How Propane Tank Monitors Work
No one wants to wake up in winter to chilly air and cold showers because the propane tank is empty on Long Island or out in the Hamptons.
Setting up automatic refills with your propane provider goes a long way toward avoiding that issue, but propane tank monitors can save you shivers and money with a more reliable way of ensuring your gas levels never drop too low.
You can’t always rely on past usage to monitor your propane levels
About 5 percent of American homes use propane for heating. Predictions of colder than normal temperatures and anticipated longer stays at home mean an expected increase in the amount of propane used this winter. This means you might not be able to rely on past usage to accurately predict when you’ll need a tank refill this winter.
Monitors help you be sure of your propane levels
Adding a monitor to your system is an easy fix to the frequent issue of knowing when you need a refill. Learning how they work will help make sure you never need to worry about running out of propane.
How Propane Tank Monitors Work
We have all heard the buzz around smart homes and technology. A wireless propane tank monitor brings your fuel system into that network, making it as easy to track how much propane you have as to ask Alexa to pull up a music playlist.
The monitor will measure and track real-time propane levels and make the data available for you to see at any time.
Monitor connects to the propane tank gauge
A monitor runs on an internal battery and connects to a slot on the gauge on your tank, allowing it to “read” the gauge and transmit the reading to your service via cellular or wireless technology.
Alert created when propane dips to 30%
Your service provider sees daily levels, daily usage statistics, rapid draw alerts, and watches your tank to make sure you never run out. Monitoring your propane levels allows your provider to complete delivery as needed, so you don’t have to worry.
Check your propane levels from your phone
With some providers you can check your propane levels easily—through an online portal or even on a smartphone app.
Identify leaks before they become a problem
Propane is a very safe heating option. However, leaks can be a safety concern. Propane monitors can help identify leaks by showing spike in fuel use, that might indicate a leak in your system and a potential hazard, making it a key piece of safety equipment.
What You Need for the Monitor
The tank monitor base unit is attached directly your tank, and since it’s outdoors, you don’t need to be home when your service comes to install it.
Require cellular or wifi service
Some providers make it easy by using cellular service to connect to the internet, which provides a more reliable connection, meaning they won’t have issues getting service to monitor your propane levels.
Other providers require a WiFI connection to monitor your tank; you will likely need a separate router or a wifi-extender to ensure the monitor connects to wifi. We suggest choosing a company that uses the cellular units.
Dial connects to tank
The fuel tank also needs an R3D or remote ready dial to work with a tank monitor. This type of dial has a slot to connect a cable between the monitor and the dial.
As long as you have the proper dial on the tank, a tank monitor can work with any type or age of the tank. A good service provider will normally replace your dial for no charge if you decide to install a Monitor.
Runs on battery power
The base unit runs on battery power, which is easily replaced when needed. The monitoring app will let you and your service know when you need a new one.
How to Read the Data
Once your propane tank monitor is installed, it will begin transmitting data back to your service. You should be able to access that data yourself either by logging into your account online or using their mobile app on your phone or tablet.
Set up alerts for usage
Within the app or your online account, if you like to order your own deliveries, you can set up to receive alerts when your propane levels drop to 30%. This allows you time to contact your service provider to schedule a delivery.
Since you can track and see your fuel levels, you will also be able to confirm when a delivery has been made and how much propane has been added to the tank. These alerts are especially helpful if you own rental or vacation properties as they allow you to check your propane levels without being physically present in your property.
Who Benefits Most
Any homeowner using propane for heating can benefit from having a propane tank monitor installed. Being able to track fuel usage and tank levels removes one more stressor from your to-do list since your tank should always have plenty of propane.
There are several situations where tank monitors really become critical pieces of equipment. These include vacation and rental homes in the Hamptons where someone isn’t on hand often to look at a tank dial. If you have a backup generator or pool heater, a monitor can ensure those are always ready to go.
Start Monitoring Your Propane Tank
Propane tank monitoring makes sense for anyone who relies on gas for their home heating, hot water, or cooking. It can be especially helpful for checking propane levels in rentals and vacation properties and alerting you to any issues quickly.
Propane Depot makes it simple to monitor your propane tank levels:
- State-of-the-art, hi-tech monitors
- No wifi needed, all our monitors run on cellular service
- Measures propane levels in real-time and transmits these readings straight to your account and Propane Depot.
- Free for all our Smart Fill and Will Call customers receive our Smart Tank
Interested in signing up for your Long Island or Hamptons home? Request a quote today to learn how you can get worry-free propane service as well.
Switch & Save up to 30% on Propane
Propane Depot is Long Island’s top rated family owned propane company offering propane delivery and tank installation complete with 24/7 service. Plus you’ll never run out of propane again with our smart propane tank monitors.
Stop overpaying for propane! Click here for a quote or call us at 631-400-SAVE
