Do you have a 100 lb propane tank and wonder how to hook it up to your house?
This widely used energy source serves a wide range of functions. To hook up your 100 lb propane tank to your home, there needs to be a mainline it connects to before it splits to connected appliances.
Such appliances mainly include the gas cooktop and the grill.
Now, figuring out such a setup alone can be confusing without the proper guidance. That is why we’ve provided this guide on hooking up a 100 lb propane tank to the home.
SEE: Propane Gas Fireplace Inserts
With the detailed guide provided, all you’ve got to do is follow to learn more.
Connecting 100 lb Propane Tank to House
If you wish to carry out the installation procedure for the first time, you’ll need a basic knowledge of the system.
Now you’ll notice that we mentioned the propane tank size or capacity. There are other capacities, such as the 1,000-gallon tank and 500-gallon tanks.
Other propane tank sizes include 420 pounds (100 gallons) tanks, 100-pound tanks, 33-pound tanks, and 20-pound tanks. Here, we’re most interested in the 100-pound tank installation.
Some propane tanks with larger capacities tend to be installed underground.
Are you Up to the Task?
One of the first things you need to consider before the installation process is finding out if you’re up to the task. That is because precision is required for proper installation.
To avoid mistakes that could turn out to be costly, it’s best to have a professional carry out the installation.
Hooking up a Propane Tank to your Home
To start hooking up a 100 lb propane tank to a house, you’ll need to start by finding a suitable spot for it in addition to other preparations.
Next, you’ll need to get the tools and supplies for the job, pick the suitable pipes, and connect the line to your tank.
Your following line of action will be to drill a hole through your wall, insert the pipe, make the connection to the appliance, and test the link to see if it’s done correctly.
With that said, let’s discuss each of these processes to have a clear idea of what needs to be done, shall we?
i. Finding a Suitable Spot for Propane Tank
Hooking up a 100 lb propane tank to your home should commence with picking the right spot.
This preparatory procedure involves knowing the ideal distance between the tank and an ignition source. For a 100 lb tank, it should be at least five ft. away from a source of ignition.
As mentioned earlier, propane tanks can be installed either above or below ground. However, below-ground installations tend to be costlier as they involve trenching and cement covering.
An installation permit may be needed for your area. Professionals can help out with that.
ii. Get Necessary Tools and Supplies
Before installation begins, getting the necessary tools for the job is essential. These include a flaring tool, drill bit (for good drilling), container, soap, pipe nipple, brush, and water.
You may wonder why soap and water are included. These will be used for testing when the installation is completed.
iii. Pick the Right Pipes
The correct pipes are needed to hook up a 100 lb propane tank to your home.
These connect the tank to your appliance(s). In getting suitable pipes, you need to understand that various lines can be used for gas installations.
The most common include copper, brass, corrugated stainless steel, and steel pipes. While that is true, local ordinances may recommend using specific pipe types while outlawing others.
It’s essential to check what applies to your area. The best pipes should also be malleable.
iv. Connect Pipe to your Tank
Having observed all the processes above, you’re now ready to have your 100 lb propane tank connected. Before connecting to your house, it needs to be fixed or attached to the tank.
This process isn’t complex at all.
All that’s needed is to find the fitting on your pipe before having it screwed to the tank opening. It’s essential to ensure this is tightly screwed to prevent leaks.
v. Drill a Hole through Wall
At this point, completing this installation will require a hole drilled through your wall. Find the right spot that’s closest to your tank for this process.
With the drill tool, create a hole through your wall where the pipe will go. With drilling completed, have all debris removed to avoid damage to the line?
vi. Insert the Pipe
Having drilled through the wall, what’s left is to have the pipe passed through the wall.
In most situations, adjustments must be made to maneuver the pipe to where it will be connected. This is why you need to use a malleable line for easy adjustments.
vii. Make the Connection to Appliance
With the pipes inserted and adjusted to where the appliance(s) is, what remains is to make the final connection.
This is done using a pipe flaring tool which helps with tweaking the form of the pipe to make it compatible with your appliance receiving the fuel.
With the desired fitting achieved, the pipe nipple will need to be used to lock the connection in place. This concludes the installation process. However, installation is never complete without a test.
This takes us to the next point.
viii. Test Connection
It’s essential to ensure that the entire connection has been properly made.
So, testing will cover all installation areas between the propane tank and the appliance. This is where the soap and water come into play. Make a mixture of equal parts soap and water in a container.
With the appliance turned off and the propane tank opened, use a brush to apply the soapy mixture to all connections and joints.
The goal here is to see if there are bubbles. Bubbles show signs of leakage, which needs to be addressed immediately by tightening connections or replacing faulty pipes.
You can hook up a 100 lb propane tank to a house using this simple process. All the functions need to be carefully followed for the best results.
