Propane Cylinder Exchange Program: Amerigas or Blue Rhino?

[mississippibrad]

Ive worked for a propane company for almost 9 years and I can tell you that blue rhino, which is owned by ferrell gas, does not fill their cylinders all the way to the 80% full mark. a gallon of propane wieghs roughly 4.5 pounds. If you look on the side of a blue rhino bottle youll see that the net weight is 15 pounds. thats the weight of the propane not the cylinder. 15 pounds of propane is a little over 3 gallons. When we refill cylinders at work we put around 20 pounds in a 20 pound cylinder. . (thats why theyre called 20 pound cylinders not 15 pound cylinders) the cylinder itself weighs about 18 pounds. 20 pounds of propane = between 4 and 5 gallons. . . a full 20 pound cylinder will weigh apx 40 pounds if its filled to the 80% dip tube mark(all propane cylinders, tanks, and storage tanks are not legally allowed to be filled over 80% full) blue rhino fills their cylinders to about 60%. . . . if you want to experiment a little get 2 cylinders, have 1 refilled and exchange the other one and compare their weights on a bathroom scale at home. i can almost promise youll see a big difference. . blue rhino shorts you about a gallon. . refilling is definately the way to go. .all of these numbers are approxament

 

[Slew Foot]

I sell propane and propane accessories

 

[manly]

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.

I still have an old rusty tank I was hoping to exchange, but I recall reading Blue Rhino locks you in with a proprietary valve.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Although this is an old necro thread

If you purchase a new tank at a UHaul facility, they will also fill it for you at no cost.
the cost of a new tank is less than a refill from American or Blue Rhino
(as of last fall)

 

[dmcowen674]

Nevermind, thread Necro by paid shill

 

[dmcowen674]

Ive worked for a propane company for almost 9 years and I can tell you that blue rhino, which is owned by ferrell gas, does not fill their cylinders all the way to the 80% full mark. a gallon of propane wieghs roughly 4.5 pounds. If you look on the side of a blue rhino bottle youll see that the net weight is 15 pounds. thats the weight of the propane not the cylinder. 15 pounds of propane is a little over 3 gallons. When we refill cylinders at work we put around 20 pounds in a 20 pound cylinder. . (thats why theyre called 20 pound cylinders not 15 pound cylinders) the cylinder itself weighs about 18 pounds. 20 pounds of propane = between 4 and 5 gallons. . . a full 20 pound cylinder will weigh apx 40 pounds if its filled to the 80% dip tube mark(all propane cylinders, tanks, and storage tanks are not legally allowed to be filled over 80% full) blue rhino fills their cylinders to about 60%. . . . if you want to experiment a little get 2 cylinders, have 1 refilled and exchange the other one and compare their weights on a bathroom scale at home. i can almost promise youll see a big difference. . blue rhino shorts you about a gallon. . refilling is definately the way to go. .all of these numbers are approxament

This is your first post and revive this thread for this?

So do you work for Ameri-gas and just shilling for them to diss Blue Rhino?

 

[LTC8K6]

IIRC, you cannot fill a 20# tank to full anymore because of the now mandatory overfill prevention device. IIRC, it cuts off the fill at about 80 percent.

http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?...cylinder overfilling prevention devices (OPD)

 

[ponyo]

I thought Blue Rhino could only be exchanged at Blue Rhino stations because of the proprietary connector on Blue Rhino tanks. Amerigas can be exchanged or filled anywhere. I use Blue Rhino because I got the tank for free and have multiple exchange stations nearby.

 

[feralkid]

 

[jhansman]

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.

This. And yes, refill. If you own your tank(s), you don't have to worry about getting a questionable exchange.

 

[OutHouse]

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

This. Plus I do not trust the exchanges. without weighing it before i buy it how do i know it has the correct amount of propane i am buying?

I go to a KOA campground near my house and have them fill my tank. its on a scale and when its full you can see the gas come out of the overflow.

 

[OutHouse]

nevermind

 

[Rubycon]

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

Yeah because BLEVEs are generally bad.
Someone take a scuba tank, fill it 99% with propane on a cold day and leave it in a trunk waiting for a hot day. :twisted: