Whether you use LPG to heat your home, run a holiday park, power a hospitality business or support industrial processing, you may have noticed that your LPG tank gauge shows around 85% after a delivery and wondered whether your tank has been fully filled.
It’s a common question, but there’s no need to worry. Your bulk LPG storage tank has been filled correctly and safely.
Unlike some fuels, LPG tanks are never filled to 100% of their capacity. The space left inside the tank is an important safety feature that allows the LPG to expand naturally as temperatures change.
So, if your gauge shows around 85% after a delivery, this is exactly what you would expect to see. It does not mean you have received less LPG than you should have. Our delivery drivers fill your tank to the correct safe operating level, ensuring you have a reliable supply while allowing your LPG system to operate safely all year round.
Why isn’t my LPG tank filled to 100%?
LPG needs space inside your tank to allow for natural expansion as temperatures change. This is an important safety feature of every LPG installation.
LPG is stored inside your tank as a liquid under pressure. As temperatures rise, the LPG expands. The empty space at the top of the tank provides a vapour space, allowing this expansion to happen safely without creating excessive pressure inside the tank.
Your LPG tank also has several built-in safety features designed to keep your installation safe. One of these is the pressure relief valve (PRV) which acts as an additional layer of protection by releasing pressure if it ever rises above a safe level. This helps protect the tank and maintain safe operating conditions, making LPG one of the safest and most reliable energy sources for your home.
For this reason, LPG tanks are never filled to 100% of their capacity. Instead, they are normally filled to around 85%. During periods of particularly warm weather, such as a heatwave, your delivery may be closer to 70% to allow additional room for expansion as temperatures increase.
At Northern Energy, our experienced delivery drivers take a range of factors into account when filling your tank, including the weather conditions, your tank’s capacity and safe operating limits. So, if your gauge shows around 80-85% after a delivery, you can be reassured that your tank has been filled correctly, safely and to the level it’s designed to hold.
Is my LPG delivery short if my tank only shows 80%?
No. If your LPG tank gauge shows around 80-85% after a delivery, this does not mean you have received a short delivery.
It’s worth remembering that LPG tanks are designed to operate below their capacity, so your driver will never fill your tank completely full. Instead, they fill it to the correct safe level, ensuring you have a reliable supply while leaving enough room for expansion.
The percentage shown on your tank gauge refers to the how full your tank is compared with its total capacity, not the amount of LPG delivered.
For example, an LPG tank with a total capacity of 1,410 litres will typically hold around 1,200 litres when filled to 85%.
For domestic customers, this ensures your home has a safe supply for heating, hot water, and cooking. For businesses, maintaining the correct commercial LPG levels is particularly important to ensure continuity for operations such as hospitality, catering, manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial processes.
Why does my tank gauge not show exactly 85%?
You may notice that your gauge does not always settle exactly at 85% after a delivery. This is completely normal and doesn’t indicate there’s a problem with your tank, your delivery, or the amount of LPG you have received.
Your tank gauge is designed to provide a helpful indication of your LPG level, rather than an exact measurement of the litres remaining. Like any measuring device, there can be small variations in the reading, and several factors can affect it, including:
- Temperature changes: LPG naturally expands and contracts as temperatures rise and fall. On warmer days, the LPG inside your tank will expand slightly, which can affect the gauge reading
- Gauge accuracy: LPG tank gauges are designed to give a reliable indication of your fuel level, but they are not intended to provide precise reading.
For businesses that rely on a consistent LPG supply, solutions such as telemetry provide greater visibility of tank levels through live monitoring. Combined with our automatic refilling service, telemetry helps us proactively manage your LPG supply, reducing the risk of running low, unexected run-outs, and costly downtime. This helps ensure your business has the LPG it needs, when it needs it.
How do LPG deliveries work?
At Northern Energy Gas, every LPG delivery is carefully planned and carried out with safety, reliability and customer service at the heart of everything we do.
Before filling your tank, our experienced drivers check your LPG level and inspect the installation to ensure everything is safe and ready for delivery. Then they fill your tank to the correct operating level.
Our priority is to make sure you have a reliable supply of LPG available for your heating, hot water, and appliances, while ensuring your tank is never overfilled.
Safety is our top priority. Our experienced drivers follow strict safety procedures before, during, and after every delivery, including checking the tank, valves, and associated equipment. They are highly trained to deliver LPG safely and efficiently, giving you peace of mind that your supply is being managed by experienced professionals.
Still have a question about your LPG tank?
If you’re unsure about your LPG level, your tank gauge, or have a question about your recent delivery, our friendly team is always here to help.
We understand that LPG can sometimes raise questions, particularly if you’re new to it. That’s why our knowledgeable team is on hand to provide clear advice and reassurance whenever you need it.
At Northern Energy Gas, we’re committed to delivering a reliable LPG supply alongside the personal service our customers value. Whether you’re heating your home or powering your business, you can speak to a real person who understands LPG and is ready to help.
Frequently asked questions:
Why is my LPG tank only filled to 80-85%?
LPG tanks are only filled to around 80-85% because LPG expands as temperatures rise. The remaining space allows the fuel to expand safely inside the tank.
Is my LPG delivery short if my tank says 85%?
No. An 85% gauge reading after delivery is normal and means your tank has been filled to its safe operating level.
Can an LPG tank be filled to 100%?
No. LPG tanks should not be filled to 100% capacity because they need space for the LPG to expand safely.
What does 85% on my tank gauge mean?
It means the tank is approximately 85% full of its total capacity, which is the normal maximum fill level for safe LPG storage.