Propane Tanks Must Be Supported Well!

The subject of my haiku yesterday, propane tanks must be supported well!

Walking around to the back side of this house, I was met by this small army of 100 pound propane tanks.  The gas guys tell me these each hold 72.4 gallons of propane.  The gas is compressed, of course, and each gallon weighs 4.144 pounds.  That means when filled each of these fellows weighs 300 pounds!

So this array is very heavy!

I noticed immediately that they were leaning pretty dramatically.

You can see where the small, concrete flatwork pad they are supported on is pulling away from the foundation wall as it sinks.

This sinking is certainly ongoing.

AND THE HOUSE IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD!

I was about 45 minutes earlier than my client, so I walked around for a bit.  Looking at the other houses in  the neighborhood, every house was similarly equipped with the same three tanks.  And no other pad was sinking as this one is.

These tanks are connected to serve their gas to the house respectively.  The one nearest to the camera is the only one with a gage, and it read about 1/3 full.

I don't know if that means all the tanks are 1/3 full, or if the two other ones have been basically emptied and this is the last tank with gas.  My understanding is that you don't want a propane tank to get below about 1/4 full because moisture can get inside which is not a good thing so they may be set to discharge equally.

So let's assume they are all discharging their gas at equal rates and therefore are all 1/3 full.

WHEN THEY ARE FILLED THEY WILL CERTAINLY BECOME MORE TOP HEAVY.  THAT WILL MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO GRAVITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF TIPPING.

And, of course, when they are filled they will put additional stress on that pad, probably sinking further.  If they fall they may yank the gas line from the house.  None of this bodes well!

This pad needs to be removed, and another, thicker, better-founded pad put in its place.  I think this one is compromised.  AND THE NEW ONE SHOULD BE A REALLY GOOD PAD!

Can I change the old children's church song?

The wise man put his tanks upon a pad,
The wise man put his tanks upon a pad,
The wise man put his tanks upon a pad,
So the tanks ain't tumbling down!

There, that about does it!  I'm sure the parents will love the kids singing the word "ain't!"  Welcome to Virginia!

My recommendation:   look around!  If something is supposed to be straight, it is supposed to be straight!  No surprises here!  And sing the song.  Your clients will love it!

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com