What size propane tank do I need to run a gas fireplace or log set at home?
For a fireplace or log set on its own, a 120-gallon (roughly 420-lb) tank or a 250-gallon tank is the common residential choice — enough to run a season without constant refills. If the same tank also feeds a range, water heater, or whole-house heat, we point you toward a larger tank — often 500 gallons. Your propane supplier sets and owns the tank; we handle everything downstream.
Match the tank to the whole gas load, not just the fireplace
A single vented or ventless log set or a direct-vent gas fireplace doesn't burn much fuel over a season — a moderate tank handles it easily. The real question is what else is on the propane. If the fireplace is the only gas appliance at a cabin, a 120-gallon (about 420-lb) upright or a buried 250-gallon tank is usually plenty and keeps refills to once or twice a heating season.
Add a propane range, tankless water heater, dryer, or a whole-house furnace and the peak demand climbs fast, which is when we point people toward a 500-gallon tank so nothing starves when everything runs at once on a cold January night.
Who owns the tank — and what we actually do
This is a spot where our lane and the propane supplier's lane meet. The tank itself — its size, whether it's leased or owned, where it sits, and the fill schedule — is set and serviced by your propane company.
What Steady Flame handles is everything from the tank outlet in: the regulator, the buried or run gas piping, the appliance connection, pressure and orifice setup, and the permit. We coordinate directly with your supplier so the regulator and line size match the tank and the appliance. In propane country — Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and the cabins tucked up our mountain roads — we do this constantly.
Sizing for the mountains and for outages
Two WNC realities shape the recommendation. First, our winters lean on the appliance harder than a mild climate would, so we don't cut tank size close. Second, propane is a genuine backup-heat fuel — a millivolt or battery-backup gas fireplace keeps a cabin warm through a grid-down stretch like the one after Helene, but only if there's fuel in the tank, so we'd rather you have headroom than run dry mid-storm.
We'll calculate the total connected BTU load, tell you the tank size to ask your supplier for, and size the piping to carry it. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.
Related questions
- Can I run a gas fire pit off a 20-lb propane tank?
- What gas pressure does a fireplace need for natural gas versus propane?
- Can my gas meter or propane regulator handle adding a fireplace?
- How much gas does a fireplace use per hour at full input?
- Will my fireplace put out less heat on propane than on natural gas?
- How many BTUs per square foot do I need to heat a room with a fireplace?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
Free assessments across Western North Carolina — no pressure, straight answers.