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 pita45 
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Joined: Dec 2005  OH, USA
 Posts: 1059 Feedback: 100% (1) |
Posted: 11/21/2011 3:48:39 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT But I tried of not getting what I think is a full tank. WalMart tank only lated 2 mothes. Under $20.00 I use it two times a week and once on the weekend. Three chips or four bugers. No big cook outs. First where to go for a full tank? If I put it on my bathroom scale! What should the tank wt full be? How long does the hive tanks last? How often to you cook with it? Thanks for the help! I will not go to WalMart, if a better place is found! PITA45 
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Posted: 11/21/2011 4:04:45 PM
Are you shutting the tank off at the valve between grilling? Every grill I've owned will slow leak the tank dry if only shut off at the grill console.
Anyway, most places fill 20lb tanks to 15-17lbs. The weight of the tank is imprinted on the tank handle "TW ##" (TW = tare weight). Empty tank weighs about 20lbs, if I remember right. I use fishing scale to measure the tanks on my camper. Total lbs-TW=remaining propane. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 11/21/2011 4:32:59 PM
It's a pretty known fact that the tank exchange programs don't give you a completely full tank. I only use them when I need a newer condition tank. I'm not sure about in Ohio, but many true values or ace hardware stores can fill the propane tanks for you.
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Posted: 11/21/2011 4:46:29 PM
find a propane dealer, have them fill it for you. That's the easiest and most cost effective way to get propane in a grill tank.
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Posted: 11/21/2011 4:47:48 PM
[Last Edit: 11/21/2011 4:50:38 PM by biere]
You can run a google search and read up on walmart exchange tanks, and these days I consider all exchange tanks to be a similar fill, vs. you taking your good tank somewhere and letting them fill up your tank. I live in the sticks and by regulations they won't fill a tank all the way up. They have to leave some room in it. Walmart likes to keep their tanks under 20 bucks for an exchange, or at least a pretty good article with some history on how walmart used to have tanks with more liquid in them made me believe it anyway. Psychology stuffy and all that is the short version. Depending on who fills my tank I might get exactly 4 gallons put into a 5 gallon tank. Sometimes I get a tad more. No longer do I get a lot more. Different tanks weigh different amounts so you could weigh a new and unused exchange tank and then weigh it when empty and see what you think, normally you get 15-17 lbs in a fill is my experience but I am not an expert and we have some certified propane folks on here who might chime in as well. I always shut off my 5 gallon tanks no matter what they are hooked onto. I usually go ahead and shut the tank off while the grille or heater is running and that way it runs out all the gas in the line as well. I have had one 5 gallon tank get a stuck valve somehow, it would not shut down and I rigged up a line with a good on/off valve to allow me to go ahead and use up the propane in the tank and then I took it to a good company that could actually realize why I marked it as a bad valve and change it out. This tank came from an exchange and was full but upon opening it the valve would not fully seal shut when closing it off. And I tried a few times. Those are my thoughts on propane tanks. I have about 10 of the 5 gallon ones wandering around and they get exchanged if they get old and yucky and just downright nasty rusty. I like propane and I do my best to make sure I keep the tanks full so I shut them off with their good valve. Now if you rigged up a real valve on your grille then maybe there is another issue, but all the grilles I have fixed and used over the years pretty much leaked gas a little here and a little there. I am adding an edit to say that the above mention of 15-17 lbs is on exchanges and of course my scale may vary from yours. I agree that the tanks are marked with their tare weight, I still like to test my scale against it when empty. |
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Waldo
World's Foremost Glock Hater
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Joined: Nov 2000 OH, USA
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Posted: 11/21/2011 4:54:22 PM
I think most of the exchange places are down to 15 lbs. I get mine filled full for $18 at the local camper place. I think U-Haul fills tanks too. not sure of the price there though. |
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Posted: 11/21/2011 5:09:50 PM
If you are in central OH, go to Geer Gas
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JDMnAR
Low Speed, High Drag
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Joined: Oct 2009 AR, USA
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Posted: 11/21/2011 5:10:03 PM
Your local farmers supply/RV place/campground should be able to fill it for you.
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Waldo
World's Foremost Glock Hater
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Posted: 11/21/2011 5:15:18 PM
[Last Edit: 11/21/2011 5:17:19 PM by Waldo]
How much propane does Blue Rhino put in its tanks?
Inflationary pressures, including the volatile costs of steel, diesel fuel, and propane, have had a significant impact on the cylinder exchange industry. In 2008, to help control these rising costs, Blue Rhino followed the example of other consumer products companies with a product content change. We reduced the amount of propane in our tanks from 17 pounds to 15 pounds. http://www.bluerhino.com/BRWEB/Help/FAQ/Tank-Exchange/How-much-propane-does-Blue-Rhino-put-in-its-tanks-.aspx They were screwing you from the get go @17 lbs instead of 20. |
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paul1911
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Joined: Nov 2004 MO, USA
 
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Posted: 11/21/2011 6:10:34 PM
What other have said. U haul, farm supply and some gas stations.
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Posted: 11/21/2011 6:41:29 PM
full tank weight is around 46lbs.
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intheburbs
Appleseed Shoot Boss
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Joined: Jan 2008 MI, USA
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Posted: 11/21/2011 7:52:26 PM
I get mine filled at the local hardware store. A full tank lasts me about three months of grilling, 1-2 times a week.
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Posted: 11/21/2011 8:32:05 PM
Get the tank filled at a Tractor Supply. The Exchange tanks only have 14 to 15 lbs in a 20lb cylinder. They didn't want to raise the price so they lowered the amount of gas per cylinder.
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mattfoley
Reacts violently with water
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Joined: Jan 2009 IN, USA
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Posted: 11/21/2011 8:44:19 PM
menards has tank exchange for 17.82 (17 lb fill) around here.
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Posted: 11/21/2011 9:04:59 PM
If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon.
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Posted: 11/21/2011 9:12:31 PM
Originally Posted By ColtRifle:
If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon. Yeah those 100 #'er's are real handy to load up and get filled  |
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Posted: 11/21/2011 9:50:47 PM
Been in the propane business nearly all my life.There is a number stamped on the side of the bottle. It should read T.W (around 20lbs). Take it to you local propane dealer and have them weigh the bottle while filling. The end weight should be 20lbs plus whatever the number on the side of the bottle is. That way you know your getting a full tank. Hank Hill approves this message
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HomeSlice
Part of the 3%
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Posted: 11/21/2011 10:44:34 PM
[Last Edit: 11/21/2011 10:46:01 PM by HomeSlice]
Originally Posted By zlman: Originally Posted By ColtRifle: If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon. Yeah those 100 #'er's are real handy to load up and get filled I took 5 each 20 pounders to the local hardware store to fill. They charged me for 1-100lb instead of 5-20's (19lb fill, BTW, he looked at the tare on each one and moved the scales twice). Saved me about $20... YMMV -Slice ETA: I asked why 19 vs 20, and he replied something about legal liability from their supplier, and signing a waiver that they wouldn't go over 95% of rated capacity. |
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Bubbatheredneck
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Joined: Feb 2001 USA
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Posted: 11/21/2011 10:49:38 PM
Check your local RV parks.
Some RV parks have good prices, some not so good. |
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Posted: 11/22/2011 1:39:16 AM
[Last Edit: 11/22/2011 1:41:47 AM by EXPY37]
Originally Posted By aslack99:
Been in the propane business nearly all my life.There is a number stamped on the side of the bottle. It should read T.W (around 20lbs). Take it to you local propane dealer and have them weigh the bottle while filling. The end weight should be 20lbs plus whatever the number on the side of the bottle is. That way you know your getting a full tank. Hank Hill approves this message Well, it will vary with the tank... Went out and looked at a 20# tank and wrote down the info on the valve shroud. TW 16.6# That's the weight of the EMPTY cylinder. WC 47.6 This number is the water capacity [volume of the cylinder] in pounds of water. Also, [not stamped into the tank] propane weighs ~4,2 pounds per gallon And water weighs 8.35 pounds per gallon [all numbers approx] So, the tank volume in GALLONS is 47.6/8.35 = 5.7 GALLONS that the tank will hold of any liquid -completely full. Now find how much propane it will hold -completely full- by multiplying the weight of propane in pounds per gallon or 5.7 gallons x 4.2 pounds/gallon = about 24 pounds of propane when the tank is completely full But, law requires propane tanks to be filled to -no more- than 80% of capacity so multiply 24 x 80% 24 x .8 = 19.2 pounds. This number is the max allowable fill for the tank used in this example. You can use this info to quickly find the max legal fill for any tank you own. |
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Posted: 11/22/2011 1:40:53 AM
Originally Posted By zlman:
Originally Posted By ColtRifle:
If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon. Yeah those 100 #'er's are real handy to load up and get filled They make 20, 40, 50 pound tanks. I like the 50 pounders. 
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HomeSlice
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Posted: 11/22/2011 1:47:59 AM
Originally Posted By EXPY37: Originally Posted By zlman: Originally Posted By ColtRifle: If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon. Yeah those 100 #'er's are real handy to load up and get filled They make 20, 40, 50 pound tanks. I like the 50 pounders. Our camper has a pair of 30's on it... |
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Posted: 11/22/2011 1:52:52 AM
Originally Posted By HomeSlice:
Originally Posted By EXPY37:
Originally Posted By zlman:
Originally Posted By ColtRifle:
If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon. Yeah those 100 #'er's are real handy to load up and get filled They make 20, 40, 50 pound tanks. I like the 50 pounders.
Our camper has a pair of 30's on it... That's impossible... 
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HomeSlice
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Posted: 11/22/2011 2:02:31 AM
Originally Posted By EXPY37: Originally Posted By HomeSlice: That's impossible...Our camper has a pair of 30's on it... Maybe! Could be midget 40's I suppose  |
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Kibby
Guarding the Flock
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Posted: 11/22/2011 3:56:10 AM
Originally Posted By ColtRifle:
If you get a 100 lb propane tank and hook it up to your grill, you can pay a lot less per gallon. I always use a 40-pounder, which I get filled at my local hardware store. Lasts a looong time. |
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showpare
Leaders Of Survival, Evasion, & Reconnoitering
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Posted: 11/22/2011 5:56:38 AM
The 15 pound Walmart exchange is not a bad deal if you are exchanging rusty old style tanks that were free from craigs list or freecycle. Walmart will take them all and be glad to do it. During exchanges over that last two years, I found two noticeably lighter tanks as they were handed to me. The valves were not tight. I asked for a ‘full’ tank and there was no issue. The chick pulled the cap off of the one, I guess so nobody else got it. When one of the ‘new’ exchange tanks needs a refill, I take it across the street to the gas station, same price for about 18 pounds.
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