Why Your Propane Tank Is Never 100 Percent Full
Hey propane users: have you ever noticed that your propane tank is never 100 percent full?
That’s because propane expands in the presence of heat – just like water. The difference between water and propane is how much each expands. Propane increases in volume much more than water – nearly 17 times the volume over the same rise in temperature.
That’s why above ground propane tanks, which are exposed to the elements, are typically filled to only about 80 percent of their capacity (underground tanks can safely hold more because they’re not subject to big temperature swings, since the ground acts as an insulator). The extra space is left in the tank to guard against pressure build-up when the temperature rises.
To calculate the working capacity of your propane tank, simply multiply the tank’s total capacity by 0.8. For example:
| Tank size (gallons) | 80 percent (gallons) |
| 120 | 96 |
| 150 | 120 |
| 200 | 160 |
| 250 | 200 |
| 500 | 400 |
When we deliver propane you your home, our drivers use special equipment to make sure we don’t overfill your tank – one of the many things we do to keep your family safe.
For safe and reliable propane delivery to your Maryland home, no one does it better than Carroll.Contact us today to become part of the Carroll family!
