Where propane makes sense
Natural gas reaches Connecticut's cities and many inner suburbs, but large parts of the rural east, the Quiet Corner, Tolland County and the northwest hill towns have no gas main at all. There, the fuel choices for hot water come down to electricity, oil and propane. Propane gives households a gas-fired water heater, with quick recovery and the option of a tankless unit, fed from a supply tank on the property.
Propane water heaters look and work much like natural gas ones, but they are set up specifically for propane. A natural gas heater cannot simply be connected to a propane supply, or the other way round, without the right conversion parts and setup by a qualified installer.
Propane tank heaters and tankless units
Propane storage tanks
A burner under a storage tank, vented through a flue or, on some models, by a fan through a side wall. Familiar, simple, and a common replacement for an old electric or oil-fired tank in rural homes.
Propane tankless units
Wall-hung units that heat water on demand. They save space and do not run out in the way a tank does, but they need sizing for the coldest water they will see, which on a Connecticut well can be cold all year. They also need regular descaling on hard water. See tankless installation and tankless repair.
Common problems
- No hot water: sometimes simply an empty or low supply tank; otherwise ignition, controls, flame sensing or a venting safety shutoff
- Hot water runs out: sediment, a failing dip tube, a burner not firing fully, or undersizing
- Tankless unit showing a fault or going cold: scale, flow, venting or ignition issues
- Noise: sediment on the tank bottom, common on well water
- Leaks from fittings, valves or the tank shell
If you smell gas, including propane, leave the building and call the gas utility and emergency services from outside.
Carbon monoxide alarm sounding near the propane heater? Leave the home and call emergency services from outside.
What to leave alone
- Relighting a pilot or resetting the gas control
- Any propane line, regulator or connection
- Venting, flue pipes and side-wall terminations
- The relief valve and drain valve
Checking that your supply tank has propane in it is reasonable; your propane supplier can help with that. Everything from the heater's connection inward is for the technician.
Tell us whether the supply tank was recently filled.
On a private well?
Propane and well water together
Many propane homes are also well homes. A propane tank heater collects sediment on its bottom just as a natural gas tank does, and a propane tankless unit's heat exchanger collects scale. Cold well water also affects how a tankless unit should be sized. Mention both the fuel and the well when you call.
How service and repair work
The technician confirms fuel is reaching the heater, then works through ignition, controls, flame sensing and venting safety devices on a tank, or the fault history and sensors on a tankless unit. They check for leaks, look at sediment or scale, and check the relief valve. You are told what they found and what it will cost before any repair. Supply tank ownership, deliveries and the lines up to the house are matters for your propane supplier.
Replacing or switching to propane
Replacing a propane tank like-for-like is usually straightforward. Moving to propane from electric or oil involves the supply arrangement with a propane company, a gas line to the heater, and suitable venting, which the installer plans with you. A move from a boiler coil to a standalone propane heater is common when a household changes its heating; see hot water after a heating system change.
The supply tank and the heater: who does what
Propane homes involve two separate parties. Your propane supplier owns or services the supply tank in the yard, the regulator and the line to the house, and handles deliveries. The local installers work on the water heater and its connection. When hot water stops, it helps to know which side the problem is likely on. An empty supply tank, a supply problem after a delivery, or a regulator issue belong with the supplier. A heater that has fuel but will not light, lights and goes out, or runs but will not heat belongs with us. If you are not sure, call us first and describe it; we will tell you honestly if it sounds like a supply question.
Propane heaters through a Connecticut winter
Winter adds its own propane problems. Deliveries can be delayed by storms, and a supply tank that runs low in a cold snap is one of the most common reasons a propane heater stops in January. Side-wall vent terminations on propane heaters can be covered by drifting snow or ice, which can trigger a safety shutdown. And the incoming water is at its coldest, so a propane tank recovers more slowly and a propane tankless unit delivers less hot water at full temperature. None of that means anything is wrong with the heater, but it all shapes the conversation when it stops.
Choosing between a propane tank and tankless unit
A propane storage tank is simple, familiar and forgiving: it holds a supply of hot water and recovers reasonably quickly. A propane tankless unit saves space and does not run out after a set number of showers, but it must be sized for cold winter water, needs its own venting, and needs periodic descaling on hard well water. For a small household with modest demand, either can work. For a larger household in a well home, the installer will look closely at winter sizing before recommending tankless.
What affects the cost of propane water heater service
- Tank or tankless, and the size chosen
- Venting: reusing a flue, or new side-wall venting
- The gas line run from the supply point to the heater
- Access in the cellar or utility space
- Descaling or flushing added at the same visit
You hear the price before the work begins.
How long propane water heater service takes in Connecticut
Many propane heater repairs are completed in one visit if the part is on hand. A like-for-like tank replacement is typically a single visit. Switching fuel or installing a tankless unit takes more planning, especially if the propane supply arrangement is new.
Propane water heater questions
Can a natural gas water heater run on propane?
Not as it comes. Heaters are set up for one fuel or the other. Some models can be converted with the manufacturer's kit, installed by a qualified technician; others cannot. The installer will confirm what applies to your heater.
My propane heater stopped working. Could it be the fuel?
It is worth checking whether the supply tank has propane, particularly after a cold spell. If it does, the fault is likely in the heater's ignition, controls or safety devices, and a technician should look at it.
Is a propane tankless heater a good idea in Connecticut?
It can be, provided it is sized for cold winter inlet water and descaled as your water requires. Some households love the endless supply; others prefer a tank's simplicity. The installer can talk it through.
Do propane heaters need a chimney?
Some vent through a chimney or flue; many newer units vent through a side wall using a fan. The right venting depends on the specific model and your house, and the installer will assess it.
Can I relight my propane water heater?
We do not give relighting instructions. A heater that has gone out may have shut down for a reason. Call a technician, and if you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility and emergency services from outside.
Do you supply propane?
No. Fuel supply, tank rental and deliveries are arranged with a propane company. We arrange work on the water heater itself.
Our well-water propane tank is noisy. Is that normal?
Rumbling usually means sediment on the tank bottom, which is common on wells. A flush may help if the tank has not built up a hard layer. A technician can judge whether it is worthwhile.
Can a propane heater go in a finished basement?
Often, with suitable venting and a sensible location for service and leak protection. The installer considers venting, combustion air and drainage when planning the spot.