Gas Rant (propane)

[wdfifteen]

Ahh. BR fills the tank to 75% because the government tells them to. Got it.
Is this the same government that allows my local company to put 20 lb in my 20 lb tank?

[Inukshuk]

From what I know cylinders are only to be filled to 80% capacity for safety reasons which allows for expansion. As far as a cylinder not emptying completely this could be temperature related as the lower the outside temperature the lower the gas pressure in the cylinder.

[daepp]

Vinman - I use ng for grilling as well. It's the portable patio heaters we use in the evening on the porches that is sucking my bottles dry


Fixed the CYA sticker - don't know what happened.



Re Overfill Prevention Devices:
- why are they necessary now? They are not used on rv's etc.
- are they stopping my local refillers from filling them to capacity? The process at the pump looks the same as ever - hook it up, open side valve, turn on pump, watch for product exiting side valve, close it, turn off pump.
- so is the float stopping the filling of the propane bottle?

If it is, at least I'm only paying for what does get added. Perhaps that explains why they don't seem to last as long.

[daepp]

From an industry organ known as propane101.com

[TerryH]

My nice pretty stainless gas Weber hasn't seen action in over 4 yrs since I got reacquainted with charcoal and oak. Home Depot and Lowes sell 2 bags for $10 every spring. I buy 10 bags or so, good for the year. Yeah, a little more work/prep/cleanup, but everything tastes so much better. I use fatwood to light the chimney, no lighter fluid flavor added. Hoping to get a Big Green Egg later this year.

[wdfifteen]

More adventures in propane buying.

I took a tank in to have it refilled. It was originally from one of those exchange places, US Gas.
Anyhow, the gas filler guy couldn't fill it because it was out of date and too old to recertify. The manufacturing date on it was 1988. They can only be recertified 3 times, meaning the last certification ran out in 2015 (first is 12 years, then recert every 5 years 3x). But he gave me a tip - sort through the tanks to find one with a late certification date so in the future it can be refilled by any propane store. So I took it across the street to exchange it. Every one of the full tanks was on its last certification. So not only do you pay more for the gas, you end up getting stuck buying from them over and over again because their tanks can't be reused - at least with US Gas. I guess I could have taken it to Blue Rhino or one of the others and maybe they would have a newer tank, but I needed to get dinner on. Live and learn.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

This is why I run my grills off NG. Been years since I've use propane.

.

I did the same.
Piped NG from the garage to the grill, took out the restriction orifices and bingo, never mess with gas cylinders again. Plus it costs pennies for the fuel to BBQ.

[Joe Bob]

Just exchange it at the Rhino retail outlet. Get one with a newer date.

"I" will be hooking up the BBQ to the farm's propane tank.....screw it....I'll never run out in the middle of s steak grill again.....

[tabs]

I only use hard wood logs for my Klose, preference is Oak backed up with a fruit wood for flavor. On the BGE and Weber Grill , Hardwood charcoal, favor OAK, but Mesquite is fine.

I bought a 100K btu WOK burner ($80) that uses Propane. Propane was the path of least resistance. got a Tank at HD and a pressure gauge for $49.00. A fill up at my local BBQ wood place ran $13.59 out the door..Since I only use the Burner for about 10 minutes each time a tank will last a long time.

40# bags of hardwood lump charcoal runs $14.00 if you buy more than 2 the price is $12.00. Bags of hard wood logs are around $12 for a cubic ft.

Nothing beats charcoal or Logs for taste. Nothing beats using the high heat for oriental food.

[daepp]

I plumbed my grill to NG; however the three patio heaters consume a lot of gas in our harsh SoCal winters...

[look 171]

Originally Posted by 5String43

Right, here in California we've had to replace tanks a couple of times in the last decade. As I recall, this was because of new rules regarding the valves. So, OK, fine. If they're "safer," I guess that's a net gain.

We've got two tanks, both used for our grill. I make sure one of them always is full and ready to go. As for refills, we have a commercial propane joint just a couple of miles from our home. (This is immediately adjacent to a set of railroad tracks, a fact that greatly worries the local authorities, but that's another topic.) When a tank goes empty, I just haul it down to this place and have it filled. The cost is between $9 and $11, depending on the price of propane at the moment. The replacement stations around here want $20 to $25. I like refill deal better, tightwad that I am.

My BBQ and fire place is NG now. Tired of going to fill tanks when I am super hungry only to find there's an empty tank. I only use propane for our nation heater. I have been a good boy and did the exchange program some years back.

I go to a similar place. Is it off San Fernando Road?