We originally got wind of the tank in a conversation with the owners. Too soon yet for our home inspection--we're still in the stage where documents are flying back and forth (I don't think that the normal home inspection covers environmental hazards, though). And we're not going to do the final signing unless the documentation is completely satisfactory. It's been several days now, with no word. I'm starting to think that maybe this isn't going to happen. Would be disappointing, of course, because we're really not likely to find another house exactly like this one--it was very unusual, and just perfect for us. Still, there will be advantages if we don't get it--DH won't have to commute 30+ miles a day for the last couple of years he works. We'll be able to save up more toward our retirement home--which will be an advantage. We'll get more work done on this one, so maybe we won't need to carry 2 homes for as long. Obviously, I'd fallen in love with this particular house, but it will be okay if it doesn't work out. We'll find something else, somewhere down the line.

Although the tank is underground, some of the pipes leading to the pump are not far below surface, though even there the difference in temperature from morning to afternoon will not be large. But the pipe above ground and the pump and the meter in the box above ground are cold. Remember how the warm water coming from your hot water tank is only tepid for a while until it warms up the pipe? While that gas is still chilly from the above-ground equipment cooling it as it passes through, it takes up less space, so you get more per cupful, which is how the meter works. Probably a good idea to use a pump that has been sitting filled with gas for a few minutes, thus letting the cool ambient morning air get a chance to cool the piping down while it has gas sitting in it for a while. I know that a number of people that I've heard express an opinion on the subject say that they don't fill at a gas station that is having a delivery, if they can avoid it, as they feel that sediment and crap, plus any water that has been sittig at the bottom of the tank, gets stirred up and may be carried through the pipes to their car's tank - which they prefer to avoid. It seems to me that gas dropping in a slow stream into one's tank might be less turbulent and splash less, producing less vapour. I note that as I fill my tank, which I'm inclined to do as quickly as possible in cold weather, I note the smell of gasoline while I'm pumping ... which indicates that a substantial amount of vapour is being expelled from the tank beside the filler nozzle. Whether that is simply vapour-laden air that is being displaced by the gas, or super-vapourized air due to additional turbulence as the fresh gas rushes into the auto tank is debatable, I guess. It's smart to keep your tank nearly filled for another reason, especially if you live in northern areas. As the air cools, it drops moisture - on the grass, we call it dew, but in a gas tank we call it a pain in the butt. It gathers at the bottom of the tank and causes it to rust, over time. It gets into the line and filter and sometime blocks it ... but if the weather is freezing, it sure as heck blocks it! For that reason the northern gas delivery people add some antifreeze to the gas during winter months and many motorists add gasline antifreeze to their tank. Keeping a small amount of air in the tank means less condensation of water as ambient air cools, to add to one's list of potential sources of trouble. Being stranded at 40 degrees below is no fun! Especially if there are no warm houses nearbvy ... and one is wearing low shoes to trudge through snow. Best to stay in the (cold) car. People trained to travel on the Prairies in winter carry lots of warm clothing, blankets, etc. in their cars in winter. Do I detect a smidgeon of hot air flying around here, in addition to gasoline vapours? ole joyful

Speaking of soap, that reminds me, I love the cheapy Jergen's bar soap. It is kind of hard to find though, I buy mine at Marc's. Walgreen's has it too I think. Cannot be found at Walmart or Target etc which is strange to me. I'm very allergic to bar soaps and don't like the sort that leave a oily feel/film on my skin such as Dove. I'll use Jergen's bar soap for as long as they continue to sell it. I also love Dr. Bronner's baby liquid soap, it's fragrance free. I used it as a body wash with a scrubby. I cannot use it on my hair though as it eats it up, my hair is very fine and it is turns it to straw. The damage is lasting too until it grows out! So use caution when washing your hair with it, I would not suggest it for hair honestly.

Depending on the flow rate the 2700 run of pipe becomes an issue. A sump pump would be a good alternative for a short run of pipe. With a 40 gpm flow rate the friction loss in 2700 ft of 1 1/2 inch pipe is 110 psi and the loss from elevation head is 4.3 psi for a total of 114 psi. With a 40 gpm flow rate the friction loss in 2700 ft of 2 in PVC is 32 psi plus 4.3 psi elevation loss for a total of 34 psi. The Honda WH20 high pressure pump will deliver about 40 gpm at 40 psi. The run time is about an hour per 0.8 gallon on board gasoline tankful. You would fill half of a 5000 gallon water tank in an hour with one run of the pump. You would need to use 2 inch pipe.