Xeriscaping Your Propane Tank: Tips from Terry Garnett’s Propane

Ready to have your new propane tank installed in the Austin, Texas area? Here’s some tips and ideas from Terry Garnett’s Propane (512-894-4480) for xeriscaping your yard when installing a propane tank.

First of all, it’s a wise decision to choose propane. For millions of homeowners in Central Texas and the Austin area, propane is their preferred energy source.

With propane tanks available in different configurations and sizes, (not to mention the choice of an above ground or below ground tank), there are many choices indeed to consider when installing or replacing your propane tank.

Xeriscaping tip – there are many options today for attractively placing your propane tank into your home environment. One of the fastest solutions is to simply call Terry Garnett’s Propane at 512 – 894 – 4480 or visit www.garnettspropane.com. Everything is taken care of for you including ongoing maintenance.

Terry Garnett’s Propane understands that a beautifully landscaped yard can be maintained and even enhanced by following time tested rules and best practices for proper placement and installation of your propane tank.

When done correctly, you’ll truly be amazed at the results.

The Propane Tank Installation Team can offer many suggestions providing aesthetic benefits that keep your home looking great.

Ideas that have proven useful include artfully placing plants and decorative pottery. Making your yard look great can be accomplished while still ensuring your propane tank installation meets technical considerations.

One consideration to keep in mind; insist your propane tank is installed by qualified professionals.

The accredited and licensed professionals at Terry Garnett’s Propane will integrate important technical considerations into the overall installation plan. Important factors such as strategically placing the propane tank the proper distance from the house for maximum effectiveness.

The propane tank installation team will also make sure that your propane driver will have the appropriate access to fill and service your propane tank.

Thinking this through makes all the difference; Terry Garnett’s Propane has received numerous letters and e-mails complimenting the considerate and professional planning involved in the installation of their propane system.

With the proper technical considerations established as the basis for your overall installation plan, you can then move on to focusing on aesthetic ideas to beautify your home.

Xeriscaping can not only make your home beautiful, it can be very practical for establishing a look that is easy to maintain year round. Here are some of the plants that are recommended that tend to do well in the Texas climate:

• Marigolds
• African daisies
• Indian Blanket
• Cornflowers
• Evening primrose
• Roses
• Pansies
• Hollyhocks
• Petunias
• English Lavender
• Lily-of-the-Valley
• Delphinium

Decorative hedges and fences can also contribute towards an aesthetically pleasing motif for xeriscaping your propane tank into your landscape. Large yard objects can also be useful for hiding your propane tank. Fountains, bird baths,and garden sculptures can all be placed strategically to help your tank blend in.

Trees that do well in the Texas climate include Oleander bushes, crape mytles, and Texas Sage bushes which also grow with very little water in arid climates.

Temperature, water, and the rocky terrain of Central Texas also determine options for xeriscaping your propane tank. One homeowner positioned large rocks indigenous to the Austin area. This not only created a pleasing natural look to their yard, it also strategically provided access for propane deliveries while hiding the tank itself.

Each home is unique and Terry Garnett’s Propane brings 30 years experience to each project. It’s easy to get started. Terry Garnett’s Propane is just one phone call away. Feel free to call and schedule an appointment with the Propane Tank Installation Team. They will help you evaluate options and examine the different ways to get the best results for your individual home.

Terry Garnett’s Propane has been serving Central Texas communities for over 30 years. For Same DayDelivery, call Terry Garnett’s Propane at 512-484-4480 (or toll free 1-800-950-8289) for all of your propane needs. Website: www.garnettspropane.com.

Propane Tips for Underground Propane Tanks – PT 13

Propane tanks are available in many different sizes with many available options and it’s no surprise that an ever increasing number of homeowners and builders are installing underground propane tanks as they continue to select propane as their energy source of choice.

If your home is already equipped with an underground propane tank or you’re considering the installation of a underground propane tank, here’s some good news. You’re certainly in good company.

In 2006, the Propane Research & Education Council empowered the NAHB Research Center to conduct a survey with a group of over 200 builders located in various geographic areas across the country.

Here’s what the study revealed:

• First of all, awareness of underground propane tanks is strong; eight out of ten professional builders indicated that they are aware of the use of underground propane tanks.
• For homes built off the natural gas main, 34% of the homes use an underground propane tank.
• In the previous 12 month period prior to the survey (March 2006), twenty one percent of the new homes were outfitted with underground propane tanks storage systems even if they were located near the natural gas main.

Here’s some important tips to consider if you’re considering an underground propane tank.

First of all, if you’ve got a large family, go ahead; think big. One of the advantages of an underground propane tank is that you can install a larger sized tank and it’s buried and out of sight. The larger tank may be the best suitable choice for your family’s needs. Your propane provider can help you determine the best sized tank for your home.

Now about location. You’ll want to consult with your propane provider (who will be installing the tank and providing subsequent delivery services). A good propane provider will be interested in ensuring that your tank is installed according to state and local regulations. Since the tank is underground, in order to protect the tank from electrolysis and corrosion, a bag of magnesium (referred to as an anode bag) will be attached to the tank with a wire.

With your tank buried and out of sight, a dome will be visible at the ground surface. This is where valves, connections, and tank fittings are located and where your delivery driver will connect to fill your tank. All fittings and connections are centrally positioned and safely protected by the dome walls and cover. Since all of the fittings are hidden and protected by the dome, an underground propane tank provides an excellent aesthetic solution for your landscaping.

Ongoing maintenance, no problem. Just make sure you select a propane provider who provides comprehensive services that include the regular inspection of all valves and important components.

With the right propane provider as your partner, your underground propane tank will serve you with green, efficient, and dollar smart energy for many years to come.

Question: We currently have an above ground tank on a property we just purchased, we would like to have an underground tank as we understand that this will be out of sight. Can we use the current tank and just put it underground?

Terry Garnett: That’s a great question and we get asked that a lot. No, you cannot. We talked about this earlier. Under the lid are many of the service valves utilized for the propane tank, however, one very important valve -the relief valve- is not located under the lid. It is actually located on the body of the tank on an above ground tank.

So if you bury an above ground tank, you bury the relief valve.

On an underground tank, extensions are put on all valves to bring them above ground level. So, you cannot use an above ground taken for an underground tank. They are two different tanks.

Question: I live in an area of central Texas where we have a lot of flooding, and we had a lot of flooding this last year. Our entire yard was under water. Is there any potential damage to my propane lines?

Terry Garnett: Water may pose more of a detrimental effect to underground tanks and regulators that are not installed correctly- too low. Your delivery driver should be assessing your system on his scheduled visits, but I recommend notifying your provider for a Hazmat Safety Check and Inspection if you experience anything like that.

Question: I keep reading about Hazmat safety inspection. What is that?

Terry Garnett: We are a Licensed Hazardous Materials provider. We term many of our services under that title in abbreviated format-Hazmat. A Hazmat Safety check is a pressure test of your gas line, a visual inspection of your system, and performance assessment and documentation of the propane appliances in your home.

Terry Garnett’s Propane has been serving Central Texas communities for over 30 years. For Same Day Delivery, call Terry Garnett’s Propane at 512-484-4480 (or toll free 1-800-950-8289) for all of your propane needs.