Submitted by iamthebugwan t3_11gcbo8 in vermont
We've upgraded our home to heat pumps and it's time get the propane tanks removed from our property. Has anyone gone through this process? It looks like I just contact my provider and they come pick them up and charge us a fee as we don't own the tanks. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
Thanks! We have a woodstove in the basement for this purpose and heatpumps upstairs.
Most propane heat systems use electricity.
A small generator can power a propane furnace, it cannot power multiple heat pumps heating a house when it’s in the single digits though.
My propane does not use electricity. It was hard to find a heater that didn't need electric though.
What's the model number, and how does it control and ignite the propane?
It uses a pilot light.
And a mechanical thermostat?
Correct.
It's a Williams model 3003622. That is not where I got it it was just the first link that popped for a search.
I have had it for about 6 years in a 2000sq ft house. It gets a little cool in the house below --10 but nothing ever freezes. If my windows where new I would probably not have an issue though. I had to replace the thermal couple once.
Very cool, thanks for the model info!
You should double check that removing your propane tank or heating system doesn’t conflict with your mortgage terms (if you have one). Sometimes mortgage documents specify that you can’t remove a permanent heat source. It’s probably unlikely since you have an alternative, but you don’t want a bad surprise if you sell.
Good to know, thank you. I will check that before we let the provider know to remove the tanks.
In addition to this bit of advice, have you considered leaving the tanks in place? If they are underground, I believe they can be filled with something inert, or so I have been told, and left in place. Unless you plan to keep your house forever, the next owner might want to have the option for propane for cooking, or backup electricity generation, or maybe just a redundant heat source--just in case.
Hey there, they are outside the house and kind of an eyesore that you can see from the kitchen windows. This is basically the forever home unless we hit the lottery lol. We have a wood stove as a backup heat source in case of power outages, etc.
Makes sense. It sounds like they'd be easy to remove/replace.
How was the heat pump experience? I can't find a contractor who I know isn't charging me a premium.
We had two installed at separate times over the last 2 years. One is a mitsubishi cold weather and the other is a Haier (also for cold weather). I prefer the mitsubishi because it's a little quieter, but other than that they both are great. Vermont Energy did the mitsu and Catamount solar did the Haier. Both companies were easy to work with, great with communication and installed the units in 3-4 hours. I'd recommend either one to work with.
Speaking of that 3-4 hour install, I had a local contractor quote me 10,000 to install two, in addition to the equipment costs. Even if three people put in an 8 hour day doing two units, by my math that's $416/hour for the install. And the electric work to run the 220 line wasn't included in that number. No thanks.
Oh wow, our experience was nothing like that. We got a flat price that included the unit, labor, and the cost of the electrician.
Interesting. This was Peak Mechanical in Waterbury.
In addition, it may conflict with your homeowners insurance if it doesn't heat all areas of the home.
Wood stoves are usually not considered a backup heat source by insurance companies (since they don't work if you're not home).
If you don't own the tanks then there shouldn't be a fee. If you don't own the tanks then the provider does and it's their responsibility to take them back.
If you do own the tanks they may not touch them, depends on the company and overall situation.
Thank you, I will look into it more.
I’ve had it done. There is no fee and they have to pay you back for any unused gas left in the tanks. They own the tanks so it’s their responsibility completely. You may have to bug them a few times to get them to actually come and do it though.
A propane fired house generator would be a good idea. Just saying since it’s already there
You were able to hire someone to sell you and install heat pumps but you don’t know how to call your fuel provider and cancel their service? Really?
What is your point with this comment? I'm asking the community if anyone has had this done and what to watch out for. As you can see, there's a few different experiences and things to look into, which I appreciate. But thanks friend, since I'm obviously stupid I'll be sure to reach out if I need help dialing my provider!
Glad to see you saw my point. You are an idiot!
You cancel your service and they are required to remove the tanks and reimburse you for any propane in them.
They are also under a timer if you want to press the issue.
I would say propane line to the house adds value. Even if you have no particular use for it. Just a thought if power goes out while you are away you can’t start a fire in the wood stove.
I would definitely recommend not getting rid of them. Especially if they’re owned. Your heat pumps are great now but in the next five to ten years at least one will need a compressor or some other doodad and will be unusable for at least six to eight months. Where the propane my grandfather bought in 76 will still provide heat
I know labor is short and all, but how could it possibly take 6-8 months to get a heat pump serviced??
It’s not the labor as much as the parts. They’re are made in short runs and the parts are hard to get. At least that’s what the company is telling us.
Yes. Discussed recently. https://www.reddit.com/r/vermont/comments/111j6fk/have_you_made_the_transition_to_heating_your_home/
Heat pumps are great.
However, manufacturers are still developing and fine tuning heat pumps for cold markets. This is not a mature product category yet.
As a result, parts are hard to come by as manufacturers make major changes from year to year in their product lines. Many lesser brand units will be functionally obsolete in less than 10 years as part support will not exist.
Only purchase heat pumps from big name manufacturers and use an established local company that plans to be in business when you need service and maintenance.
Good luck finding service for your heat pump if the installer is no longer in business.
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Ummm, this isn’t Norway. 🇳🇴
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There are major differences in heating/cooling appliances made for and sold in the US and those used in the rest of the world. Additionally the size, type and construction of housing in the US does not make for an accurate comparison with Norway 🇳🇴
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Start here and then use google.
https://www.linquip.com/blog/top-heat-pump-manufacturers-and-suppliers/
Just made this switch recently too. We contacted the propane company since they owned the tank and they came and removed the tank within a few days. Within a week we recieved a check in the mail for the remaining propane in the tank.
There was no chrge for the tank removal. This was Fyles Bros. in Orwell.
Typically the provider owns the tanks as it's part of the provider's cost of doing business. You call your service provider (or in my case recently the company that bought them) and they have to come to get the tanks if they are above ground.
If the tanks are abandoned by the provider (I believe it's either 45 or 60 days) then you can call any propane company to remove them - that's when you would be charged a fee to safely disconnect them from your system and for the removal.
Thanks very much!
Nutmegdog1959 t1_janzy4w wrote
Don't return tanks, keep them. Maintain a propane fueled heat source in the basement. If the power goes out you don't want the pipes to freeze.