Storage of Liquid Propane in the house?greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread |
Has anyone looked into storing liquid propane in the home? Is there any risk in storing the 1lb and 20lb bottles indoors?Obviously USING liquid propane indoors could be a problem (BBQ indoors - not a good idea), but how about just letting the stuff sit there for a year?
-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@anonymous.com), February 23, 1999
If the stores don't mind letting the stuff sit on their shelves for a year you shouldn't either.
-- (just me @ home .com), February 23, 1999.
If at all possible, propane should be stored away from your house in an area where, should containers begin leaking, they will not pose a hazard to your residence. This is true of all highly flammables.
-- Arnie Rimmer (arnie_rimmer@usa.net), February 23, 1999.
Check your local laws, but last I looked it went this way:Storage of any more than 1 gallon of propane inside, or more than 60 gallons outside, requires a formal permit from your local fire prevention bureau (keeps firemen from getting surprised if they have to put out a house fire). That's gallons, not pounds. A 20 lb. cylinder contains almost 5 gallons, so it's N.G. for storage inside. That'd be about 4 - 1 lb. cylinders inside, max. Good news: you may be able to store a couple of 100 lb. tanks outside without a permit.
Again, check before storing.
-- why (do@i.bother), February 23, 1999.
DON'T DO IT. SOMETIMES THE SAFETY VALVE WILL SPRING A LEAK. YOUR HOUSE WILL CONFINE THE GASSES AND 5 GALLONS OF PROPANE WELL MIXED WITH AIR WOULD DISINTEGRATE THE PLACE UTTERLY. A PINT WOULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN A STICK OF DYNAMITE.
-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), February 23, 1999.
DO NOT STORE PROPANE INSIDE!!!! IT IS ILLEGAL AND COULD VOID YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. BEEN IN PROPANE FOR 20 YEARS. 20LB CYLINDER HAS 4.7 GALLONS, WHEN RELEASED TO ATMOSPHERE EXPAND 270 TIMES, EASILY FILL HOUSE UP WITH GAS. PROPANE EXPANDS WITH TEMPERATURE SO ALWAYS STORE OUTSIDE, NOT IN GARAGE
-- Archemedes (robin@icubed.com), February 23, 1999.
I should also like to add that propane, being heavier than air will seek out the lowest level in your house. For those of us who have basements, this is typically where the hot water heater and furnace are located. Leaking propane + confined space + flame/spark source = TEOTWAYKI. Each year in Iowa, we have people killed as a result of propane explosions. It is simply not worth the risk.Also, should a fire accidentally start in your house, the last thing you want laying around are high-powered accelerants such as propane, gasoline, etc.
As an aside, it is fairly easy to test for propane leaks on pipe fitting. Simply mix up a small dish of very soapy water (almost syrupy). Use a brush to brush it onto the fittings and check for bubbles - large bubbles indicate a large leak, small bubbles or foam indicate a slower leak. Any leak should be fixed immediately if not sooner.
-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), February 23, 1999.
the first Fuel-Air Explosive (FAE)devices were made out of tanks of LP gas...if I recall correctly the detonation speed is somewhere around 1400 feet per second (that's right, substantially faster than the speed of sound - you quite literally wont hear it coming).I sure wouldn't store it in the house.
Arlin
-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 23, 1999.
GGOOdY gOoDY!!!!! CAN DiETER TRy BOLd POsT TOo??????YeS???? NO????ANoNYMoUS NIEN tee NIEN!!!!! WiLL You tELL dIETER, OH PReTTy PLeASe, TELL DiETRe WHeRE DIeter caN SEE THe BooM?!?!?!?!?!? bOOM DIeTER LIKeS, Yes???? BIgGER IS BETteR IS ameRican way, No????? YES???? FiRE IS PrETTy, DiETER LIKeS preTTy firE!!!!
-- Dieter (questions@toask.com), February 23, 1999.
Let's see: maybeif we wish REAL hard
it'll be cleaned up
the cleanup squad
-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), February 23, 1999.
Neighbors home went up in smoke last summer. Propane leak. Forest Service dumped a heli load of water on it because it was in a high fire area close to town. Squashed it with the water. Home gone!Store propane outside!
-- Mark Hillyard (foster@inreach.com), February 24, 1999.
Anon ... Just bought my first 20 lb container last week. Brought it home in my Chevy Blazer ; put same in garage overnight . Got call to sub at Jr. High next day, so was away till 3PM. . When I came home I went out to garage to move container and was all but overwelmed by fumes. LUCKY for me I didn't have to turn on garage lights ... as garage and I would not be here now !!! "Be warned by my lot; which I know you will not" (Omar Kyam). Eagle
-- Harold Walker (e999eagle@freewwweb.com), February 24, 1999.