe and the inspector even double checked the ground wire gauge and clamp before signing off.

An auto insurance mention, A rock from semi busted my windshield, inquired about coverage but had it replaced on my own. Later when paying insurance online I noticed a recent claim on my account. Yep, claim was for my windshield that I paid for on my own. Took me 4 hours over 3 months to get that removed and rate increase off. Gotta watch those guys!

Its all silly, till someone loses an eye!