Comparing the Two Options for Your Propane Grill Tank

What’s the difference between refilling or exchanging your portable propane grill tank? Some people appreciate the swap-and-go convenience of a cylinder exchange. But savvy customers love the ease and the savings they get by refilling their existing cylinder. Let’s get into comparing the two options:

Do You Save Money by Refilling?

When you own your propane grill tank and refill it, you can save money in a few different ways:

Firstly, you’ll save on the price of the propane; the difference can be up to $1.75 per gallon!
Secondly, you can also save because you’ll pay only for the propane you use. When you choose to refill your propane tank, you’re only buying the propane to fill the rest of your cylinder. With propane grill tank exchange, you’re charged for all the propane in the cylinder—including the propane left in the tank when you take it to be exchanged.

Think about it. When you see your propane cylinder is starting to run low, your instinct is to take it in to exchange before you run out. So, unless you run them until they’re completely empty, you could be wasting half a tank or more over the span of just a few tanks.

Even though most of the portable cylinders that you’d hook up to your grill don’t have a gauge, there are easy ways to make sure you don’t run out. Here’s three ways to keep track of propane levels in your propane grill tank:

Water Trick: Fill a small bucket with hot tap water and pour it down the side of the cylinder. Then run your hand down the side of the tank and find the point where it turns cool. That’s the current level of the gas! The liquid propane inside the tank absorbs heat from the water, which makes the metal wall of the tank cool to the touch.
Weight Check: Check the cylinder for markings that let you know the “tare weight” or TW, the weight of the tank when empty. A 20-pound tank usually weighs about 17 pounds when empty. To calculate how much propane is in the tank, place the cylinder on a scale—a basic bathroom scale will work—and subtract the tare weight from the amount shown on the scale. So, if your 20-pound cylinder weighs 27 pounds, and the tare weight is 17, you have 10 pounds of propane or about half a tank. Or you can pick up a digital propane tank scale at your local hardware store. Most come with a digital app to let you know when it’s time for a fill-up.
Add a Gauge: You can buy a gauge to install between the gas line from the grill and the cut-off valve on the tank. It will measure the pressure and show you how full the tank is.

Remember to keep a spare on-hand! The easiest way to make sure you always have enough propane on hand to fire up the grill is to keep an extra tank on hand.

Admiral Propane Can Help You Upgrade Your Grill

If you’ve been thinking your grilling game is ready for a grill upgrade, now’s the time to get set up to make outdoor gatherings fun and easy.

Whether you’re looking to create a deluxe outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, or just need to replace your old grill, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to adding some new sizzle to your deck or patio.

Find an Easy Refill or Exchange Nearest You!

Refilling or exchanging your cylinder is a snap. Bring your empty tank to one of our offices during business hours whenever you need a refill. We provide quick and easy, no-wait portable propane tank fill-ups. Don’t bring empty tanks inside! And remember, we can’t refill tanks with excessive rust, corrosion, or other damage.

Whether you need a cylinder refill, or you want to buy an extra tank, so you always have a spare, Admiral Propane is happy to help you with our convenient portable grill tank refill service. Contact us today for more information.