Propane tanks. Refill or rent?

[daepp]

One more thing - in the old days, if you wanted to know if a tank was empty, you only had to (safely) open the valve and see if anything comes out.

However, at some time in the past they added a check valve to the feed connection, thus eliminating your ability to see if what you're carrying around is just 16 lbs of tank, or tank + propane.

Of course using a scale is always safer, but not nearly as convenient.

[vash]

i pour hot water on the tank.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by daepp

One more thing - in the old days, if you wanted to know if a tank was empty, you only had to (safely) open the valve and see if anything comes out.

However, at some time in the past they added a check valve to the feed connection, thus eliminating your ability to see if what you're carrying around is just 16 lbs of tank, or tank + propane.

Of course using a scale is always safer, but not nearly as convenient.

they have translucent tanks you can actually see through (fiberglass). I am sure they are stupid expensive but pretty cool

https://vikingcylinders.com/products/lifestyle/


Blue Rino is 14.99 at the walmart nearest me. I go through about 6 tanks a year so I think I am wasting only 20$ a year at most for the convenience. I always exchange late in the evening when it is quiet and quick.

We hope to redo our patio soon so I really want to use hardmounted nat gas.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by aschen

they have translucent tanks you can actually see through (fiberglass). I am sure they are stupid expensive but pretty cool

https://vikingcylinders.com/products/lifestyle/


Blue Rino is 14.99 at the walmart nearest me. I go through about 6 tanks a year so I think I am wasting only 20$ a year at most for the convenience. I always exchange late in the evening when it is quiet and quick.

We hope to redo our patio soon so I really want to use hardmounted nat gas.

I have those fiberglass tanks with my propane exchange. Pretty cool to be able to see the level of fuel, so you know when to get another tank as backup. One of our radio stations had a 50% off deal. 2 filled tanks for $25.

[vash]

Originally Posted by aschen

they have translucent tanks you can actually see through (fiberglass). I am sure they are stupid expensive but pretty cool

https://vikingcylinders.com/products/lifestyle/


Blue Rino is 14.99 at the walmart nearest me. I go through about 6 tanks a year so I think I am wasting only 20$ a year at most for the convenience. I always exchange late in the evening when it is quiet and quick.

We hope to redo our patio soon so I really want to use hardmounted nat gas.

i want one!!

[SCadaddle]

2 pages and no Hank?!

[wdfifteen]

I just noticed the title of the thread, “Refill or Rent.” You don’t really rent, do you? You pay Blue Rhino the cost of a new tank up front. Do you ever get that back? Can you just say, “I’m done, I want my initial investment back,” or do they say, “Thanks for buying the tank and giving it back!”

[A930Rocket]

I’ve always bought wherever it was convenient, but last time went to Sunbelt Rentsls to fill it up. The scale was broken but he put in 4.5 gallons of gas at $4.50 per gallon.

What’s a gallon of propane weigh?

I’ll try the KOA near us and see what they have next time.

Edit: “1 gallon of propane weighs 4.2 pounds. A "full" 20 lb cylinder should have 4.7 gallons or propane in it.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I’ve always bought wherever it was convenient, but last time went to Sunbelt Rentsls to fill it up. The scale was broken but he put in 4.5 gallons of gas at $4.50 per gallon.

What’s a gallon of propane weigh?

I’ll try the KOA near us and see what they have next time.

Edit: “1 gallon of propane weighs 4.2 pounds. A "full" 20 lb cylinder should have 4.7 gallons or propane in it.

I take "The Rapists" for $200 Alex. $4.50 a gallon? OUCH! I just paid $2.15

[daepp]

Those are way cool Vash - thanks for the tip!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

What’s a gallon of propane weigh?
.

Technically it depends on the pressure it’s under. That’s why they sell it by weight and not volume. A 20 lb tank of propane is full of propane even if there is no liquid in it. For practical purposes, a gallon of liquid propane weighs a little over 4 pounds.

[Joe Bob]

Buy a Blue Rhino. Check the date on it. Use it and refill at a gas station that doesn't have a flat rate. BR only fills them to 75% capacity.

Best to buy two. Sucks running out half way thru a steak burn....

[wdfifteen]

^^
Maybe. If you turn it back to BR when it’s out of certification you can avoid the hassle of getting the tank recertified. That is an additional convenience consideration.

[Joe Bob]

The retailer doesn't check dates. So it's common to swap out of date tanks.

[wdfifteen]

^^
That’s what I’m saying, you can trade an out of cert tank for a good one for the price of 5 pounds of propane and you can do it almost anywhere.

[Joe Bob]

Not my experience. Blue rhino is the only one that doesn’t check that doesn’t check dates. Also the only one that I know of that sells full tanks.

[wdfifteen]

..
Post 32 you say they only fill the to 75%, in post 35 you say they sell full tanks.
My America’s dealer (a drive through beer store) doesn’t check dates.

[Joe Bob]

They are 5 gallon tanks. They put a plastic sleeve over it and it gives the required fill but it teeny tiny script.

Trust me, I called the County Weights and Measures agency when I worked for SB County. This said it was a crappy way to do it but legal.

[vash]

in closing:

just bought 4.35 gallons at $3.16 per gallon. WAY cheaper than blue Rhino!!

[wdfifteen]

I had an interesting experience at our local propane refiller today. I took the empty America Gas tank the Mrs WD bought in to be refilled. It still had the sleeve saying America Gas on it. Oops. They wouldn't touch it - recommended that I take the sleeve off and take it to the gas station down the street that sells Blue Rhino and swap it out. I asked if the problem was the America Gas sleeve. Yep. If I had taken the sleeve off they could refill it. Company policy was not to refill exchange tanks because they are typically old and often out or about out of certification, and they don't want the liability. If the sleeve was gone they wouldn't know it was an exchange tank, just that it was an old POS tank.