Propane Blues

Reader Contribution by K.C. Compton
Published on March 5, 2009
article image

It’s all fun and games out here where I live, until the propane runs out. And a general rule of the universe is that propane doesn’t run out on balmy days. It waits patiently until the coldest days of the year, then pffffffttttt, it’s gone.

I hear you out there saying, “Well, duh. It runs out because you use it on cold days.” But I know these propane tanks are awash in bad intentions, lurking and biding their time for the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their importance in our lives. 

My propane tank, for example, found its window of opportunity on Saturday, when the daytime temps hit the mid-teens and we don’t even want to talk about the night time. I had no idea the tank was even low. Having had it topped off in early January, I figured I was set until next fall.

Ha! Wrong-o, Chuck-o. I just happened to check it when I took the dogs out for our speed walk (when the thermometer goes below, say, 25, I find my daily walks become daily zips).  Imagine my shock when the gauge hovered at 3 percent full rather than the 30 or so I was anticipating. This was an emergency. My neighbors have told me what happens when the propane tank gets completely empty and … well, I really have no idea what they said, but I know it’s very bad and the worst part of it is that it ticks off the propane guy. One thing you never want to do is tick off the propane guy.

So I lived under my comforter for the weekend, assisted by two space heaters that did just fine until I took a shower and decided to dry my hair and blew the circuit. Note to self: do not plug in two space heaters and hair dryer in same vicinity. Spread the joy.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-803-7096