Propane Use Below Freezing

[JohnWedell]

Will be getting down to 10 degrees for a day and a couple of nights. For those of you that camp in freezing temps did you have any problems with propane pressure or volume to the heater when it gets that cold.

[Old and soft]

My old popup ran the furnace all night at -8*f with no issues. Except for my boots freezing to the floor.

[Grumpy]

How many homes up North use propane all winter as their primary heat source? The propane/butane mixture which is usually sold in the South is what causes problems in cold weather if taken North.

[Mikec557]

Originally Posted by JohnWedell

Will be getting down to 10 degrees for a day and a couple of nights. For those of you that camp in freezing temps did you have any problems with propane pressure or volume to the heater when it gets that cold.

We just camped 3 days, 2 nights, in upper teens and low 20s. No issues. I do recall reading somewhere that you should keep the tank at least 1/3 full. Only did this because we were traveling when the recent cold front came down into Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico. Otherwise there's nothing that would make me voluntarily camp in weather this cold.

[RogerR]

Propane is good down to -40 or just a bit higher. The tank will provide operating pressure down to a very low amount.

If you have very wet weather just prior to a hard freeze some regulators will mis-perform. Unlikely, but possible. On the other hand these cheap regulators will go bad on a nice day too!

[Bill Johnson]

Maximum BTU draw at 70 degrees on a 30 pound tank is 118,000 btu's
Maximum BTU draw at 0 degrees on a 30 pound tank is 45,000 btu's/hour

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by JohnWedell

Will be getting down to 10 degrees for a day and a couple of nights. For those of you that camp in freezing temps did you have any problems with propane pressure or volume to the heater when it gets that cold.

Grumpy is correct. No problems with pressure or volume, and propane is good far below minus 30 deg. I'm sure it's degrading a little at -30, but nothing noticeable.

[RPR]

Grumpy, what mixture of HD5 is sold up North?

[Jagiven]

About-10, -15 I'll start noticing my propane grill, cannot run all 5 burners on high, and maintain crazy hot temps. Colder than -20, medium heat is the best I can do.

0 degrees F, I'm still grilling like normal.

We grill year round.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by RPR

Grumpy, what mixture of HD5 is sold up North?

Can't answer that particular question.

In all the years I've been RVing we were always warned to avoid filling tanks down S if it was close to winter and we were heading back N. Since butane vaporized at a higher temp it was mixed with the propane more in the warmer climates. It is slightly cheaper and more energy efficient.

Maybe it's a wives tail, but I followed it for over 40 years as I had no reason not to.

[RPR]

Just curious on the percentage. More butane in propane is better here in the warmer South. And of course cheaper.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Can't answer that particular question.

In all the years I've been RVing we were always warned to avoid filling tanks down S if it was close to winter and we were heading back N. Since butane vaporized at a higher temp it was mixed with the propane more in the warmer climates. It is slightly cheaper and more energy efficient.

Maybe it's a wives tail, but I followed it for over 40 years as I had no reason not to.

You're absolutely right there is a difference. Varieties of LPG that are bought and sold include mixes that are mostly propane (C
3H
8), mostly butane (C
4H
10), and, most commonly, mixes including both propane and butane. In the northern hemisphere winter, the mixes contain more propane, while in summer, they contain more butane

[TaftCoach]

I never heard that before. Not that I'm heading north anytime soon. Lol

[pconroy]

Like everyone else - no problems with the furnace at 10*F or lower.

[gypsmjim]

In the old days we camped below zero with no problems. Since the new tanks were foisted upon us 20 or so years ago I had 2 problems.

Once the regulator failed (don't know if it was the cold, per se') and once the tank valve failed. In the latter case I put on another tank and all was good. Later in the summer the first tank worked OK again.

So, I would say that cold weather would likely affect the equipment rather than the propane.

[Billtree]

We used to camp in Northern NY in winter to go snowmobiling when it was forecasted to be 10-30 below zero i would put a light bulb under the regulator so it wouldn't freeze.
Never had a problem after that

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

In the old days we camped below zero with no problems. Since the new tanks were foisted upon us 20 or so years ago I had 2 problems.

Once the regulator failed (don't know if it was the cold, per se') and once the tank valve failed. In the latter case I put on another tank and all was good. Later in the summer the first tank worked OK again.

So, I would say that cold weather would likely affect the equipment rather than the propane.

That's what I've always heard was a sign of a higher percentage of butane in the mix. Frozen valves and frozen regulators.

[Flyingaggie]

In all the years I took mine to ski country in the winter for ski trips. I had several occasions where it was -42F at night and -8F during the day for up to a week straight and never had an issue with running the furnace, stove and hot water heater off propane. The colder it gets, you will notice the pressure lower on the stove tops if using more than 1 burner, but it will still work. YMMV.

Tim

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

The propane/butane mixture which is usually sold in the South is what causes problems in cold weather if taken North.

...And no one in their right mind is going to that this week!

[Kim Gass]

my home generator runs on propane. Its good to -30. Havent been supplied with -40 yet.
We will heat the trailer to prepare for the trip south the day before. It is usually below zero