Installing a propane tank for a stove and fireplace

[Leopoldbloom]

But doesn't the installation of a gas line entail a lot of digging and work, whereas a propane tank can be located right next to the house and the lines can connect under the crawl space. It seems like installing a gas line would be a lot more expensive.

[rfb]

The line to the house is rather thin, so it doesn't involve a lot of disruption to your lawn. I would recommend getting estimates for both, and unless natural gas is prohibitively expensive I would go that route.

[Leopoldbloom]

That's very helpful. Thank you. Does the local utility connect natural gas lines?

[Ed_RDNC]

Originally Posted by Leopoldbloom

That's very helpful. Thank you. Does the local utility connect natural gas lines?

This probably varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. You should check their website for New Service, or just phone and talk to an actual human.

With new gas service, the biggest cost will probably be paying for a new meter.
If there's a gas line in the street, they typically make you pay for a new meter. Anything downstream of that is Your Property.
Again, some county gas utilities may install it all the way to your house, others make you hire a contractor.
This is enough money that it makes cents (pun intended) for you to price out the different options.

Installing a gas line is going to be pretty cheap, about the same as running a cable / internet line. A 3" wide trench is made as deep as is required by code, plus the cost of the actual pipe.

If you go with propane, you either buy the tank ( !$$! ) or it's rent is folded into the fuel pricing. Plus it probably has to sit on concrete pads, and you'd want it's piping run underground into the house.

Finally, regardless of fuel, you'll need to pay a plumber to run the piping inside your house. That cost can vary a huge amount, depending on distance, how easy or hard the routing is, etc.

Again, since we're talking thousands of dollars, Get a licensed plumber in, walk the path, give him a defined scope of what gets connected, and have him give you a hard estimate. Repeat with at least two other plumbers, and pick the one that seems to be able to do the best job. (See if they can give you references of other clients they've converted to gas).