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Propane Tank for Gas Stove
You’d need a 45 kg (or a 100 lb.) propane tank for your gas stove if you are a homeowner, and looking for the best size propane tank for domestic use only.
By domestic use what I mean, what kind of size and type matters, or other subject related queries have been answered below!
Well, for some reasons opting for a suitable propane tank for a gas stove can be problematic. The multitude of tank sizes, matching the size of the tank with the gas cooktop’s consumption, etc. are some of the factors that one should have to consider before going for a propane tank.
However, you shouldn’t break a sweat, I will describe all of the factors and key points here. For starters, know this, you need a 45 kg DOT propane tank for your gas cooktop if you are intending to use it domestically (means for cooking only).
One thing to ponder here is that you don’t need an ASME tank for a household, if you are intending to use it for cooking only then the DOT tank category should be your option.
To choose the right propane tank, knowing your gas stove’s propane consumption is the primary thing that you should know. You need to do research about the tank sizes and how much gas they hold etc. Lucky for you I saved you a ton of heavy work.
You’ll only be needing to have one refill in a year for a cooktop that has BTU higher than 5,000 with two burners (approximately).
The important thing that can only be done by you is to estimate the gas requirement of your home. For a larger family as asserted above a 190 kg (420 lb.), propane tank should be your option, which is ideal for people who intend to use it for indoor activities.
However, if you do not need that much and only intend to do cooking on it then a 45 kg propane tank is perfect for you.
The main point here is to check the gas requirement for your gas cooktop and I shall help you calculate that later in this article. Keep reading to find out more!
Before helping you achieve your objective I think you must know about the right size of your gas stove.
Saving your energy bills and furnishing control over your gas utilization are two objectives that you should have in mind while buying a propane tank.
This certainly doesn’t imply that buying the wrong size can lead to disaster. A big propane tank doesn’t cost any harm. However, a small tank on the other hand can affect your budget drastically.
Different Propane Tank Sizes
Now let's come to the point, the different propane tanks, their sizes; and what is right for you. The propane tanks can be listed down based on either their weight or volume depending on whether it’s a DOP (Department of Transportation) or ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
If you want to use a propane tank for a specific place only as a means for stationary installation then you can go for ASME. On the other hand, DOP tanks are usually used outdoors due to their portability.
Words of wisdom: a propane tank is never filled to its maximum capacity rather they filled up to 80% in order to handle the expansion of propane if the temperature varies.
Below are the tank sizes of DOT types mentioned:
A good choice for residential and domestic use which can hook up to your propane gas stove, grill, or fireplace.
However, it should not be used for heating your home or anything on a large scale.
15 Kg Tanks are usually used for a certain purpose, for example for a heavy vehicle that relies on autogas.
However, they are not the best choice for powering a vehicle but they can be used in cases of emergencies or special circumstances.
The PERFECT and BEST choice for those who want to do cooking at home as well as for indoor fireplaces.
Below are the tank sizes of ASME types are mentioned
These are used for commercial purposes due to their large area. But, many also use it for residential purposes too.
Not only this, but you can also use it for powering emergency generators or fireplaces, etc.
This is the most common type of propane tank used by people for domestic and residential purposes as it covers all kinds of heating aspects i.e. home heating, generator powering, cooking, pool heating, fireplaces, etc.
One thing to remember, when you opt for a big propane tank you are saving your selves cost of refilling. Thus this tank gives you extra efficiency in this regard.
Usually, it is used for a house of 2,500 square feet and can be installed permanently above or below the ground.
This is the kind of tank that is used by people for commercial uses. For example, many farmers opt for 1000-gallon tanks for agricultural purposes.
Now that you have known the measurement of the propane tank for the gas cooktop, it is time for you to calculate the exact estimate for the ideal propane tank size which you can utilize.
To make it understandable more easily let’s take an example
Your gas cooktop has 5,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit) burners that you use simultaneously for almost 10 hours on a 100-gallon tank (as per ASME).
We are assuming that you use half an hour on cooking, every day.
Now,
Estimating it; if you use two burners concurrently for cooking half an hour, almost every day on a propane tank of 100 Gallon, then the tank will last approximately 19 days.
So,
Now you know,
100 Gallon Propane Tank = 19 days
In the analogy of the above assumption, it can be concluded that:
45 Kg (100 lb.) propane Tank, filled with 24 gallons (91 L) of propane
As you may or may not have known:
0.45 Kg = 0.236 Gallon / 0.89 L (when the propane tank is at 60°F / 15.6°C)
Therefore, that means:
A 45 Kg tank can last:
45 Kg = (19x24)
456 days approximately (without a day)
But knowing the size of the propane tank for your gas stove is not enough. You should also have to know the gas stove propane consumption ratio.
Don’t worry, it can also be described with the help of an example.
You have to estimate by yourself what kind of propane tank is most suitable for you upon your needs.
Therefore, you have to calculate the consumption rate of your burners and utilize this value to attain the Total Gas Utilization of your cooktop.
Now, to do that, you’ll need to find BTU (British Unit Thermal). You can find this figure in your gas stove’s manual or can contact the manufacturer helpline and ask them the BTU of your gas stove by telling your cooktop’s number, type, or model.
It is pertinent to mention here that BTU indicates gas energy consumption and the heat output of propane.
There is one key figure to understand it more easily:
1 Gallon Propane = 91,5000 BTUs = 96,537,611 J (J is Joule)
You can calculate the other figures of a gallon into a joule with the help of any BTU to Joule calculator online available.
Now, to find the total propane consumption of your cooktop, find out how much gas each burner is using per hour to determine how much propane you need and thus, what propane tank size is best for you.
Keeping the Gallon to BTU to Joule formula in mind, you can use this formula;
91,5000 (Joule) / BTU (hourly) = Estimated required Propane (in Gallon).
You check your gas cooktop’s manual and it has 4,000 BTU,
4,000 BTU is also equal to 4220223 Joule,
Taking that into consideration, you get:
91,5000 / = 4,000 = 22.8 hours (for one burner only)
Now that you know what is good for you and what is not, I think this guide has helped you to ascertain the right size of propane tank for your gas cooktop.
If you think I may have omitted something, please let me know by commenting below or contacting our support page.
De Venecia, Maria Chelo Manlagnit. "Acceptable Separation Distance Standards for Residential Propane Tanks." Cityscape 21.2 (2019): 179-184.
