Propane Exchange vs Refill | Useful Knowledge.
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- čas přidán 13. 04. 2023
- Is there really a difference in 20lb tank propane exchange vs refill. We weigh the tanks and quickly prove that propane exchange vs refill shows a costly difference.
When you exchange your 20lb propane tank at the big box stores or the dollar stores, it's a convenience. Convenience costs extra money for anything but what does it cost in propane exchange vs refill? Does refilling propane tank really save you money?
In our video, we leave no doubt with the constant question in the difference of 20lb tank propane exchange vs refill. We weigh both tanks, get the empty tank weight, and show you the calculations to prove the difference.
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Man with the Knowledge: Jamie Hardy
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Bama Country Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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Is there a cost savings when deciding on 20lb tank propane exchange vs refill? - Jak na to + styl
Biggest advantage to exchange is if you have an old tank. The exchange tanks go through a thorough cleaning and inspection to replace gaskets and valves when needed. Otherwise refill is the best value.
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing!
The tank I was given in exchange was never inspected because the valve was inoperable. The truth is when people have an old defective tank they dump it and for $20 take their chances with an exchanged tank. Tha folks that got my 2 year old, good tank, made a good deal.
Agreed. I have found propane tanks on abandoned properties, Craigslist and side or the road. I take them to one of those machines and exchange for a newer one. Then I just refill afterward
@projektxent That’s a great way to upgrade!
All propane tanks have expiration dates which are stamped on the side of the tank handle. I almost always check the expiration date and when it gets close, I swap the tank for a more up to date one and spend the extra money for less propane. If the tank still has plenty of time before it expires, I have it refilled for less $$. Be sure to check the expiration date on your tanks as most refill stations do check it to make sure it is still usable. Our local Ace Hardware store refills my tanks.
Thanks for sharing!! Definitely good info here folks. The expiration date on tanks is a real thing. Thanks!
@@useful.knowledge If you own/buy an empty tank and it reaches the expiry date - you can get it hydrostatic tested and a new expiration date stamped on it (recertified). However, it is cheaper/convenient to pay the extra $$ in the first place to rent a full tank once, then refill it yourself until it expires, then take the empty expired tank back to the exchange location and get a newer tank.
Hi. Thanks for the info and sharing!!
I was just told recently that my bbq had expired and could no longer be refilled. This is at my local hardware store. They told me they could sell me a new tank refilled for $83. It’s typically about $19 to refill the tank up here in New York. I’m thinking I will do the tank exchange thing from now on.
@@mattdbk2440 Yep. If you look at the handle of the tank, there is a expiration date stamped in the metal. Just exchange it for another tank. Easy peasy.
Where I live, the exchange tanks have 5 lbs. less than capacity. I go to a local hardware store and get a full refill for less than the exchange rate at other places. Additionally, if my tank is expired (due for servicing), the helpful hardware man will swap out my tank for one thatis still good -- at no additional cost. When the valve requirements were changed a few years ago, they replaced my tanks -- all four of them -- one or two at a time for no charge. For me, it's a no-brainer. I've been going in for refills for years. Ymmv. Check the prices where you shop.
Nice!! Thanks for sharing. That has been my experience.
Thank you! Well done. Exactly what I needed to know.
Thanks!
In my area, NY, the exchange tank itself is physically smaller as well. Problem I ran into at my filling facility was tank expiration policy, which is currently 10 yrs. At the exchange facility they don't care about that and you'll at least be able to walk out with Propane, albeit a lesser amount.
That 10 year policy is a pain. Some folks are exchanging them and then having the exchanged tank filled back up when empty.
You can also be sure when you exchange that your tank has been recertified - I just learned this today 😂
These cylinders are designed to hold 20# WITH allowing for expansion. There is a OPR valve that prevents over fill. If they are selling an exchange cylinder without 20# and not a disclaimer that it's less, it's a violation of the weights and measure laws in your state. They know you are assuming it's full, but it is not. You will only get 15# in a blue rhino nationwide for example. Used to be 17# just a few years ago.
I'm probably going to switch to exchange...one of my refills a while back I think got water in my tanks. Was SUCH a pain to diagnose the issue too. First I thought it was an issue with my grill. Then I realized the regulator had gone bad. Then after another year and another regulator going bad in the same way did I finally put two and two together lol. All it takes is someone at the refill not knowing what they're doing and not flushing their lines before filling you up, and you can end up with having to spend one or two hundred dollars on new tanks. Definitely more than the 30-40% cost saving you get from doing refills yourself.
Interesting!! I’ve honestly never had this happen but I can see it would be a huge pain.
Great information!!! Thanks Jamie
Thanks!
Thanks
I needed to know this. Thank you.
Thanks!
Thank you. I use Southern States Co-op for refills. God Bless and stay safe.
Thanks! God Bless!!
That’s why I always refill my tank.. thanks Jaime!!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for the information.
Thanks for watching!
Well made video. I hate taking my new tanks that are in great shape to be exchanged for old junky tanks that have been cheaply repainted -- especially since they charge so much more.
True!! Very true.
Ruined my holiday with defective propane tank. I will by new one and only refill.
It’s happened to me so many times that I started carrying two tanks. Most folks at my hunting camp always have two because of issues like yours.
We live and travel on a boat and don't have a car to drive to the nearest refill station to where we are when we run out. Sometimes the nearest one can be 10 or more miles away but every little town has at least one business with an exchange locker within walking distance.
It is usually more convenient to do the exchange but it is often a roll of the dice for what condition the exchange tank will be in. Many of these exchange tanks are really beat up and rusty. The exchange companies will often simply slap some paint on the worst ones and slip a new plastic label over the tank which helps cosmetically but in a marine environment doesn't do jack to stop the rust. In fact a bad paint job is actually worse than exposed rust since flaking paint holds more moist salty air against the rust. Moisture is trapped under the label so usually I'll cut it right off and save it. I spray Fluid Film lanolin rust-preventitive all over the tanks and buff it in to slow down the rust. This works really well on a newer tank but only so-so on a beat up one and if it has really flakey spray paint peeling off it doesn't help much at all. Sometimes the employees will say they don't accept tanks from another brand so I keep a selection of the labels to bring in just in case.
We chose to exchange when the tanks get too rusty and refill places start to give us guff about it, or when there is nowhere near to have them filled.
We get more fuel for less money but it's hard to find convenient refill places. Most corporate U-Haul dealers fill propane and many co-op rural gas stations often have propane fill too. Google maps is often not helpful finding propane filling stations as their search is just not set up for that. It's best to ask around with the locals as they know. I've been offered a ride a few times to boot and offer to buy them a beer to pay them back. Most people don't want anything. People are very kind and generous to strangers new in town I have found -especially boaters like us.
Good stuff!! Thanks for sharing your info and insight!
The only time I would ever exchange a tank is when it's past it's expiration date and they would no longer refill it. I get mine refilled 4 at a time & they last me a long time for my barbeque grill.
Same here on when to exchange or have them filled.
Thanks great information.
Thanks!
Great content thank you
Thanks!
Always learning!
Thanks!
I allways recommend if you can afford it, invest in a second or third tank. I was at my friends house for fourth of July he fired up the grill only to se it peeter out five minutes late when he checked his other two tanks they were empty also. Get multiple tanks and fill em as they empty allways be. prepared.
Completely agree!! Thanks for sharing!
Ruined my 4th of July barbecue propane tank defective. Never again. Buying new one and refill my own new tank. Hardware store West Milford
Classic rookie mistake.. should always have 2 tanks for major cookouts!
I had the same issue when we went camping at Bristol for the NASCAR race about 20 years ago. We barely found another tank in town. I always take two now.
Nice video , well done...
Thanks!!
You cant take a blue Rhino tank to refile . Its against the law in some states due to lack of the blow off valve system .
Never exchange your tank get it refilled .
Interesting!! Thanks for sharing! In Alabama they don’t care but it doesn’t surprise me about other states.
These exchange tanks are filled short for transportation. If a tank is filled to the full capacity it may open the pressure relief valve at high altitudes in combination with higher temperature, such as going over a mountain pass on a hot day. This would be a huge fire hazard if a truck with many of these tanks vented propane all at once.
True!!
hi ty for this video. I was wondering can i bring a brand name propane like blue rhino or american gas to get it refilled?
Hi. Yes you can. At least I haven’t seen an issue doing that here in north Alabama. Usually the labeling is just shrink wrap that can be removed from the tank.
Hello From Kentucky; I also have three of the Blue Rhino propane tanks and I went to a location in my town where I am nearest, to do a tank exchange and I was informed that the full propane tanks were out of stock.
When I asked when they were planning on getting their stock replenished, I was told that there was nobody grilling steaks during the winter months and that there was no reason to replenish the stock. I then asked the proverbial question about what the people were supposed to do that used propane for heat with like the Mr Buddy heaters and such. The question that I asked resulted in a very blank stare and sort of an apology.
When my tanks were empty, I have purchased the Blue Rhino refill tanks until I found out that I could have them refilled at the local farm supply stores. So I now have practically brand new Blue Rhino tanks in which I take to our local farm supply store to have the tanks refilled in which has much better run time over the refill tanks and for less money. I found your video to be 100% accurate speaking of my own personal experience. Thanks for your video.
@TheIronDuke502 Awesome! Thanks for your comments. I noticed it a few years ago and then a lady that was refilling my tanks told me how the refill company can only fill to a certain amount due to shipping. We live in North Alabama but love coming up to KY to the Red River Gorge.
@@useful.knowledge Red River Gorge is to the east of where I live. I am west of Lexington in Woodford County where the Woodford Reserve Distillery is located as well as horse farms and horses everywhere.
For Me, I for some time was using an old stoker coal stove that I burned wood pellets as my fuel. Unfortunately, I had a transformer to fry in the control box which led me to seek alternative heat sources in which I decided to begin a gradual transition to propane heat.
I purchased a Mr Heater Big Buddy Heater and found out really quickly that the 1lb containers were not the best way to go monetarily as well as run time compared to the larger 20lb tanks. This heating season has been a very big learning experience. So I have been watching lots of CZcams videos and doing lots of research. My background is with welding and cutting. We had a couple of propane forklifts, So I was somewhat familiar with dealing with the forklift propane tanks for many years. Mostly I used OxyAcetyline fuel for my torches rather than the oxygen propane fuel for heating and cutting which doesn’t get quite as hot as the OxyAcetyline fuel mix does. If nothing else, I should be able to cook out with no problem and I am kind of looking forward to that.
I am shopping for new propane tanks. I'm finding exchangable tanks for $27 and regular tanks for $55 at the same store. What's the difference? I'm not doing the exchange thing. I know how to fill the tanks. But why are exchangable tanks so much cheaper?
Hi. I’m thinking that’s the exchange price. If you don’t have a tank yet to exchange, it’s going to cost much more to outright purchase the exchange tank with propane.
Good morning! My question isn't related to this video, but to canning. Once you heat your lids in your water, if you have any not used, can you keep them and reheat to use them later for another canning time?
Yes, definitely. I just take them and lay them on a paper towel and dry both sides really well and put them back in the box for the next time.
@@useful.knowledge Great! Thanks for replying.
Didn’t you say the one on the right was the refilled one and the left the exchange
I see that when we weighed the tanks (0:45 sec) on the left was the refill and the exchange was on the right. But when we did the calculations (2:10) we swapped what side of the screen they were on. Thanks for the comment. Sorry for the confusion.
Take those labels off. They rust the tank over time
They will not refill a tank to more than 80 percent because of expansion.
Those propane tanks are set up to not allow more than 80% filling. There is a value inside that prevents over filling
So to break it down further....refill your tank until it is getting close to the expiration date then take it in for exchange. The more you know ....🙂 Edit: beat like a rented mule by a couple replies below 🤣🤓
🤣😂. That’s it and I’ve traded them in just like that. Thanks !!
The law states that you cannot fill a propane tank to over 80% of capacity. Whoever is refilling this tank is breaking the law.
A 20# tank should hold 20# of fluid. You are thinking gas not liquid
Definitely refill for sure. 👍 glad you broke it down for us. I always save them up to take and get refilled. We go through a few With a eco-temp L5 30 instant water heater.
Thanks!