How safe is an underground propane tank?

[MolaKule]

sifan,

As some other's have stated, I would get your attorney to review the HOA rules and regs (unless you have read them verbatim) and see what the regulations really are, then inform the HOA person (via your attorney) there are no rules against it. I would have done this in the beginning to determine what my rights are.

The only issues identified by the HOA seems to be safety and environmental impact.

Find out from your attorney if you really have to answer those questions.

If you do, then state the tank will be the minimum distance from the house according to construction rules, the tank will be grounded to the generator, and that there are no dangers from leaks to the groundwater.

I had to deal with an HOA when I put up a Ham radio antenna. I had my lawyer review it and I put up a 43 foot antenna. I only had one neighbor question it and I told her the antenna met the restrictions and was actually 8 feet below the maximum height or 8 feet below the peak of the roof, which the HOA required. I also told her that I had my lawyer review the HOA restrictions and that I was well within my rights. There were no other questions from this neighbor or anyone else.


In your case, I would ask specifically about the so-called environmental impact. This has been a catchall by many environmental groups to attempt to deny property rights.

Again, consult your attorney before proceeding.

 

[sifan]

Today the standby generator is fully operational with dual portable 100-gallon tanks. After one month of reasoning with my HOA without success I took the above ground tank solution that bypassed the need for HOA approval. In the future if I moved to another house, I could take the portable tanks and the generator with me. The drawback is, according to the installer, that 200 gallons of LP could only last me 3-4 days at most 7 days when the generator is running 24 hours. He suggested to refill the tanks when 20% left by calling the propane company, who will deliver in 24 hours. It is enough to help us survive the power outages in winter which do not last more than a week. On the other hand it eliminates the option of converting existing electrical furnace to a gas one. A gallon of LP is sold for about $4.50 due to shortage. I surely hope the price will drop drastically after this crazy winter.

The installer worked very efficiently who got all the necessary permits, delivered the generator/installed the whole house automatic transfer box (in one day), and had the propane tanks hookup/made the generator operational (in one day) all within a week as promised. All what's left is waiting for final inspection.

By the way I also had a brand new door installed right after the New Year. Now the house is a lot warmer. It definitely helps reduce heating bill. I am thinking of replacing the windows and siding in the near future.

 

[Shannow]

Insulation and sealing pays off.

A homeowner wrote to one of the consumer magazines the other day stating that they had a budget of $10k to install solar power on their home, what brand ?

Response was that he should spend $4k on a system that offset his power use, and the $6 left on insulation and sealing.

 

[MolaKule]

Glad to hear you are fully backup operational?

So what did the installer do that thwarted the PITA HOA?

 

[sifan]

As stated earlier I asked the installer to take the above ground ground tank route that did not require the HOA's approval if possible; otherwise, I would cancel the whole project by loosing $1000.00 restocking fee for the ordered generator plus additional administration fee for permits. The 20k watt generator costs $4200 alone.

The other day I saw a news clip on TV. An frustrated elderly woman was filling up two small gas containers for her portable generator at a gas station in a snow storm stricken part of US. She complained to the reporter that her basement was flooded because the backup battery that powered the sump pump ran dry in an ongoing power outage. Well, at least the gas pump was working for her. During my last power outage I could not even get gas because the nearby gas stations had no electricity to power their pumps. The battery backup sump pump is useless after few hours of operation when the battery is dead. By the time you realize that and pull out the portable generator if you have one and get gas, the basement is most likely flooded. She should installed a Venturi sump pump driven by water pressure, an expensive but more reliable alternative. The best protection against a power outage is a standby generator that kicks in when loss of electrical power occurs. Now I can avoid to be in her situation.

The installation of a standby generator brings another headache; how to prevent vandals from the neighborhood? There are so many wires and copper tubes that can be cut. Now I have to put up a fence in my yard to protect it, which comes to top of my home improvement list.