5 Tips to Get the Most From Your Propane Tank Monitoring System
It’s always possible to physically check your fuel tank to make sure you don’t run out of propane. However, many homeowners either don’t check their tank very often or aren’t sure what they’re looking at when they do.
A propane tank monitoring system gives you a real-time look at fuel levels and usage patterns from anywhere, so you can make sure fuel always gets there on time. Here are a few tips that can help you get more value from your propane tank monitoring system.
1. Connect Monitors to Automatic Delivery
A propane tank monitoring system can do much of the work for you. With remote propane tank sensors tied to automatic delivery, your provider can see fuel levels remotely and schedule deliveries before your tank gets too low. There’s no need to climb outside to check gauges or keep delivery dates on a calendar.
For all automatic delivery customers at Bumgarner, this monitoring service is included at no additional cost.
2. Follow the 80% Fill Rule
It may look unusual if you’re not familiar with a safety practice known as the “80% fill rule,” but a propane tank that reads 80% after a delivery is actually full.
Propane increases in volume almost 17 times as much as water does when heated to the same temperature. Propane tanks are intentionally filled to about 80% of their total capacity because that remaining 20% is a cushion that allows room for the fuel to expand. If the tank were 100% full when temperatures rise, it would become dangerous.
So, if you’re checking a propane tank level monitoring app and it shows 80% after a delivery, that’s exactly what you should want and expect to see.
3. Pay Attention to Long-Term Usage Trends
A remote propane tank monitor displays your current fuel level, but that’s not all — monitoring technology also tracks historical usage for your household throughout the year. You may notice trends like higher consumption in winter heating season, elevated usage from pool heaters or generators, or other spikes tied to guests and holiday gatherings.
Those patterns help you plan the best delivery times and make more informed decisions about future fuel needs. Essentially, your tank monitor is both a daily fuel gauge and a useful planning tool.
4. Spot Low Fuel Levels With Mobile Alerts
If you wait until a tank is nearly empty to call in a refill, it limits your schedule options and may risk a runout if it’s not possible to get fuel there in time.
Most propane tank monitoring systems include low-level alerts through an online portal or mobile app. These notifications provide you with the advance warning you need to stay ahead of critical fuel levels. A quick alert a day early is always better than an emergency delivery call a day later than you’d like.
Bumgarner autofill customers can always access their tank information through the online portal at bumgarneroil.net from virtually anywhere. Will-call customers also have the freedom to request deliveries through the online ordering system and can also request tank monitors to enable the same remote insights.
5. Match the Monitoring Program to Your Delivery Style
Some homeowners prefer a true set-it-and-forget-it approach with automatic delivery. Others like maintaining direct control over ordering fuel themselves. Your propane tank monitoring system supports either approach.
Automatic delivery customers benefit use remote propane tank monitoring to trigger refills without their intervention. Will-call customers can lease monitoring equipment for a small annual fee and gain extra visibility into fuel levels while still deciding on their own when to place orders.
Either way, tank monitoring is the best way to get rid of uncertainties.
Put Your Fuel Supply on Autopilot
For many families, the biggest advantage is simple peace of mind. You spend less time thinking about propane levels and more time enjoying the comfort and convenience propane provides.
Choose Bumgarner Oil & Propane to be your fuel family. Our team of friendly propane experts are ready to help you pick out the right propane tank monitoring system for your home or business and your fuel usage habits. We’ve served our neighbors in Western Carolina for decades and are proud to be trusted by our local communities for superior service.
FAQs
A propane tank monitoring system uses wireless technology to track fuel levels inside your tank. Depending on your system, it can provide tank data to you, your propane provider, or both through a mobile app or online portal.
A remote propane tank monitor sends tank level information over a cellular or wireless network. This allows homeowners and propane providers to view fuel levels without physically checking the tank gauge.
It depends on the delivery program. Bumgarner includes propane tank monitoring at no additional cost for automatic delivery customers. Will-call customers can lease monitoring equipment for an annual fee.
Yes. When paired with an automatic delivery program, propane tank monitoring systems can trigger refill orders when fuel levels reach a predetermined threshold, helping prevent runouts.
Most propane providers recommend scheduling a delivery when your tank reaches about 25% to 30% capacity. Waiting longer increases the risk of running low during periods of high demand or severe weather.
Propane tanks are intentionally filled to approximately 80% capacity. This follows the 80% fill rule, which leaves room for propane to safely expand when temperatures rise.
Yes. Many propane tank monitoring systems provide access through an online portal or mobile app, allowing you to check fuel levels, review usage history, and manage your account from virtually anywhere.
For many homeowners, yes. Propane tank monitoring provides visibility into fuel levels, helps prevent runouts, supports better delivery planning, and reduces the likelihood of emergency refill situations.
