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Underground Tanks Fuel Gas Appliances in Rural Areas
 Improved underground tank technology is providing home builders who are pushing out into rural areas beyond municipal gas mains the ability to meet the demand of their prospective customers for gas appliances, according to the Propane Education and Research Center (PERC).
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., PERC supports research and development efforts to improve the efficiency of propane, its environmental performance and its safety. The organization is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — the Supplier 100 of NAHB.
While some home owners have an aversion to placing a storage tank in their yard, PERC says, new and improved technologies allow propane tanks to be buried. Only a small dome housing the regulator, gauges and a filling port is visible.
Constructed of heavy steel with a mastic coating, underground tanks are maintenance-free and typically last for 30-40 years. Propane is non-toxic, and because it is environmentally friendly, it isn’t subject to underground storage tank inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The installation of underground tanks requires a small amount of excavation — approximately 4-feet wide by 12-feet long by 5-feet deep. The tank is placed in the excavated area and protected by a magnesium bag to prevent electrolysis from harming it. The area is then backfilled with sand and landscaped, leaving a small housing dome protruding just inches above the ground.
The appropriate size of a tank for a single-family home depends upon how the fuel will be used. Smaller 100-gallon tanks provide energy for appliances, while tanks that are 1,000 gallons or more can fuel very large homes with heated swimming pools and hot tubs. Generally, a 500-gallon tanks easily meets the needs of an average four-bedroom home and will require refilling every two months.
Among the benefits of gas appliances cited by PERC:
- Gas water heaters recover hot water twice as quickly as electric.
- Gas hearth appliances provide clean, instant warmth.
- Gas cooktops heat faster and more evenly, and they are preferred by 98% of professional chefs for their superior cooking capabilities.
Home owners also appreciate the clean-burning efficiency propane provides, PERC says, and they are willing to pay more for homes with gas amenities.
For additional information on underground tanks and the many ways propane can benefit the home, click here.
This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page.
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