Thursday, September 18, 2014

Propane Tanks: Handy Source Of Energy & A Work Of Art?

By Cath Buhr


If you have propane tank in your yard, you understand the many benefits of using this green energy source. However, most tanks are rather large and they typically aren't ascetically pleasing. Fortunately, this can be fixed fairly easy, and you can either find ways to make your propane tank blend in better with your yard or turn it into a fun and quirky conversation piece.

When your tank is installed, it will have to be placed at a set distance from your home, as required by law. This means that it might be fairly exposed in your yard. Consider building a lattice garden fence around the tank and hanging a few plants on the fence or perhaps planting flowers around the fencing. A high picket fence also would be attractive or you could simply use the same wood fencing that you have in the rest of your yard for continuity. Use flowers and plants to further camouflage the tank and add interest to your yard in general.

Tanks can be painted in a variety of interesting ways, and there are countless creative examples. Often people simply decorate it in the colors of a favorite team, such as football. Other people add a touch of whimsy and transform their propane tank into a yellow submarine, a huge watermelon or perhaps an ear of corn. Murals often are painted on propane tanks, and this can feature just about any subject.

It is important to note that painting the tanks does have a few safety issues. Many states regulate the colors that you can use when painting your tank. This is because very dark colors that do not reflect light will cause the tank to heat up, and this makes the propane in your tank expand, which can be dangerous. Using light colors that are light-reflective will help keep your tank nice and cool. It's also important to remove the rust, as this can also make the tank heat up. You also should use paint that repels rust, as well as rust-repellant primer.

Of course, some people lease their tanks from their delivery company and if you wish to paint the tank, this might not be a possible option. You could consider buying the tank, and Thrifty Propane offers free tanks if you pre-buy a specific amount of propane. If you pre-buy during the warmer months when prices are lower, you not only will get a free and new tank, you also will get a great deal on your propane.

If you plan to have a tank with 500 to 1,000 gallons, you also have the option of burying your propane tank. This costs a bit more but, of course, the installation process also is bit more intensive. Still, you won't have a giant propane tank visible in your yard, and that might be very important to you. Thrifty Propane can help with the purchase of a tank or provide Ohio propane delivery, Indiana propane delivery, Pennsylvania propane delivery as well as six other states.




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