My system utilizes a 500 gallon propane tank for pressurized storage. The tank is located in my garage up against a shared/heated wall of the house. The garage itself has two insulated walls and two uninsulated walls. From what I can tell the temperature in the garage stays about 20 degrees above the current outside temperature. What I would like to do is build a box around the tank and then fill it in with blown in insulation. My plan is to allow 12 inches of space on all sides except for the shared wall. Before I got started on this I figured I should run it by the Hearth Brain Trust. Do you guys think that this is enough insulation to prevent high standby losses?
Insulating Propane Storage Tank
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machinistbcb
New Member
thats how I did mine..... of course unless u build a wall to match the radius of your tank you will end up with alot more than 12" of insulation in the corners. i figured on anout 17 bags of blown in cellulose and ended up using like 34 bags.
Chris S
New Member
How much did that cost you?
I'm waiting on a quote to have mine sprayed with closed cell foam.
Chris
I'm waiting on a quote to have mine sprayed with closed cell foam.
Chris
taxidermist
Minister of Fire
jebatty
Minister of Fire
Give a little thought to the "end game" if you decide to spray foam. What if you want to move the tank? ... get at any fittings? ... modify the tank? ... sell the house and take the boiler and tank with you? Probably no doubt that foam is the best R value, but there might be some other considerations too.
But if it ever gets wet, blown in insulation is a mess. Build a foam box around it. Waterproof, easily removed. Great place to store kindling. And if you own a cat that will be it's new favorite spot.
hr
hr
taxidermist
Minister of Fire
I have built a box of 2x4's around my tank, and will use pink foam under it, and rigid insulation all around and sealed with tape. I also plan on using fiberglass batts (lots of em), in the built-box and especially on the top of the tank. I thought about blow-in, but as others have said, if I ever need to work on something (or move it or change it), I can just take the batts out and re-use. Thats primarily why I am not using blown in, or foam.
The reason I was thinking about going with blown-in insulation is because I figured it would easily seal up the tank and cut down on convection losses. You guys do make some very good points about being able to reuse the batts if I went that route.
I think it might be wise for me to rephrase my question. In my attached partially insulated (two walls) garage do you think that 12 inches of blown-in/fiberglass insulation around my storage tank will be adequate?
I think it might be wise for me to rephrase my question. In my attached partially insulated (two walls) garage do you think that 12 inches of blown-in/fiberglass insulation around my storage tank will be adequate?
Fred61
Minister of Fire
I've heard of guys building a wall around the tank and filling the area (the thicker the better) with sawdust.
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