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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,059
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,059 |
I have a 1K and 500 gallon tank, only fill up once a year. Usually July or August whenever propane is the cheapest. Local guy likes us as we pay in full promptly, and he gives us the heads up when it is time to buy. Also gives 5 cent discount per gallon if we pay cash or check within 5 business days. His business is seven miles away the next one is about 30, he's beat everyone I've shopped an average of 10 cents a gallon over the last six years.
I like having two tanks, our next house will have two as well. Usually how it works. If the company doesn't own the tank or really trust you they'll want cash because they can't lock off the tank if you don't pay. Retired from the biz after fifteen years and will never rent a tank.
Last edited by JLimbo; 02/25/21. Reason: repeated term
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,961
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 10,961 |
I prefer to own. The independence affords you the opportunity to shop for the best deals. Also, with the world being run by ambulance chasing attorneys.....a rented/lease tank may not have a “thief” valve. I never pay to have propane bottles filled. The refills are cheaper per gallon, and that is one more trip to town.....I didn’t have to make! memtb
Last edited by memtb; 02/25/21.
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,216
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,216 |
Where I am the propane company provides the tanks free. If you want to buy from someone else they take the tanks away and the new company set theirs up. There might be a one time installation fee, don't know, I'm using the company/tanks that came with house when I bought it, but there is no rent.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,738 Likes: 14
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,738 Likes: 14 |
I owned mine before we got natural gas lines in the neighborhood.
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,410
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,410 |
I own two, a 320 and a upright 120.
I'm thinking about buying another 120 for my shop. Using two 100lb cylinders out there now but I have to haul them off to be filled.
Its a lot cheaper here to own and buy in the summer.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 14,239 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 14,239 Likes: 1 |
We have been renting for 24 years. Never had a problem with a tank. If you own the tank you can shop around and get much cheaper propane. If we owned the tank we would have saved several thousand dollars over the years, after we had paid for the tank.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,128 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,128 Likes: 2 |
Around this county, there is a good portion of the west county that doesn't have electricity. Propane is kind of the lifeline of those people. The propane distributors know this and ride that horse to death. All the distributors have the same reputation as undertakers, used car salesmen, politicians and personal injury lawyers. One old guy showed me his delivery tickets, almost all had totals just under 100 gallons. I asked why and he told me when he signed up with them, they promised a 25% discount on deliveries over 100 gallons. Later, a senior center legal advisor discovered, they were charging him tank rent on a tank he owned. Liars, thieves and crooks, around here.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,198
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,198 |
we own our 500 gallon tank. As others have said, having the choice to shop around for cheaper prices, saves us money. Fill once a year, Aug. or Sept., and good to go. Have never needed any work to any parts of the system. Best thing of all, my dad bought this tank for us from a farm sale many years ago, for $100. Put a fresh paint on it and it's been GTG.
Laws aren't preventative measures. In other words, more laws won't prevent gun crime from happening.
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3,845 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3,845 Likes: 1 |
When I had propane I leased the tank. All the companies around here are around the same price, not worth the hassle of ownership in my opinion.
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,359
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,359 |
Lease 100% and I'm usually pro owning anything. The payback here in CO was 21 years (lease vs buying). With a leased tank if anything goes wrong, valve, rust, pipe, it's on them. They switch the tank out at their cost. After installing a whole house backup generator, I switched providers from an expensive local provider to a larger state/national provider (Ferrell gas) and it's not the cheapest propane but typically very competitive here. The main reason I switched was the local provider would not give me a 1000gal. tank - said my usage didn't justify it. Win win for me, I got a 1000gal tank and cheaper gas.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,394 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,394 Likes: 1 |
The propane supplier got to charging $100/year rent for the tank. My FIL put propane on the place20+ years ago. 3 years ago, I bought 2 refurbed, 250 gal tanks for $600 apiece (all new fittings). Installed one at the ranch, installed the other at my Dad's house at Raton. We also had a back-up generator installed. The local electric company couldn't keep power on. Dad was 89 at the time, living alone in an all electric house. 3 more years, and I'm money ahead - plus, I'm not limited to any single gas company, I can buy wherever I want.
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon. ~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571 |
always own your own. shop for a used, refurbished tank (as mentioned above). I would NOT go with the in-ground option. maintenance long term can be problematic
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,535
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5,535 |
Own, shop anywhere for your gas!
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,879
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,879 |
Own..had an amerigas tank and called them for a fill, when I got the bill in was just over 2x the going rate of propane. Called them and hitched about it. Said that was the rate for existing customers. Had a buddy call them and ask rates for a new customer tank set. 15 cents a gallon less than everyone else. I don't use enough propane a year to justify the rental. Bought my tank and have a local company fill it. I call around each time beforehand and they've yet to be beat.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,278
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,278 |
Around here if you lease, only the gas company that supplies the tank can sell you propane
If you own, you can shop for propane best prices That has made a huge difference for us. We bought a place with a 500 gallon tank dated 1956. The old propane supplier was evidently very inflexible and had plenty of customers so even though it had serviced this place in the past, they wanted a full inspection of my entire heating system and prices were not competitive. I had a HVAC guy install a fresh valve and found a new propane company that provides great prices for bulk purchases and wonderful, prompt service. Norm
Norman Solberg International lawyer, lately for 25 years in Japan, now working on trusts in the US, the 3rd greatest tax haven. NRA Life Member for over 50 years, NRA Endowment (2014), Patron (2016).
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