T
The Daily Insight

How big of a propane tank do I need for a tankless water heater

Author

Andrew White

Published Mar 21, 2026

Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters typically require a 3/4″ gas line to provide a sufficient gas supply to the unit’s burner. However, if there is sufficient pressure and the gas line is short enough, there are some cases where a 1/2″ gas line can be used, which is the most common size used in the United States and Canada.

What size propane line do I need for a tankless water heater?

Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters typically require a 3/4″ gas line to provide a sufficient gas supply to the unit’s burner. However, if there is sufficient pressure and the gas line is short enough, there are some cases where a 1/2″ gas line can be used, which is the most common size used in the United States and Canada.

What size propane tank do I need for a water heater?

120 Gallon Propane Tank Commonly used for a hot water heater or space heater alone, or with another small appliance like a dryer or cooktop. A 120 gallon propane tank is also commonly referred to as 420 lb propane tank.

How much propane will a tankless water heater use?

Propane Tankless Unit Size (in BTU):Yearly Propane Usage For 20 Min/Day:75,000 BTU (7.5 GPM)105.03 Gallons/Year94,000 BTU (9.8 GPM)131.64 Gallons/Year100,000 BTU (10.2 GPM)140.04 Gallons/Year130,000 BTU (10.4 GPM)182.05 Gallons/Year

Do I need a bigger gas line for tankless water heater?

Typically, the gas piping has to be upgraded to support the tankless water heater due to the volume of fuel that is required. … In all cases, a near 200,000 BTU gas appliance will require a minimum of a ¾-inch gas supply line. In specific conditions a ½-inch gas line may be used.

What is the typical size of a residential propane tank?

The 500-gallon tank is the most common size propane tank for residential propane use. It is often used for home heating, generator powering, cooking, pool heating, and more. The primary benefit of this larger tank is that you can go that much longer without having to get it refilled.

How do you size a propane gas line?

  1. pressure less than 1 1/2 psig.
  2. fittings factor 1.5 – equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%
  3. pressure drop 0.5 inches water column.
  4. energy content in propane gas 2520 Btu/cu ft.
  5. One MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU’s per hour.
  6. 1 CFH ≈ 2.54 MBH.
  7. steel pipes schedule 40.

Are propane tankless water heaters safe?

Aside from the concern about carbon monoxide, a tankless water heater is a very safe piece of equipment. Because there is no tank which can overheat or experience a massive spike in pressure, a tankless system doesn’t have the danger of bursting or exploding.

How many gallons are in a 100 lb propane tank?

A 100 lb. tank holds 23.6 gallons and weighs 170 lbs. when full.

How long will a 100 lb propane tank last for heating?

At a consumption rate of 26,000 BTU per hour, your 100-pound bottle will fuel your propane fireplace for about 84 hours, equivalent to 3.5 days of continuous 24/7 operation.

Article first time published on

How long does a 500 gallon propane tank last for a house?

House Size (Square Footage):How Long Will A 500-Gallon Propane Tank Last?500 sq ft14 Months and 4 Days

How many gallons does a 15 lb propane tank hold?

A tank exchange with 15 pounds contains about 3.53 gallons of propane.

How many Btus can a 1/2 pipe carry?

Capacity of Pipe (MBH ≈ CFH)Pipe Size (in)Pipe Length (ft)1/20.622313/40.8247011.049141

What size water line do you need for a tankless water heater?

Typically, tankless water heaters require a ¾-in. or 1-in. supply line. An old house may have only a ½-in. main supply line.

What size is residential gas line?

Some homes are only equipped with gas lines that are 3/4 inch (“) in diameter, as this is a standard size for supporting major appliances. Other homes may have a combination of 1-inch, 1/2-inch, and 3/4-inch gas lines.

Can a propane line be too big?

When planning a gas piping system, it is important to draw it on paper and plan it out. You can flow only so much gas (or water) through a given pipe size, so restrictions will manifest themselves as a lack of pressure or volume. Sizing a gas line is not too difficult.

How many BTU will 3/4 Pipe carry?

Total piping length = 84 feet (use Table 3 @90 feet) From a to b, demand = 38,000 + 35,000 + 30,000 = 103,000 BTU/hr; use 3/4″ pipe From b to c, demand = 38,000 + 35,000 = 73,000 BTU/hr; use 1/2″ pipe or 3/4″ tubing From c to d, demand = 35,000 BTU/hr; use 1/2″ pipe or 5/8″ tubing From c to e, demand = 38,000 BTU/hr; …

What can I use for propane gas line?

Steel, copper, brass: The most common gas piping is black steel. Galvanized steel, copper, brass or CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) also can be used in some areas, but some utilities specifically prohibit the use of copper. In other areas, the use of copper is widespread.

What size propane tank do I need for a 2000 square foot house?

1,000 Gallon Tank If you use a lot of propane throughout the year and have a larger square footage home between 2,000 to 4,500 square feet, this tank would be a good choice.

What is the cost of a 500 gallon propane tank?

500-Gallon Propane Tank Price A 500-gallon propane tank averages $700 to $2,500 when installed above ground. When installed below ground, this tank costs between $1,500 and $3,000. This is the minimum tank size required to heat most homes. This is a large horizontal cylinder instead of vertical smaller tanks.

How much does 500 gallons of propane cost?

Price for Large Propane Tanks The prices to buy a large propane tank averages $1,500 for a 500-gallon tank, and $2,500 for a 1000-gallon tank. A 500-gallon tank is ideal for residential use. Propane tanks larger than 500-gallons will require permanent underground installation in most cases.

How much does it cost to fill a 100 lb propane tank?

SizeCost20 lbs.$40100 Gallons$500500 Gallons$1,5001,000 Gallons$2,500

How long will a 100 lb propane tank last at 30 000 BTU?

So take the BTU’s in the tank and divide it by the BTU’s per hour of your unit and you’ll get the hours of operation until your tank is empty. For example if your unit is 30,000 BTU’s then your tank would last about 72 hours of burn time.

Can I transport a 100 lb propane tank?

You may transport up to 1,000 pounds of propane in the back of an open pickup truck or trailer. … A full 100-pound cylinder can actually weigh up to 180 pounds, so be sure to ask for assistance in getting the tank into your vehicle safely. Never transport a 100-lb cylinder in a sedan or SUV or on its side.

Do propane tankless water heaters need to be vented?

Unlike traditional storage tank water heaters, propane tankless units do not need to be vented through the roof. Their combustion fan blows exhaust from the units horizontally.

Can you use propane water heater indoors?

Yes, you can use some propane heaters indoors! … Indoor and outdoor propane heaters handle the smoke they create very differently. Using an outdoor-only propane heater somewhere without serious ventilation can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Wall propane heaters are typically vent-free and can be used indoors.

Do tankless water heaters have to be vented?

Installing a tankless water heater outside frees up indoor space and requires no additional venting. … Traditional gas tank water heater require venting through the roof. Tankless water heaters use fans to blow exhaust from the unit horizontally, allowing vents to terminate on the side of a house.

How close can a 120 gallon propane tank be to a house?

must be placed a minimum of 10 feet from a building. must be at least 10 feet from a line of adjoining property.

What is cheaper to heat with propane or electric?

It’s a fact! Propane heat is more economical and more efficient than electric heat. Virtually anything in your house, restaurant or building that can run on electricity can run on propane. … National fuel prices from the U.S. Department of Energy show that the cost of electricity is more than twice the cost of propane.

How big is a 100lb propane tank?

A 100 lb. propane tank measures approximately 48 inches high by 14.5 inches in diameter, and has a BTU capacity of 2,160,509. Step 4: To determine the number of hours an appliance will run on your propane tank when it is full, divide your propane tank’s BTU capacity by the BTU rating listed on your appliance.

How much propane does it take to heat a 2000 square foot house?

A 2,000 square foot home in a mild climate would require about 2 million BTUs of propane, and cost $76 per month to heat. A home in a moderate climate would require 4.0 million BTUs, and cost $152 per month. And, a home in a severe climate would need around 6.5 million BTUs, and cost around $248 per month to heat.