Propane tank question

[pmui]

Hi to all you BBQ gas grillers,

I've been using charcoal for ages, and I just purchased my first gas grill. I'm confused about the propane tank deal. I currently don't have a tank yet. But what is the deal with exchange and refilling of the tank?

Thanks.

 

[REEF MANIA]

Your grille should have came with a empty tank. Most Home Depot fill tanks. You bring them your empty and they exchange it for a clean full tank. If you want to always keep your tank. You will have to search for places that refill propane tanks. I think home depot charges $20

 

[Imbarrie]

My grill did not come with a tank. I bought two tanks and get them filled at a garden center in town.
If you have a new tank don't do the exchange, you will end up with a crappy tank.
Tanks have an inspection and expiration date. After that date you will have to replace it.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Always do the exchange. There's no hassle and you'll always have a tank that's in proper working order. There's a bleed off valve on each tank that if it's left in the sun and gets too hot and the pressure builds a lot it bleeds off the excess pressure. If that sticks it could be bad. If you have a new tank each time that most likely will never be an issue.

Also don't leave it in the sun if it's not in the grill, always store it in the shade. But if your valve ever does bleed off and you hear it hiss and then stop, don't worry it's performing it's sole function.

 

[8pixel]

Just take your empty tank to a propane dealer in your area to refill. Out here in nnj prices for refilling a standard sized tank is also around $20. When your tank seems low just put it on a scale to see the remaining capacity...your tank will have a weight marking on it around the rim that will tell you how much the tank weighs when it is empty (like 17 lbs).

 

[kenconnect]

you can buy the 1st tank and when its empty all you have to do is exchange it for a full one. as reef mania said home depot or even some gas station also.

 

[albano]

Always do the exchange. There's no hassle and you'll always have a tank that's in proper working order.

+1...best way!

 

[masterswimmer]

I've been doing the exchange for years. Always thought it was the best way.....until my last trip to our local garden center. They have a kick a$$ price for propane refills at $13.97 each. They even run a special every now and then for $10 refills. When I brought my three Home Depot 'Rhino' tanks to the garden center for refills they said that those HD tanks are causing them (the garden center) to rip me off. They said the HD 'Rhino' brand tanks are only 15 lbs of propane. The refillable tanks the garden center sells are 20 lb refills. That works out to 33% more propane for the same refill price of $13.97 (or $10 on special).

Summation:

3 x 15 lb Rhino tanks = 45 lbs of propane for $60
or
3 x 20 lb refillable garden center tanks = 60 lbs of propane for $42 (or $30 on special)

No brainer for me.

Russ

 

[cmantis]

Also keep in mind that you want two tanks. Nothing worse than running out of pane when you got stuff on the grill. Trust me it will happen. Next you should step your game up and get a bullet smoker!

 

[pmui]

Thanks everyone for all the input. The grill i'm getting is a portable grill, it does not come with a tank. I did purchase a stand and the hose connection to make it semi-permanent. The reason i got a portable, is so i can take it (car)camping. I'm tired of lugging 2 large bags of charcoal to the camp site, and the fire ring/grill is filthy.
So that's why i'm getting a gas unit, also it's a plus...i can grill in the winter by just turning it on. With the charcoal i have to light it and wait. I will still use my charcoal grill, to slow cook mmmmm.... Thanks again.

 

[FRY]

you can not refill in new york city fire dep code

 

[pmui]

I live in NJ, so i can refill here.

I p/u a new full tank at HD for $43., the refills are $14.83. I did notice it was only a 15# tank.

I found out there is a place near me that refill, got to find out what it cost to refill.

 

[TimberTDI]

I've been doing the exchange for years. Always thought it was the best way.....until my last trip to our local garden center. They have a kick a$$ price for propane refills at $13.97 each. They even run a special every now and then for $10 refills. When I brought my three Home Depot 'Rhino' tanks to the garden center for refills they said that those HD tanks are causing them (the garden center) to rip me off. They said the HD 'Rhino' brand tanks are only 15 lbs of propane. The refillable tanks the garden center sells are 20 lb refills. That works out to 33% more propane for the same refill price of $13.97 (or $10 on special).

Summation:

3 x 15 lb Rhino tanks = 45 lbs of propane for $60
or
3 x 20 lb refillable garden center tanks = 60 lbs of propane for $42 (or $30 on special)

No brainer for me.

Russ

Please share said garden center!!

 

[masterswimmer]

Please share said garden center!!

Hudson Valley Landscaping, New Hampton (near LAM Electric). It is a bit of a ride for you (and me), but I fill three tanks at a time and that makes it worth it.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

if you're in north jersey up by upper saddle river/ramsey area, there's a tool/machinery rental place on rt 17 north (can't remember the name) near olive garden. you can buy a full tank there and swap for another when it's empty or you can bring your own and they will fill it....you may have to wait awhile if they're busy.
don't worry about the appearance of the tank.....not nice and shiny like a brand new one but is in perfectly working condition.
i refill one (because my grill came with an empty brand new one) and swap the one i bought from them as a spare (an old filled one). i hate running out of propane during a big party....it seems to run out during a big bash on a sunday where you can't find any place open(at least not in bergen county).

 

[thirty5]

I have natural gas grill so no need for me time worry about refills but I can't take mine anywhere.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Reef Fixations]

if you're in north jersey up by upper saddle river/ramsey area, there's a tool/machinery rental place on rt 17 north (can't remember the name) near olive garden. you can buy a full tank there and swap for another when it's empty or you can bring your own and they will fill it....you may have to wait awhile if they're busy.
don't worry about the appearance of the tank.....not nice and shiny like a brand new one but is in perfectly working condition.
i refill one (because my grill came with an empty brand new one) and swap the one i bought from them as a spare (an old filled one). i hate running out of propane during a big party....it seems to run out during a big bash on a sunday where you can't find any place open(at least not in bergen county).

Anchor Rentals

 

[Reef Fixations]

If feasible, it's easy to order a natural gas conversion kit. It's a small part that meters the flow of gas vs. the flow of liquid (propane aka LP) but you have to be able to have a gas line that is accessible in your yard or deck. Pretty easy to do and you never run out. The replacement part is coalled an orifice and it is roughtly the size of a pencil eraser.

I can't imagine a conversion kit costing more than $20 if that.

 

[masterswimmer]

I did want to run a natural gas line to my grill many years ago. I was told the building code prohibited any fixed gas line to be run to any grill that was on wheels or basically not fixed or mounted to the deck/patio. Not sure if the code has been changed, but I can't see that it would be any more lax.

Russ

 

[Reef Fixations]

I did want to run a natural gas line to my grill many years ago. I was told the building code prohibited any fixed gas line to be run to any grill that was on wheels or basically not fixed or mounted to the deck/patio. Not sure if the code has been changed, but I can't see that it would be any more lax.

Russ

NJ is different. It's not an issue at all. I've installed lots of them in the past.

They even come with "quick connect" ends similiar to compressor hoses and once disconnected they automatically shut off.