propane tanks

[Bl44]

Does it make a difference having a 100# tank vs a 20# tank on your house would a 20# freeze up? Has anyone had one freeze?

[Boar]

No it wont freez, at leaste Ive never had a problem. but the bigger the funace the bigger the tank being used for efficientcy. I had a 30000 btu blue flame an it went thru 20 lbrs like nothing. I droped down to a 20000 infra red an a 20 last twice as long.

[Walleyehooker]

So many things can be answered by googleing your question. http://www.ehow.com/facts_7597557_can-propane-tanks-freeze.html

[walleye977]

I have a 20lb tank right now that is half full and it wont let any gas out. I think it is frozen I brought it in and tried to warm it up but nothing I got no clue. Guess I'll just exchange a half used tank for a new one. Something went wrong with it.

[Ballyhoo]

a 100 # will do better in that situation. There is not enough volume of propane left in the tank to keep enough pressure to the furnace at the colder temp. Propane will continue to flow until -44F. At that temp you can carry it in a 5 gal pail.

[fishinglady]

Yes a propane tank can freeze up. Even a 100# one. If you can heat water to boil and pore it over the tank some times that will work, but you have to get it very warm or it will not flow. We have had this happen at the hunting shack.

[cableguy2]

What freezes is the regulator. When this happens you can put a rag over it and pour hot water on it. I have seen guides just us a torch to warm it up.

[anyfishwilldo]

The freezing you think is happening is not actually freezing. What it is is a lack of boiling. Propane boils just like water at any temp over -44. The warmer it is the more it can boil. It will continue to boil until it reaches a specific pressure which is determined by the temp. When it is cold the pressure is much less so what happens is the vapor is used faster than the liquid propane can boil it off. I reccomend 2-30 or 40 lb cylinders for wheelhouses. I am a serviceman for a propane company so i know a little about it.

[Twisted]

The freezing you think is happening is not actually freezing. What it is is a lack of boiling. Propane boils just like water at any temp over -44. The warmer it is the more it can boil. It will continue to boil until it reaches a specific pressure which is determined by the temp. When it is cold the pressure is much less so what happens is the vapor is used faster than the liquid propane can boil it off. I reccomend 2-30 or 40 lb cylinders for wheelhouses. I am a serviceman for a propane company so i know a little about it.

^^^This is correct.^^^ Thanks.

A larger tank also has more surface area to absorb heat from the air. Covering your tanks at -20*F is the worst thing you can do. It may feel cold out but as the vapor is used up, the tank temp drops, and it needs to be warmed up by the heat in the air or some other source.

If you are out fishing at -40*F you may have to improvise a little.

[toddb]

Probably a bad OPD valve. Shouldn't have problems with these temps.

[fisherman10_4]

That was some really good information and I don't doubt it a bit...however could you tell me what happened when I went out yesterday...it was approximately -10 F. I have a propane auger and a big buddy propane heater. I've got a 20 lb tank on my heater and is appoximately half full. I drove out to 12 mile with my sled from Warroad and when I got there neither of them worked. I brought them home and warmed them up and they worked good....what do you think?

[JakeJ_Mn]

I use 40# tanks on my wheelhouse and never had a problem. When it's really cold and the heater goes out there is usually 5# left when I get them filled. Otherwise they are always completely empty.