How Can You Ensure Your Stored Natural Gas Stays Fresh?

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If you're like many, you try to time your purchases of natural gas for early to mid-summer, when prices are lowest -- and with prices still well below their 2005 or 2010 peaks, stocking up before prices rise again can be a money-saving prospect. However, the long-term storage of natural gas can carry some risks, and you don't want to find yourself with a large supply of unusable fuel after a few years of tank storage. Read on to learn more about managing these risks so that you can replenish your natural gas supply while prices remain low. 

What risks come with the long-term storage of natural gas?

Most experts recommend storing natural gas in either an above-ground or underground holding tank. This protects the gas from the elements and most major fluctuations in temperature, allowing it to remain in a stable state. 

However, any leaks or warped seals in these holding tanks can allow the entry of air and water; over time, this water can alter the chemical structure of the natural gas, breaking its bonds and rendering it less effective. Enough water may even prevent your natural gas from combusting at all, essentially turning your holding tank's contents into expensive and non-potable water; and for underground storage tanks, these leaks can cause major damage to the surrounding soil and groundwater supply.

What can you do to manage these risks when embarking on long-term storage of natural gas? 

Your first step should be to carefully inspect your holding tank for any sign of leakage. In most parts of the country, you can even have your holding tanks professionally inspected and certified as airtight before having a shipment of gas delivered. 

If your natural gas supply has already been compromised, or if you're not sure about the potency of natural gas that has been in your holding tank for several years or longer, you may also want to add some triethylene glycol (TEG) to your natural gas supply. This solvent essentially dehumidifies or dehydrates your natural gas, eliminating any water and restoring the natural gas to its original state. 

TEG has a variety of other applications, including as an air freshener (due to its antibacterial properties and relatively harmless chemical structure); however, its use as a fuel dehumidifier makes it a lifesaver for many property owners who would like to take advantage of low natural gas prices by purchasing several years' supply at once.

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