Around you, how much cheaper is refilling propane tanks vs exchange?

[evident]

pretty much my entire life where i had to bbq i've used a propane exchange which would go anywhere from 12 bucks at lowes to 16 at the local hardware store. several people have told me to get a propane refill as it would be cheaper. I just recently found out there was a gas station near me that does propane refills. I stopped there yesterday and it cost $16 for a normal sized tank, which is the exact same price as exchanging it. is there something i'm missing here? or are there places where refills are really that much cheaper than exchange?

Also, I googled this and read that some propane exchanges don't fill the tank entirely, but since i can't really confirm this right now, i'm not sure...

 

[PottedMeat]

here walmart is the cheapest - $15.99, anywhere else it's $19.99+ for exchanges.

the only price i can find for refills is uhaul and they're doing $3.89/gallon, supposedly the refilled 20lb tanks are 16lbs propane -> ~3.7 gallons -> ~$14

 

[SKORPI0]

Propane Tanks - To Refill or to Exchange

Propane Exchange vs. Refill: Myth Busted

The Truth About Filling 20 LB BBQ Grill Propane Tanks

 

[DrPizza]

Indians - reservation - I think it was $8 or $9 last time to fill each tank. And, they fill them; a lot of times, the exchanges don't have the whole 20 pounds.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Always refill. Exchange places typically only give you 15 pounds instead of 16 pounds.

 

[mmntech]

How much to get a natural gas line installed and convert the BBQ. When we did it, was a couple hundred bucks but saves the pain of having to get the tank refilled.

 

[OutHouse]

How much to get a natural gas line installed and convert the BBQ. When we did it, was a couple hundred bucks but saves the pain of having to get the tank refilled.

I so want to do this.

i pay about 10 bucks to go to the KOA and have them fill it. the gas station charges about 23 for exchange and over 40 to buy the tank.

i keep 3 bottles. one in the grill and two spares.

 

[MongGrel]

Have a propane place about 4 blocks away and refill, though I do not use it much and cheaper.

 

[MongGrel]

How much to get a natural gas line installed and convert the BBQ. When we did it, was a couple hundred bucks but saves the pain of having to get the tank refilled.

Do not even have natural gas available where I am, but I grew up with one that way right outside the back door, we'd just fire it up a lot of the time in the middle of winter with snow on the ground.

I just do charcoal on the weekends these days I guess.

 

[HumblePie]

Only reason to exchange is if the service code on the tank is about to expire. Exchange it for a newer one and let the exchanger pay for having it retested

 

[vi edit]

Natural Gas line FTW. Even if it costs you a couple hundred bucks, the long term payoff and convenience is awesome. Natural gas is about 1/2 the price than propane. If you are a heavy griller, it's the way to go.

 

[rudder]

I only exchange if I am grilling on a Sunday and not paying attention to how much propane I have left in the tank. The refill place by me is only open during the week.

 

[HumblePie]

Natural Gas line FTW. Even if it costs you a couple hundred bucks, the long term payoff and convenience is awesome. Natural gas is about 1/2 the price than propane. If you are a heavy griller, it's the way to go.

Assuming there is any company nearby willing to pump to you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have 3 tanks and I always refill and try to keep at least one full spare on hand at all times. There is a gas station a couple miles from my house that sells propane so it isn't too much of a hassle to go over there and have a tank or two filled up a couple times a year.

I like the propane option because in case of natural disaster I can still cook food for a good long time.

 

[DrPizza]

I have 3 tanks and I always refill and try to keep at least one full spare on hand at all times. There is a gas station a couple miles from my house that sells propane so it isn't too much of a hassle to go over there and have a tank or two filled up a couple times a year.

I like the propane option because in case of natural disaster I can still cook food for a good long time.

Several times, I've seen people throwing out perfectly good tanks with grills that they're replacing. When possible, I snag the tank. I've got to have at least half a dozen tanks around the house.

 

[nickbits]

Always refill. Exchange places typically only give you 15 pounds instead of 16 pounds.

You mean 15 instead of 20. 20 lbs is already the 80% value.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

I usually refill unless I'm in a pinch. You get more for your money for sure.

 

[slag]

Natural Gas line FTW. If you are a heavy griller, it's the way to go.

I may be fat, but that's none of your business!

 

[evident]

Several times, I've seen people throwing out perfectly good tanks with grills that they're replacing. When possible, I snag the tank. I've got to have at least half a dozen tanks around the house.

Exactly what I did. Friends sold their house butdidn't move their rusty pos charbroil grill across country (I don't blame them) so I snagged 2 propane tanks, now I have 4.
And although I have natural gas to my house I don't think it's a feasible cost for me as I think we're only going to be in this house for less than 10 more years and it would probably cost a crap ton

 

[Red Squirrel]

I heard that when you refill they'll charge you a flat rate based on the size of the tank and not how much they actually put in, but I don't know if that's true.

I have two tanks, I always keep one filled and run the BBQ until it runs out, then I just swap the tanks and keep grilling.

 

[Eug]

I heard that when you refill they'll charge you a flat rate based on the size of the tank and not how much they actually put in, but I don't know if that's true.

I have two tanks, I always keep one filled and run the BBQ until it runs out, then I just swap the tanks and keep grilling.

I do the same as you but I own the two tanks because it is cheaper to refill.

The places around here go by weight. They charge a flat fee and then fill to a certain weight. If it's half full already then that's lost money for you.

It also worries me a bit that the used ones you get in an exchange occasionally look like they've been through a war.