Do you Exchange or Refill your Propane Tank?
Wednesday March 18, 2009
It would seem that there are fewer and fewer propane filling stations these days. With the growing popularity of propane tank exchange locations we may soon find it difficult to get our propane any other way. This is an unfortunately direction for our propane supply since exchanging can cost you more than refilling.
Either way, if you remember how much you paid for propane recently, please hit the reply link below and let us know if you refilled or exchanged and how much you paid.
POLL: Do you Exchange or Refill your Propane Tank?
1) Exchange
2) Refill
Comments
I just filled my 2 tanks this past weekend at a campground close to my house. It cost $15 per tank. I look around at the Blue Rhino stations and the best I could find was $22.99 plus tax. I believe you will find that most campgrounds to refill and will keep refilling. I do suggest trading in your tanks every couple of years to ensure safety.
I do both. I have a couple of 10 lb. tanks that I refill at U-Haul and the 20 lb. tanks for exchanging. The price to refill has gone up quite a bit the last couple of years and now it’s only a few dollars cheaper than exchanging.
I like exchange because I can hit the CVS store up the street late at night or early in the morning before a game and get propane and the filling stations are hard to find open on the weekends.
I used to exchange but I find that when I have them refilled they last much longer. I can see how much they put in on the gauge at the filling station and that’s what I pay for. You never know how much is in the tanks you exchange.
There is a rental business in our neighborhood with a refill station. I filled my tank last month for $18.99. The last fill up was in November for two dollars less. I have never done the exchange, only refilled.
My problem with the exchange thing is that of cost and the fact that when I first bought my gas grill I exchanged my BRAND NEW TANK and got a VERY used one
I have done both.
Currently I exchange, only because of the convenience of the method. It is several miles to the nearest refill station, plus they have short hours. I can go to Ace Hardware about 3 blocks from the house and exchange for about $17.99. Not much higher than a refill currently.
I just exchanged 2 tanks at Walmart (Blue Rhino). Price was $15.99. When I got home, I noticed that they decreased the amount of propane to only 15 lbs. It was 17 lbs at my last exchange. If you get a refill, how much do they fill it with, and what is the cost? Very tired of paying more for less!
I have done both fill and exchange, due to the costs of exchanging I am refilling my tank today. BSE Rents, Bakersfield charges $2.10/gal with a min $10.50 for propane. So to fill our bbq tank it’s $11.37. That’s alot better price compared to Home Depot exchange rate of $19.97
I just exchanged (May 2009) at Home Depot with a DIY Amerigas exchange. It was 18.99 plus tax. I was displeased, when I read the tank later at home, to find out it is only refilled with 15lbs. Next time I may try a refill if I can find a good location.
This doesn’t necessarily apply to the residential market, but at Forklift Propane Exchange we pickup, refill and deliver full canisters to our customers to save them the headache. Unfortunately there is not enough volume in the residential market to make sense of a delivery model.
Yeah, the “Blue Rhino” Amerigas refills are now only filled to 15lbs. Not only is it a ripoff, but if you’re not careful you can end up with an older tank.
I go out of my way to get the tanks filled at a local propane supplier. You pay less for more fuel.
peace
Blue Rhino is a complete ripoff. For years they were filling their tanks to about 18lbs and few noticed. They’ve since decided to get greedier by filling the tanks to only about 15lbs. When caught their only response was to say it was for safety reasons since overfilling a tank can be dangerous. This is a total lie. A 20lb propane tank for example, is designed to hold 20lbs (4.72 gallons)of propane which when filled will provide a 20% vapor area. Additionally, the valves in use today will not allow the tank to be overfilled. If someone has an older tank, any reputable dealer will not fill the tank. Apparently Amerigas is participating in this same ripoff. Did I mention that these two outfits also charge much more than if you were to refill at a local dealer? Fore example: The local Home Depot sells Blue Rhino exchanges for $22.99 for a 3/4 filled tank when I can go to a local dealer and get the full 20lb for about $15.
I am refilling a tank I purchased ($29 empty at costco). Refilling cost about $15 for close to empty tank Since there are blue rino locations everywhere I plan on having a second tank (used tank) to exchange with them.
I had been told and then confirmed that the standard is 17lbs in a 20lb tank. This is the general rule everywhere. It seems even the law in some places. Blue Rino used to do 17 but year or so ago started using 15lbs. They said it was to avoid a “price increase” LOL. They did not hide it but did not go out of their way to broadcast it either.
Always fill my tank at Southern States. They typically put in 16 to 18 pounds (about 3.9 to 4.2 gal) and charge by the gallon just for what you buy. Don’t know if they have a minimum. Today’s fill for 16 pounds was $15, and sometimes you can get it on sale for around $12. I checked into exchanges and around here they are a lot more expensive.
There seems to be ample feedback about this issue, but I noticed that no one mentioned UHaul. I just had our tank filled up there with almost 4 gallons of propane for $11. It was quick and easy.
I just had my tank refilled here in Tacoma and it was 2.79 a gallon. Call me a tightwad but I don’t want to pay more for less gas and get a tank that might be older than the one I have now.
We go to the local propane dealer and always get a full 20# of propane. I keep a spare tank ready so I don’t have to deal with the exchange people.
I just had my tank filled in a Knoxville, Tennessee U-Haul store. The walk out price (tax and all) was $11.23 for 2.74 gal. Obviously, the tank was not completely empty.
I would suggest that if you want to use the exchange method, buy 2 of the cheapest empty, but code compliant, tanks that you can find. Exchange both tanks for full tanks. Use one of the tanks until it is completely empty. Then install the second tank, and exchange the completely empty tank on your next trip to the store.
I think that a lot of people are afraid to take a chance on running out of propane in the middle of a cookout, so they exchange their tanks with a lot left in them. Also, don’t trust your grill’s spring gauge. My grill’s gauge showed empty, but it really had 40% left.
Let me also add that I still prefer to have my own tanks filled because I take care of mine, and the exchanged ones look like they’ve been dropped off a building. Plus, I get the bonus of a completely full tank, and not one of those short-changed partial fills from some of the tank exchangers.
I may have a little different view on propane tank refilling. We’ve refilled ours for years off of our own 500 & 1,000 gallon propane tanks using the same appartus used for refilling forklift and farm tractor tanks. Not practical or safe for most consumers but having also worked in the propane business I can say that your best value is almost always to have your own tank refilled to the Tare Weight + 20lbs or +30lbs, depending on the tank size of course and skip the whole tank exchange thing. Better yet, have two tanks on hand so you can run the one tank completely empty before refilling it as most refilling stations charge a flat rate no matter how empty [or not] your tank is.
Happy grilling!
I just moved and had to buy a new tank for my grill. I got a Blue Rhino and it seemed to get used up awfully fast. Where can I return my Blue Rhino tank and get a refund, or exchange it for a normal tank that can be filled anywhere? THe local capsites charge $15 for a refill. I’m feeling ripped off.
I just filled up a couple today for 2.30 per gallon, here in Southern Cali. It ended up being just over $20 for 2 tanks. My third tank was defective, so I replaced it with Amerigas for the same amount and it feels MUCH lighter! I haven’t weighed them yet, but I would say it is close to 5 pounds lighter. What a waste!!!!
FYI… Amerigas fills their tanks to 15 lbs.:
http://www.amerigas.com/exchange/consumer/
I am refiller, @16 dollars American at BJ’s, my wife exchanges(usually my shiny new tank)for an explosion hazard from BlueRhino for@22 bucks! Don’t get screwed!! refill your tank!!
I HAVE BEEN IN THE PROPANE INDUSTRY FOR 10 YEARS. THE CHEAPEST WAY IS TO GET YOUR BBQ OR CYLINDER FILL AT A LOCAT DISPENSER BUT HOW WOULD EVERYBODY FEEL WITH FREE CYLINDER CHANGE AT YOUR HOME OR BUISNESS? YOU EXCHANGE YOUR EMPTY BOTTLE WITH A FULL ONE.
Our local Rotten Robbie (Alamo,ca)has Blue Rhino tanks for exch/purchase only. No refills.
New tank $57, refill $24. d