Malvern Office

195 Lancaster Ave
Malvern, PA 19355

Quakertown Office

1432 S West End Blvd
Quakertown, PA 18951

Maryland Office

Monkton, MD 21111

What Size Propane Tank Do I Need?

Your contractor and propane supplier can help you navigate any decisions you need to make about your propane tank. They’ll provide guidance on appropriately sizing the tank — the average size is 500 gallons, but it may need to be larger or smaller depending on the propane systems installed in your home.

A general estimate for the amount of propane used in a kitchen is 40 to 60 gallons per year.

  • A standard 120-gallon tank holds 96 gallons of propane and is generally installed for residential hot water or space heating with enough storage available if you add a range or clothes dryer
  • A standard 500-gallon tank holds 400 gallons of propane and is generally installed for central heating and small commercial applications 
  • A standard 1,000-gallon tank holds 800 gallons of propane and is generally installed for commercial and industrial applications. Large commercial and industrial installations may require multiple 1000-gallon tanks

Propane furnaces with ratings of 90 AFUE or higher can save homeowners roughly $300 to $800 per year, compared with current standard efficiency units.

Propane clothes dryers offer faster drying that’s easier on fabrics, produces fewer wrinkles, and delivers greater energy efficiency compared with electric models It’s easy to determine the amount of energy a propane clothes dryer will use. In terms of energy costs, propane clothes dryers will generally cost roughly $40-$80/year to operate. This range will vary based on local propane rates, how often the dryer is used, and how well it is maintained.

Propane water heaters use less energy, cost less to operate, and have fewer emissions compared with electric models.

Propane fireplaces will have widely varying levels of fuel use depending on how the residents use the fireplace and how many fireplaces are in the home. A rough estimate of propane fireplace consumption levels is provided in the table. When the fireplace(s) is used to help provide space heating, the usage numbers will increase. However, in these situations it’s important to note that space heat provided by the fireplace offsets space heating energy in some other form (like a furnace or boiler in the home). Propane fireplace operating costs vary as well, and for occasional use may range from $50-$150/year.

Propane standby generators are a powerful, reliable way to protect homes and families, as well as buildings and businesses, from the damage a power outage can cause. Plus, portable propane generators are powerful enough to meet job site demands, too. And because propane does not degrade over time like gasoline, the fuel supply is more stable and reliable.