Propane is one of the safest and most convenient ways to heat your home. In most cases, propane systems require little more than routine maintenance and annual fill-ups to stay working their best year-round. That being said, there are some things to consider during the winter months when temperatures drop.
Propane reverts to a liquid at -44°F — temperatures that are rarely encountered in the mid-Atlantic region. However, colder conditions do cause the volume of liquid propane to shrink, which can lower the internal pressure of a tank. Low internal pressures will affect gauge readings, making it seem like you have less fuel than you actually do. An experienced delivery technician will account for this when checking and filling your tank.
In most cases, cold weather pressure changes aren’t significant enough to affect your system’s ability to heat your home. However, in extreme cold, it is possible that heater performance will suffer and that, on rare occasions, failure will occur. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your propane tank in the cold.
A propane tank’s cold temperature limit is -44 degrees Fahrenheit — at that point, propane turns from a gas to a liquid. Propane can only heat your home when it’s in a gaseous state, not when it’s a liquid.
How To Avoid Cold Weather Propane Problems
Preventing pressure changes in a propane tank isn’t difficult, but it does require some vigilance, particularly when temperatures drop into the negatives. To avoid a problem:
- Keep your tank full. A full tank means a greater volume of liquid petroleum, which in turn will be less susceptible to shrinkage.
- Don’t cover up the tank. If your tank is above ground, using a tank cover — or allowing snow and ice to build up — prevents sunlight from hitting the tank and keeping it warm. As a result, the pressure loss might be more severe than if it were exposed to sunlight.
Following the above tips will not only prevent cold weather pressure problems, but they’ll also minimize wear and tear, improve efficiency and extend the life of your heating system.
What Is The Freezing Point of Propane?
The freezing point of liquid propane is -306.4˚F. Propane reverts to it’s liquid form at -44˚F.
What temperature is too cold for propane?
FAQ
Is propane okay in cold weather?
At what temperature does propane become ineffective?
Can propane get too cold to ignite?
Can propane lines freeze in cold weather?
How does cold weather affect propane?
During the winter months, cold weather can wreak havoc on the propane sitting unprotected in its tank. The temperatures are much too low to allow the propane to sit unaffected. More specifically, freezing temperatures negatively affect propane in two ways. When the temperature drops, propane can be greatly reduced inside the tank.
How cold does propane need to be to freeze?
The liquid form of propane would need to reach a temp of -306 degrees Fahrenheit — more than 200 degrees colder than the lowest recorded temperature in Earth’s history — to freeze. However, extremely low temperatures can affect its vaporization, impacting its efficiency.
What happens if a propane tank gets cold?
There is a drastic drop of pressure inside a propane tank during the colder months. Each tank contains liquid propane, which is then converted into gas and released through a valve. However, when the temperature drops within the tank to around -44˚F, the liquid loses its ability to convert into gas.
How cold should a propane tank be in winter?
Although most areas don’t receive such harsh winters, it’s still advisable to keep the propane tank in a comparatively warmer area, as even temperatures above -44˚F/˚C can negatively affect your propane tank.