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LP Tank Protection

Corrosion Protection For Buried Propane Tanks

Your buried propane tank may be missing critical protection

A steel buried propane tank could last over 30 years with the proper installation and maintenance, however an unprotected steel tank is subject to corrosion and leaking when buried in soil. Replacing a buried tank can cost over $10,000. Many underground tanks now include cathodic corrosion protection, but some exist without the proper protection, or it may be outdated and ineffective.  A proper installation would look similar to the illustration here.

 


 

Cathodic protection works by attracting corrosive ground currents away from the tank which are then absorbed by the anodes. A proper installation of a buried propane tank includes the installation of one or more anode bags, depending on the size of the tank and environmental considerations. The anode bag(s) are buried near the propane tank and connected to the propane tank with a wire. The anode bag(s) are comprised of magnesium, aluminum or zinc, and are environmentally safe. Replacement or installation does NOT require the tank to be removed


Cathodic Protection Testing

The cathodic protection system needs to be tested on a regular basis to ensure the system is still working well to fight off corrosion. After testing, the cathodic protection test results are recorded and archived.
The records will provide a history of the readings of current and previous tests. Significant changes in readings would indicate if any work needs to done to the protection system such as replacing depleted anode bags. The document shows what readings are recorded and where the tests were done in relation to the tank.