An LP tank is also called "LPG-liquefied petroleum gas," "LP gas" or a "Propane Gas" tank. Liquefied petroleum comes to your home in the form of a really cold liquid. It's pumped into a storage tank then converted to a gas inside the tank, which is how it comes into your home, via the supply line. Liquefied petroleum tanks are commonly painted white or silver. These colors reflect heat and help keep the tanks cooler.
In its unadulterated form, you can't see or smell liquefied petroleum. That's why manufacturers put a chemical in the original liquid to give it a foul odor. That way, leaks can be detected easier. The gas has a strong, stinky odor that's compared to the sulfurous smell of rotten eggs, a skunk or even a dead animal.
In its liquid form, liquefied petroleum is so cold that it can cause severe frostbite to your skin. If liquefied petroleum leaks out, it's in gas form, so it's not a threat to the soil or water. However, it's highly flammable when it's mixed with oxygen. It can be ignited by open flames, cigarettes, sparks and even static electricity. Liquefied petroleum vapors are heavier than air. They can build up in low areas such as basements.
The proximity of a liquefied petroleum tank to your house depends on the size of the tank. A 250-, 330- or 500-gallon tank must not be installed closer than 10 feet to your house, or to the property line. It can't be located within 10 feet of any source of ignition, or near combustibles, either. Examples of combustible sources include air conditioning units, decks and pools.
A 1,000-gallon liquefied petroleum tank cannot be closer than 25 feet to your house or the property line.