LPG heating - better to own your own tank and pipework?

cookiesaver_2

Hello,

We are currently in the process of buying a house with a bulk LPG tank (which is currently owned by Flo-Gas).

As a first-time LPG user I'm getting up to speed with what this involves and have read very useful info here on the forums but there is one specific question that I am looking for advice on which doesn't seem to have been answered (apologies if this is the case).

Whilst competition would seem to have improved amongst LPG suppliers with the new regs that came into force last year it still seems difficult for the consumer to easily get the best price if you rent your tank. I say this as it seems each time you switch supplier there is a process to go through to change ownership of the tank, plus by renting there is a daily rental charge, etc.

Therefore does it stack up to take the hit and install your own tank and pipework giving you the ability to change suppliers even more easily and avoid having to pay a daily rental charge?

Over the long term this would seem to be the way to go but I wonder if suppliers frown upon filling up tanks they don't own, and/or if they charge higher prices to do so to get around the fact they can no longer charge a daily rental fee?

Also I wonder if buying your own tank and pipework just doesn't stack up assuming you have to pay to have the old one removed, installed the new kit and then maintain it yourself.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

david29dpo

Interesting question. I have had LPG for 15 years with Listers (west mids) We hire the tank @£40 per year and pay 37ppl at the moment. For some reason most if not all people rent there tanks. In the past, i have rang round other places for better prices and never been given a price over the phone. They insist on visiting the site and asking questions about yearly consumption etc. It seems to me they want a long term commitment selling gas to you. As far as i know you can buy your own tank and it would be interesting to ring round pretending i own the tank. I have thought about asking to buy the tank off Listers or someone else but i have always been happy with listers. I have heard bad stories about flow gas!

cookiesaver_2

Thanks for your reply. I rang around a couple of suppliers and owning your own tank sounded like more hassle and potentially more cost than renting taking into account the maintenance you'd have to do on it and support arrangements needed - without this no-one will fill it up!

With further investigation I think I'm between a rock and a hardplace as I believe the current tank is probably not sited according to the new regs - eg. is within 3 metres of the house (I'll be able to tell once we take possession). This means I either stay with the current supplier (Flo-Gas) which enables you to keep it where it us under "grandfather rules" or go to the expense of moving it if I want to go without another company.