05-04-2013, 07:56 PM
Hunt - this may or may not help.
I use 10-gallon tanks for cooking and heating water (tankless). I don't have family so don't have to deal with people having several showers a day. I have had visitors though. On my own I need to fill up one of the two tanks I have every three to four weeks. If I have a visitor it's two to three weeks.
If you have dual tanks you can take the one that's running low and get it topped up. You switch to the other one and hopefully keep the pilot light going. You need to transport the tank to a station but it only takes a couple of minutes to fill a 10-gallon tank. They will likely only fill it to 9-gallons. About $35 if you use the guy in Keeau. I do not like driving with a propane tank in the back of my car though, so try and keep these trips to a minimum (i.e., by not driving into Hilo with a tank in my car, at least not a full one).
As to how heavy, well, I would guess 50-60lbs when filled, maybe a little more, but that is a guess. I could work it out if you want. I have a bad back but can lift and carry a 10-gallon filled tank without too much of a problem, as long as it's not much farther than a few yards!
Biggest problem I have with this setup is running out of gas unexpectedly and the pilot light going out. You can buy guages that give you an idea about how much gas is left and you can also buy some cheap strips that you stick to the side of a tank, pour hot water over them and it'll give you an idea of how much gas is left, but have found both unreliable.
Hope this helps.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
I use 10-gallon tanks for cooking and heating water (tankless). I don't have family so don't have to deal with people having several showers a day. I have had visitors though. On my own I need to fill up one of the two tanks I have every three to four weeks. If I have a visitor it's two to three weeks.
If you have dual tanks you can take the one that's running low and get it topped up. You switch to the other one and hopefully keep the pilot light going. You need to transport the tank to a station but it only takes a couple of minutes to fill a 10-gallon tank. They will likely only fill it to 9-gallons. About $35 if you use the guy in Keeau. I do not like driving with a propane tank in the back of my car though, so try and keep these trips to a minimum (i.e., by not driving into Hilo with a tank in my car, at least not a full one).
As to how heavy, well, I would guess 50-60lbs when filled, maybe a little more, but that is a guess. I could work it out if you want. I have a bad back but can lift and carry a 10-gallon filled tank without too much of a problem, as long as it's not much farther than a few yards!
Biggest problem I have with this setup is running out of gas unexpectedly and the pilot light going out. You can buy guages that give you an idea about how much gas is left and you can also buy some cheap strips that you stick to the side of a tank, pour hot water over them and it'll give you an idea of how much gas is left, but have found both unreliable.
Hope this helps.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/