Propane Cylinder Exchange Program: Amerigas or Blue Rhino?

[mshan]

I recently bought a Weber Q 100 grill and Weber 6501 adapter hose for use with 20 lb. propane tanks.

I googled and found that Amerigas and Blue Rhino both offer propane cylinder exchange programs at approximately the same price locally.

Is there any difference in quality between the two companies, in terms of price increase over time, and especially in how well they refurbish the returned propane cylinders for resale?

 

[waggy]

i had amerigas for home heating. I HATED THEM. so i wouldnt use them...also i don't use propane for grilling thats just wrong.


anyway it really does not matter. its the same stuff.

 

[Drako]

I've used both, and don't have a preference either way.

It seems like Blue Rhino sells at a lot of gas stations around here, so I've been using them more lately.

 

[theknight571]

I just get mine refilled.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Does it matter? I just take my empty tank to the gas station or walgreens and trade them for whatever they have.

 

[imported_Section8]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

 

[dirtboy]

I get my tanks refilled. It's a fraction of the price you'll pay for the exchange.

 

[DrPizza]

AFAIK, you can exchange them at either place - whichever is more convenient; i.e. you're not going to be locked into a brand. It's usually cheaper to just get them refilled if you have that available as an option nearby. Locally, I can get mine refilled at B.J.'s for either $9.99 or $10.99 (I can't remember which it is), and I can get it refilled at a hardware store for about $14. The exchange was $18 last I checked. I have 3 or 4 tanks laying around - if some idiot puts a grill out at the curb with a "free" sign on it and includes the tank, then I get that tank. If the tank looks rusty, but still has the proper valve on it, then I exchange the tank for a nicer one. It's nice not to run out of gas in the middle of bbq chicken.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: Section8

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

I would do that too, but the closest refilling station to me is 50 miles away, but I have two exchange spots within 1/2 mile of my house. I think I will pass on the 100 mile drive to save $10

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

I would do that too, but the closest refilling station to me is 50 miles away, but I have two exchange spots within 1/2 mile of my house. I think I will pass on the 100 mile drive to save $10

Many nursey locations have a propane fill station.
RV campsites also.

If your profile is correct, there are half a dozen within 10 miles of your location.
San Jose -Change City/State if your profile is flawed
Enter Zipcode

 

[Slick5150]

I had a Blue Rhino tank that was faulty, destroyed the grill, and nearly burned my house down. They denied all responsibility of course even though they agreed the tank was faulty. Lowes at least gave me a new grill for free to replace the destroyed one (that's where I got the tank exchanged).

So, I've used Amerigas since. Not that I'd imagine they're much better in that situation, but it made me feel better.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Section8

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

The problem I found with that is some of the places have filled only fill it half way. There's no obvious "full" blinking light that goes off and you are paying a flat rate not by the cubic foot or whatever it is. I've gotten tanks home before and using the very inexact weight gauge on my Weber it tells me I have a half full tank and it certainly seems to run out faster. I go to Lowes or someplace like that because I have faith that it's a tank in decent condition and it's actually full.

 

[sactoking]

Take a bottle of water with you to the refilling station. When the tank is full, pour the water down the side of the tank. The transition to cold is the fill line. If it's not full, make them fill it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Section8

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

The problem I found with that is some of the places have filled only fill it half way. There's no obvious "full" blinking light that goes off and you are paying a flat rate not by the cubic foot or whatever it is. I've gotten tanks home before and using the very inexact weight gauge on my Weber it tells me I have a half full tank and it certainly seems to run out faster. I go to Lowes or someplace like that because I have faith that it's a tank in decent condition and it's actually full.

Look at the weight of the tank when it is filled.
Most places should have a scale.

 

[spidey07]

Propane is propane, no difference.

I just do the exchange, it's cheap. And here's a tip - keep two containers that way you can burn one completely dry and just switch if need be. Exchange the other one at your leisure.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Section8

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

The problem I found with that is some of the places have filled only fill it half way. There's no obvious "full" blinking light that goes off and you are paying a flat rate not by the cubic foot or whatever it is. I've gotten tanks home before and using the very inexact weight gauge on my Weber it tells me I have a half full tank and it certainly seems to run out faster. I go to Lowes or someplace like that because I have faith that it's a tank in decent condition and it's actually full.

Look at the weight of the tank when it is filled.
Most places should have a scale.

It's not always that easy to stand over the guys shoulder like that. For a couple bucks extra it's worth the peace of mind to exchange imho.

 

[monk3y]

I've only used Blue Rhino... no problems.

 

[Jessica69]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Section8

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

The problem I found with that is some of the places have filled only fill it half way. There's no obvious "full" blinking light that goes off and you are paying a flat rate not by the cubic foot or whatever it is. I've gotten tanks home before and using the very inexact weight gauge on my Weber it tells me I have a half full tank and it certainly seems to run out faster. I go to Lowes or someplace like that because I have faith that it's a tank in decent condition and it's actually full.

Check the Blue Rhino sign again......they only put 17 pounds of propane in your 20 pound tank....they underfill it, too.

We get ours filled at a local gas company that actually puts the whole 20 pounds of gas into the tank....and cheaper than Blue Rhino. We don't have Amerigas around here.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

No kidding. Their exchange programs are outrageously expensive!

 

[JDMnAR1]

If you have a farmers co-op around there, they will generally have the ability to refill propane tanks. The ones here do it by weight so you get what you pay for.

 

[Codewiz]

While overblown and unlikely, I would just refill my tank.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/...me/a/propane_tanks.htm

Meth labs are using propane tanks and if you get one that was used in that scenario, watch out.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I usually do the exchange out of convenience....there's one right at the end of my street. I never "plan" on running out of LP.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Jessica69

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Section8

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
Get it refilled at about 1/2 the price of the exchanges.

QFT

The problem I found with that is some of the places have filled only fill it half way. There's no obvious "full" blinking light that goes off and you are paying a flat rate not by the cubic foot or whatever it is. I've gotten tanks home before and using the very inexact weight gauge on my Weber it tells me I have a half full tank and it certainly seems to run out faster. I go to Lowes or someplace like that because I have faith that it's a tank in decent condition and it's actually full.

Check the Blue Rhino sign again......they only put 17 pounds of propane in your 20 pound tank....they underfill it, too.

We get ours filled at a local gas company that actually puts the whole 20 pounds of gas into the tank....and cheaper than Blue Rhino. We don't have Amerigas around here.

Propane bottles should only be filled to (IIRC) about 90% of full. Generally, a 5 gallon bottle should only have about 4.5 gallons in it. Most places fill by volume instead of actual weight. (you notice they open a small bleeder screw in the side of the valve) when propane shoots out of that hole, the bottle is (theoretically) filled to the proper level.

http://www.propane101.com/propanecylinderfilling.htm

 

[insect9]

When you exchange, check the valve areas for blue or green residue. Meth cooks are buying propane tanks and emptying, then filling them with anhydrous ammonia and it weakens the tank structure. Could be dangerous if they return the tank. Just something to look for when you go get a tank.