20 lb propane tank fill up costs

[Wyobuckaroo]

Some one mentioned weighing a tank, then filling to get a tare weight.

Tare weight should be stamped on the collar of the tank that protects the valve, on smaller tanks anyway.
Not sure about 100lb tanks.

Wyo

[12vman]

My 100# bottles have the weight stamped in the protective collar. Each tank varies slightly by a pound or two.

The new 20# bottles have a float valve inside to avoid over filling. They are not filled by weight. The float valve will shut off the input when it gets filled to approx. 80% by liquid volume.

Sometimes this float valve will screw up and not allow gas to exit the tank when connected to a grill or whatever. Usually you can take the tank, invert it upside down and slowly return it right side up. Most times this will free the float valve. If not, turn the tank upside down, open the valve just slightly to let a little amount of propane to release, shut it off and slowly return it back right side up..

[keydl]

Originally Posted by bjacobson

I get mine filled at the local Amish bulk store for $12 for a 20# tank. I think it was only $10.50 last year, the swap out tanks at the gas stations are about $20 for exchange.

Here you get 14# in a 20# tank out of the rack and they are $25 at Walmart and $30 most others. They fill while you wait $16 for 20# in any legal tank.

[Nancymw]

$15 for 20lb refill at local propane company. Of course, that was 2 weeks ago!

[warriorwolf47]

Originally Posted by NCLee

Read somewhere that the refilled tanks are at less than 80%. Don't know if it's true

Lee

Yes it is true , I had my 20# tank refilled last summer (19 $) and the guy
at our local service station took 30 - 40 minutes to do it .
He told me that the propane provider told him to just fill only what would be needed to fill the tank and then charge for a full amount , needless to say he just wouldn't do that , it just took alot longer to bleed excess air and pressure out as the propane was filling .

I like this guy !

[KarenBC]

Last time I filled two 20 lb bottles it was $27.50 or so, at Costco.

[cubcadet]

I think it`s cheaper to use charcoal; even cheaper to use live embers from a good wood fire. Of course it`s less convenient. But heck, where`s the fun in that?:

[offgridbob]

I have been collecting several 30lb tanks and have enough for about a years worth of gas. I don't worry about the price to much because we are held captive. So every time one tank emptys, I just get it refilled and it doesn't seem to much. If I had to get them all filled at once it would break me. I'm fooling myself but keeping my mind.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Agree............

I still have several "old style" tanks to trade in on "new" tanks.

When I get them all recycled, I'm going to get refills at the local co-op.
That way I also get extra points on my Cabelas credit card............

Wyo
(saving for that new bass boat, chuckle, chuckle, snort)

[slappy888888]

I sell propane for $18.00 for a full 20# . you think that's a ripoff?? then pay my rent electric etc, and pay my employees too.....or do you think I should pay them $2 an hour? pay my insurance and and the money I spent installing the tank, backhoe concrete electrician block fence etc......you pay that and you can buy it for cost!!

same price as walmart except 5 pounds more!!!!!

[grumble]

Or, you can buy a wet valve, and just fill all your smaller tanks off your 250 or 500 gallon tank. I've been doing that for over 20 years now.

[Westcliffe01]

I have paid up to $50 to refill a 20lb cylinder on the western side of the rockies (Grand Junction) when I did the $18 "exchange" and got a basically empty cylinder from the machine. Last time I used one of those exchange systems and I got a nice rusty cylinder back in exchange for my shiny one...

At $18 for a full refill, I think it is a tough way to make a living, especially when the business only has 5-10 customers a day. The RVers make up for the BBQ types, since some have LARGE horizontal cylinders.

Now for $50 a refill, its a rip off, plain and simple.

[Musky]

I have been getting my tanks filled @ the Flying J truck stops. They have some of the best rates I have found and keep pretty current with the market with price. ( they do of course charge more than bulk price).
My 30# tanks for my camper are about 1/2 what I was paying at the campgounds etc.

[offgridbob]

I just hook up to our local politician and get all the free methane I want. now all I have to do is figure out how to use it in the cook stove with out it smelling like B.S.

[CarolAnn]

BOB!

I'm picturing the ugly plumbing you've got there!

[Plowpoint]

I paid $9 the other day, but I go to a refill location that weighs your tank "empty" then fills it and calculates the amount of propane still in it, and what they put into it to fill it.

If you go to a refill station that charges a flat rate, you probably are paying far more then you would for a station that calculates their input into the tank. Swap-out tanks are a rip off; pure and simple.

[HuntingHawk]

$17 at local hardware store to fill a 20# tank. $20 to exchange at the convenience store across the street. Out dated tanks I hit with some spray paint if bad rusted & have no problem exchanging.

Ross

[Beaniemaster2]

Just had to brag alittle, found 2 fifty pound tanks FILLED for $75 at the flea market

[GAWayne]

Originally Posted by slappy888888

I sell propane for $18.00 for a full 20# . you think that's a ripoff??

Welcome to the forum...I see that was your first post.

Just so everyone is aware, the comment just before yours was from last summer and the original post was from 2 years ago.

Maybe that explains some of the pricing.