7 replies to this topic

[Reverie]

This article details something I had suspected. I have noticed that my gas grill was going through tanks a lot faster than in the past. Now I know why. Do I think the retailers broke the law? No. Do I think they were pretty unethical and am I offended? You bet.

Gas Article


Reverie

[campingnut]

i take my tanks to a gas company to fill.
never use the trade in type.
lamar

[Crawfish]

I use to use the pre-filled tanks but have had my tanks filled by gas company for the last two years. It is a lot cheaper.


Leon

[dreamtimers]

The best time to use the tank swap is when your tanks are almost due for re-inspection, (Wal-mart will trade them out even if they are past due).
The inspection costs most of the places I checked run from 1/3 - 2/3s the cost of a new tank. There is a date stamped on each tank handle showing when it needs to be re-inspected, (or is that when it was inspected). Many propane co.s will not refill a tank if it is past it's re-inspect date.

[Rollrs45]

I'm like others here. I found a place that charges you by the pound. If they pump in 17, you pay for 17. I was always skeptical of those trade-in tanks.

Mike

[3LEES]

Rollrs45, on Jul 5 2009, 06:34 AM, said:

I'm like others here. I found a place that charges you by the pound. If they pump in 17, you pay for 17. I was always skeptical of those trade-in tanks.

Mike

Yep. Take the tanks to Ace Hardware. They pump in the propane and charge you from their meter...kinda like buying fuel for the TV.

Dan

[Wolfpackers]

I just refilled a 20# and 30# tank where they only charge for what they put in. Both tanks were essentially empty, I used the 20# until the grill went out and used the 30# tank until the indicator on the 5'er turned red. I took note of how many gallons each tank held for future pricing so I can decide whether to use the store that charges by the gallon or the store that charges a set fee based on the tank size (not exchange, just refill). I would have saved about $4 on those two tanks if I had gone to the store that charges by the tank size, regardless of how much it takes to fill it.

Bottom line is that it's worthwhile to compare IF your tank is empty. If you are topping off before a trip, definitely go where they charge only for the amount they pump.

I used to use the tank exchanges, but now have a spare 20# tank for the grill and am not forced to get an exchange because the refill places are closed for the day when my home grill ran out of propane.

YMMV.
Brent

[w4drr]

One of the benefits of living in a rural area like this, propane is readily available. There is a convenience store just a mile down the road that refills propane tanks, and at a reasonable price. Back in the Atlanta metro area, you were hard-pressed to find anybody who would fill tanks. Of course, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a place with a propane tank exchange.
Yes, living in the "Hillbilly Zone" does have some advantages.

Bob