New house dilemma with a gas cooking stove and room addition
April 18th, 2007 by KenricToday I’m moving into a new house in Scottsdale. The reason I chose this home besides getting a really great deal is that there is room to build on it.
The house already has a nicely remodelled kitchen with a 40″ stainless steel stove. You can see that it’s a really nice stove!
Here’s the problem. This stove is powered by propane gas. There is no natural gas service in the area so the previous owners, who must have really wanted a gas stove installed a 250 gallon propane gas tank on left side of the property.
The gas line is run from the tank above to the roof and over to the kitchen. The gas runs only the stove. The furnace and water heater run on electric.
From this aerial picture you can see that the location of the propane tank is smack in the center of where I want to put a nice addition or a small guest house.
So here’s my dilemma. Gas stoves are preferred over electric stoves in most houses. I would like to keep this gas stove, if at all possible. This is the only electric 40″ stove (pictured below) that I can find and I think it looks sort of silly. It would cost $2,000.
I’d like to find a way to keep this propane stove. I know I need to move the propane tank. But the question is where? Remember, the tank needs to be accessible to be refilled.
So what do you think I should do?
Do I change the stove to electric, remove the propane tank.
Keep the gas stove, move the propane tank somewhere else.
Keep the gas stove, find another way to get propane to it. Maybe a smaller tank.
Just live with it for now and build the addition later.
Posted in Real Estate | 6 Comments »
Stumble it!
Speaking as a chef, gas is of paramount importance. As to where the move the tank, maybe the gas company has some suggestions. I am unsure of the regulations, regarding how many feet from the house the tank must be or how close a tree can be . . . .
By Clifford on Apr 18, 2007
Can you put it on the other side of the house – where the yard narrows down in a wedge shape? I can’t tell from the picture if there is access to there from the front of the house. That would also dramatically cut down the length of pipe needed to get to the stove.
By Shaun on Apr 18, 2007
I think you’ll need to figure out the codes for having a buried propane tank in your area. Then, you can make a more informed decision. I much prefer having a gas stove myself! But, if it’s between that and building an addition to the house that will add more value than the gas stove, I’d choose the add-on and just buy an electric stove.
Then, you should go on a tropical vacation to reward yourself for making such a tough decision. Or, at least, that’s what I would do. ;-)
By Trisha on Apr 18, 2007
I’m going to call and find out if I can move it over to the other side. I’ll have to install a gate on that side. I’m not sure how close the propane truck needs to be to the tank to fill it.
The add-on definitely take precedence over the gas stove, but I’d like to save it if possible.
By Kenric on Apr 19, 2007
Just another thought.. It might be cheaper to just leave the old one buried (after being emptied, of course) and get a new one on the other side. I don’t know if you want to bury the new one or not, but if that old tank has been in the ground for any length of time, you might dig it up just to find out it’s not able to be used anymore.
By Shaun on Apr 20, 2007
The tank was put in about 4 years ago. I don’t think I can build over a buried propane tank. I’ve have to pull it out to build anyway.
By Kenric on Apr 20, 2007