Getting your money's worth with propane

[maxicon]

For those of us who keep a stash of 5 gallon propane tanks for outdoor grilling and SHTF emergency kits, there's a disturbing trend in the tank exchange market.

A 5 gallon tank holds 20 lbs of propane. If you get them refilled, they fill it to the max, you pay per gallon, and you get a full tank.

The exchange tanks started reducing the fill a few years back to keep profits up without raising prices. It started with 17 lb fills, and now most of the ones I see have 15 lb fills. The last time I looked in a Blue Rhino cage, most were 15 lb fills, with a few 17 lb scattered in. It's listed on the label, but you have to hunt for it.

Not only do you get less propane for your money, but your stash of emergency gear isn't as fully prepared as it should be.

You want a full 20 lb fill, your best bet is to find a filling station and get them to top it off for you. It takes a little more time, but you get a full measure, and a 20 lb fill costs the same as a 15 lb exchange at the place I go to.

[fastpowerstroker]

Wow I never knew that. I always have mine filled up. It's worth mentioning most service stations have a 4-5 gal min. In other words you will want to bring a completely empty one or two at a time because you'll pay for it anyways. Good tip thanks.

[Sky_DiveR]

Good to know. Seems like everybody is doing that in one way or another.

[G-Man WC]

When necessity dictates I do a blue rhino exchange when the date on an older tank has expired.
Most M&P fill'em up propane stations don't check the date, but every now and then a new tank is called for. -g

[freonr22]

they are supposed to fil 80% a 20 lb tank x 80%= whatever.

room for expansion. same a refrigerant recovery tanks. might even be a epa/ dot law?

[Falstaff]

In addition to getting shorted on the propane quantity, another thing to consider:
I would avoid the blue rhino tanks, they have the crappy governor valve on their's that impedes the flow of propane if the valve senses what is deemed too rapid of an egress of gas. So if you open the valve too fst and the barbq has valves open, the tank goes into a super low flow situation, then you have close the valve and wait a few seconds then open real slowly to reset it- PITA
I HATE these new OPD valves, they won't flow enough pressure to fully light my bbq's burners

[maxicon]

they are supposed to fil 80% a 20 lb tank x 80%= whatever.

room for expansion. same a refrigerant recovery tanks. might even be a epa/ dot law?

I'm not familiar with the regulations, but a 5 gallon tank holds 20 lbs of propane, which is about 4.7 gallons, so that may be the difference.

The last time I got a couple filled, the totals were 4.6 and 4.7 gallons.

[caoboy]

I get my moneys worth, I hand the tanks to my dad, and he fills it for me. Perks of having him work at a propane company!

[Ricky-Ray]

For those that are in Monterey Park this is where I go to fill up my propane tanks. Fair prices, and never hand any issues with them. Best part of all, they only charge you for what was filled. NO MINIMUM

Rent A Tool
1133 East Garvey Avenue
Monterey Park, CA 91755
(626) 280-5537

[EWILKE]

yup

they started feeling lighter and didnt last as long about a year ago now I fill them at the gas station

[brassballs]

Be careful when filling tanks. I fill my own so I only put 4.5 gallons in the 5 gallon tanks. I had a couple stored out side and 2 in the garage, came home to a very smelly garage as one had started to bleed off. propane gas tends to just lay on the floor (ground) when theres no air movement and very big boom can result just from the small spark of a light switch.

[choprzrul]

Be careful when filling tanks. I fill my own so I only put 4.5 gallons in the 5 gallon tanks. I had a couple stored out side and 2 in the garage, came home to a very smelly garage as one had started to bleed off. propane gas tends to just lay on the floor (ground) when theres no air movement and very big boom can result just from the small spark of a light switch.

^^Words of Wisdom^^

I had a shop burn down when I lived in Nebraska. Vapor concentrated on the floor until the contactor on an old deepfreeze kicked on. 100 degree day and the wind stopped, so ventilation stopped.

.

[problemchild]

Not just propane its everything we buy.

I bought instant coffee a 100 pack and it had 98 packs
I bought 1000 Federal 223 bullets from MiWal at the gunshow and it was short 24 rounds
I bought breakfast cereal and it weighed 26.2oz and was supposed to be 28oz

I could list 20 things that have been shorted on me lately. Its the new norm to short product. Most people do not have a scale at home so its easy to F the customer.

[gravedigger]

I bought breakfast cereal and it weighed 26.2oz and was supposed to be 28oz

Yeah, if the box has been on the shelf too long, the bugs in the cereal will eat about two ounces of the content.

[WokMaster1]

Yeah, if the box has been on the shelf too long, the bugs in the cereal will eat about two ounces of the content.

But if you add in the weight of the bugs plus their poop, that should balance back up, no?