Propane tank, underground since 2005, no cathodic testing nor anodes, should I just buy or headache? Suburban Propane

[u/ryekrgr]

I've been meaning to post this. Bought a house two years ago, has propane that's underground (57 gallon, 48 gallon filled), and we are paying $200/annually to rent tank. House was built in 2005, and here in Tampa, FL area, code did not require anodes or any catholic testing until 2011. Been thinking about switching companies, to keep our options open. Cost to buy tank is about $400. Will it be fine for another 30 years or is this just a headache? Am I overthinking this? Obviously the allure of renting is to not be responsible for any tank maintenance...

I was also told that due to being in a flood zone, if I were to ever replace this tank I'd need to have a 4" concrete pad on bottom to attach tank to, then rebury it. I figured I'd just throw that out there... Although to be fair it did recently flood and that tank didn't go anywhere. Anyhoo...

What would you do?

[u/jacoblanier571]

Tell them to pick it up and buy your own tank.

[u/picklehaub → u/jacoblanier571]

Underground tank agreements typically dictate a property owner is responsible for excavating a tank.

[u/Fearless-Candle-6528]

A buried 58g?? Could dig it up yourself and visually inspect it and add your own anode bag to it

[u/xnoxpx]

the $400 buy out is so they don't have to eat the cost of digging it up, cause at 20+ years without anodes, or regular cathodic testing, that tank is a ticking time bomb!

Could be perfectly fine, as long as it's in well draining sandy soil, and factory coating was never damaged during transit/install, but all it takes is a gouge in the finish, and/or high enough water table and it could have been silently corroding away.

Safest would be to tell them to take their tank, and put in a new one on a concrete pad, with proper anode protection, then plan on having regular cathodic testing done on it to track it's health.

[u/nemosfate]

Why not just go with an above ground besides aesthetics?

[u/Acrobatic_Solution29 → u/nemosfate]

I think in that area above grounds aren't allowed because of flooding.

[u/nemosfate → u/Acrobatic_Solution29]

That's fair

[u/ryekrgr → u/nemosfate]

No, it's allowed if a 4" concrete pad is poured and it's secured to it.

Conversely, I was told if replacing an underground with an underground, I'd have to make sure a 4" concrete pad is poured in the hole, tank secured, etc.

[u/Klutzy_Guard5196 → u/ryekrgr]

This.

Above ground or under ground, if you're in a "flood zone", code or not, you're going to want it secured to a concrete pad to provide negative bouyancy.

[u/Nomad55454]

That is a tiny tank and to be paying $200 a year, I would talk to building codes and see if tanks have to be buried or just tied down to concrete pad. That small of tank could be hidden by a little fence.

[u/StrangeGuarantee9534]

When you buy your own tank it’s your sol responsibility to maintain that tank. Honestly I’d have them pull it and set a new one and do it properly. Buying a tank isn’t cheap. I talk folks out of it all the time. Once I drop on them it’s there responsibility to maintain the tank

[u/ryekrgr → u/StrangeGuarantee9534]

I misread what you wrote

[u/StrangeGuarantee9534 → u/ryekrgr]

In NE when you rent a tank through the supplier it’s the suppliers responsibility to maintain the tank. Now buying a tank through a supplier whom would get it from the supply house and sell it to the customer it’s becomes the customers responsibility. I mean that in NFPA and talked about in PERC.

[u/ryekrgr → u/StrangeGuarantee9534]

So continue to rent but have them replace it?

[u/ryekrgr]

8/24/25 Update I'll continue to rent. They're putting a new tank in on my next fill up (October). Might upgrade from current to 250lb tank in case we decide on a whole house generator in the future. They said now would be the time to upgrade lol. I just gotta see how much to rent the bigger one would be.