Tanks & gauges
How to read your propane tank gauge
The gauge under the dome on top of your propane tank shows how full the tank is as a percentage, not in gallons. Lift the dome, tap it to free the needle, read the 0 to 100 dial, and call for a delivery when it reads about 30%.
Updated · American River Gas office, Newcastle
Where the gauge is
On a typical above-ground residential tank, the gauge sits under the hinged dome (cover) on the top center of the tank, next to the fill valve and the service valve. The dial is marked from 0 to 100, and the top of the red part of the dial usually marks 20%.
Step by step
Needles can stick, especially in cold weather, so free the needle before you trust the reading.
- Lift the dome 6 to 8 inches, let go, and let it drop back onto the tank. The small jolt frees a stuck needle.
- Lift the dome again and find the dial that reads 0 to 100. That is the percentage gauge.
- Read the number the needle points to. That is the percent of the tank's capacity that is full.
- Close the dome so rain and snow stay out.
Percent, not gallons
The gauge does not show gallons. To estimate gallons, multiply the reading by the size of your tank. A 500-gallon tank reading 40% holds roughly 200 gallons.
A full tank never reads 100%. American River Gas fills tanks to about 86% in winter and 80% in summer. The empty space is there on purpose: propane expands as it warms, and the headroom keeps pressure in the tank within safe limits.
When to call
If you order your own deliveries, call when the gauge reads about 30%. Our trucks serve each part of the delivery area on a set day of the week, and ordering at 30% gives us time to reach you on your route day, usually within a week, before you run low.
Do not wait until the tank is nearly empty. If a tank runs out, the system loses pressure. Safety codes and our insurance require a pressure check and leak test after any interruption in service, including running out of gas, before the system can be turned back on. The homeowner must be home for that check and there is an additional charge for it.
- Heating with propane in winter: check the gauge weekly.
- Cold snap or holiday coming: check early and order before the rush.
- Hard-to-reach tank or a second home: consider Keep Full automatic delivery.
If the reading looks wrong
If the needle has not moved in months while you have been using propane, or it jumped suddenly, call the office at (530) 888-7438. And if you ever smell gas at the tank or in the house, do not touch the gauge: leave the area, then call 911 and us from outside.
Questions
Straight answers
Does a propane tank gauge show gallons?
No. It shows the percentage of the tank that is full. Multiply the percentage by the tank size to estimate gallons.
Why does my tank never read 100% after a fill?
Tanks are filled to about 86% in winter and 80% in summer so the propane has room to expand as it warms.
At what percentage should I order propane?
About 30%. That leaves time for a delivery on your area's route day before you run low.
What if my gauge needle is stuck?
Lift the dome 6 to 8 inches and let it drop to free the needle, then read it again. If it still looks wrong, call the office.
Sources: American River Gas: residential deliveries and FAQ (company practice) (opens in a new tab) · Propane Education & Research Council: propane safety in your home (opens in a new tab)
Newcastle yard · since 1966
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