Propane Refill Cost?
 

Well, it's that time of year again and I noticed that a BBQ propane refill was $24.00 at the Irving in Laconia. So, I was wondering if that is the going rate or are there cheaper places to refill in the Lakes Region?

Not positive about the lake haven't done it yet. Did a tank swap at H.D. this weekend in mass just under 19.00 if I recall correctly. 24.00 sounds high.

Take note of how much HD fills the tank. I think they do something like 15lbs as appose to 20lbs if you do a refill... It adds up.

That is correct. The tank swap at HD only gets you 15 lbs, not the 20 lbs you get when you have it filled.

....i'm such a cheapie, I just use those two-paks of smallish disposable cans of propane for about $5.48 at Walmart or Hannaford's, and each one is good for about three meals on a small Weber grill....plus I'm not too happy about keeping a 20-or 30-lb tank of propane around....propane can be just like gasoline but worse as a fire-safety hazard...

I get my 20 lb tanks filled for @ $12.00 at Maxfield's Ace Hardware, Upper City Road, Pittsfield, NH. That was the price two weeks ago. If you google the store it doesn't show the correct location on the map. You can see the store off Rt 28.

I live in Wolfeboro so I get them filled when I go by there while going to Concord.

Most places in Wolfeboro charge @18.00 for a refill.

Not the Lakes Region, but just for reference, my local (RI) supplier charges $15 for a 20# refill. During the winter I think it was $12. :) NB

Trustworthy in Laconia was $18 at the end of last season
I just filled my house one on Sunday for $16 at Ace in Stow MA

Irving was always higher, use Trustworthy or the guy that is out in front of the old Aubachon on Main st

Paulies Propane Pitstop was the place in front of Abuchon's and he was really cheap last summer, but sadly he is gone.

2nd Trustworthy
 

They are cheaper then the propane store right down the street, and that is the same company that fills the tank for them. :confused: go figure.
Besides I'd rather give them the business then the big guys.

Did you know that you can refill the 1 lb tank from the 20 lb tanks for @ 60 cents.

All you need is a Propane One Pound Tank Refill Adapter that you can get for @ $15.
Amazon sells one for $14.11.

You just put the 20 lb tank upside down as shown in the below picture:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...1L._SY450_.jpg

This is what it looks like when you attach it:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...3L._SX450_.jpg

Somehow I can't see FLL using that rig at all. Well... maybe to save a buck..:look: It kinda looks like an classic Improvised Explosive Device. :D :D NB

About $17 to refill at the Moultonboro Aubuchon a couple of months ago...

Sounds like a great idea. How do you ensure you don't overfill though?

Propane Refill Cost
 

I guess I was born with a double set of "caution genes", and the thought of self-filling a propane tank falls right in line with home grown electrical work as something I advise against.

I always use the swap at the local Ace store in Wolfeboro, and I know that I may be swapping early sometimes, therefore paying more for the fuel, but I feel safe. Feeling safe is worth a few bucks to me.

As I have railed against home grown electrical work, so I rail against fooling around with propane. I agree with FLL when he says, "...propane can be just like gasoline but worse as a fire safety hazard..."

It is no more dangerous then putting a full tank of propane on your BBQ grill...people do it all the time.

Here is how it is done:

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xKCYIOnxwkg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'll stick to buying them. The risk alone is not worth it.

"It is no more dangerous then putting a full tank of propane on your BBQ grill...people do it all the time."

Ummm...OTHER people do it all the time, I'm with HellRaZoR004 on this one

I've been using a 20 lb tank even for my small camping grills for years.
You can buy the adapter for cheap money. Besides at $12 for a 4 pack your paying $60 for what a 20lb tank will get you, and it costs you about 1/3 or less.
Unless I'm rushed I like to use charcoal. I've been getting into the whole smoking thing and have a nice combination smoker grill set-up.
But for a quick meal the propane is the way to go.

Never really realized the HD tank is lighter than getting them filled yourself. I guess I never exactly weighed them or for that matter asked.:rolleye2: Does everybody fill them to 20 pounds when you bring them an empty tank? And for that matter are all the swaps, empty for new filled to just 15 pounds??? Something for me to note in the future I guess. Now that you mention it thinking back since I've used HD I maybe have been changing them more.....Damn......

I'm with BR
 

I use charcoal when I am not in a hurry or rotisserie. I do have a portable propane stove for boating and beach parties. When I am in a hurry a natural gas line out on the sundeck for the barbie.

I have a combo gas grille/smoker that we use a lot.....nothing worse than running out of propane in the middle of a cook out so my grilles are hooked up directly to my 500 gallon tank that services the house.Cheapest way to go and you never run out.
Doesn't cost much to run a line to your grille with it's own shut off.

I know a guy who hooked his gas grill to his 100 gallon tank and someone left the burners on and emptied his tank. I wonder how long it takes to empty a 100 gallon tank when the grill is left on? That is one of the risks you take when you do that.

BTW, a 100 gallon tank has @420 lbs of propane in it.

The next time any of you get your 20 lb tank filled look at the Tare Weight (TW) that is stamped on the handle of the tank. After they fill the tank you should have the Tare Weight plus 20 lbs. So if the TW is 18 then you should have 18 plus 20 which equals 38 lbs. It might be a little less but it shouldn't be much.

Timer
 

I use one of these to alleviate that problem...http://www.firemagicnow.com/buy/pc/F...Valve-p137.htm

Works great!

Dan

I watch them weight it
 

At Trustworthy, you park at the fill station, you go in and pay for the size tank you have, after paying they come out put the tank on the scale and you watch them fill it to 20lbs.

last year when I filled at Aubuchon in Moultonboro they charge for for full tank whther your tank was empty or not so makes sure it is as empty as possible as you will pay as if it was empty

Don't forget it is not legal to transport a refilled 1lb tank. At least that's what it says on the side.

I won't tell anybody if you don't. :D

I won't get into what you can do with two 1 pounders, but here is a picture of it and you can use your own imagination:

http://www.neon-john.com/RV/Propane/Tank_drainer.jpg

They all do it that way. Tanks are filled by weight not volume. They have no way of telling how much is going in.
I'd rather fill it with some in then try and use it all and run out during a meal. But then again I usually have more then one tank on hand anyway so it doesn't happen unless I procrastinate.

They use to fill them with a scale not anymore since they made it mandatory a few years back all tanks have a OPD value installed on it or they're not suppose to fill it. The Uhaul on Rt3 in Tilton use to charge by the pound not sure if they still do it cost a lot more that way. I also think its like 10 years is the maximum you can have a tank all dates are stamped on the handle. Like you said most people have a backup so you do get stuck.

It was $10.50 to fill a 20lb tank at Tractor Supply recently.

The place I take mine (RI) still uses a scale with the sliding weights. The empty bottle weighs just over 18#. They add gas to bring it up to 38#.

Last summer they rejected my bottle because it was beyond the expire date of 10 years old. I got to buy a NEW bottle "On The Spot"...Filled for $50. Actually they wanted $56 for it but I only had $50 in my wallet so they said "close enough". :D NB

Last fill up at Aubuchon in Alton
 

I thought my second tank was empty, and went down to Aubuchon for the fill. They do put it on the scale, and read the meter on the propane meter. I only needed a little gas to bring it up to the "20lb" weight, and was only charged for the amount of gas that was pumped. (afterwards I remembered using the tank to do a lobster boil).

Other tank fills there have been based on the amount of propane as well. They do not want you to prepay, so that you are only paying for the gas you are purchasing.

The town dump usually has a nice assortment of new(ish) bottles as the summer goes on and people dispose of the ones they bought for their vacation week. It's easy to trade up.

At some places it's cheaper to do one of the self-service exchanges (and get a new bottle in the process) than to pay separately for a new bottle and filling. I have to say I fell for the 15lb/20lb thing though...never noticed that before.

BJ's wholesale club sells them for $28 and even better is their new tanks come with a guage right on the tank so you do not have to buy one or not know that you are going to run out, pretty cool! I picked one up for my new house grill last Sunday

DO not be hard on yourself about this one, and it is not the company jipping you either, it is either a state or a federal law that only allows them to fill to 15lbs due to something to do with transporting them

Interesting thread for me.
Anyhow, some info to add

Propane weighs 4.2 lb to the gallon.

A properly filled 20lb tank will be right around 4.7 gallons, can be off just a bit due to temp.

Just about all cylinder exchanges in this area (amerigas and blue rhino) are the most common, have in fact gone to only filling with 15 lbs. it has nothing to do with transporting though, they do it because its a clean cut amount keeping them from being overfilled

Yes you can still overfill a tank with an opd valve.

Propane is 92,500 btu,s per gallon per hour. So your everyday average grill will run 3 to 4 hours per gallon. A 100 gallon tank breaks down to an average of 350 hours hooked to your grill. If you screw up and leave it on for 12 days, a costly error. Lol.

Transferring liquid propane at your home like that video shows is not a good idea, that 1lb cylinder can easily be overfilled like that, especially being ice cold to start. When it warms, the liq will expand causing the relief valve to pop off spilling flammable vapor into your home, when it finds an ignition source, then you get on the 6 oclock news.

Best practice for both safety and finance, find a local pump station that weighs it in and out charging around $3 to $4 per gallon.

Thanks all. I just filled my tanks today at Trustworthy in Laconia. They charge $17.00 for a refill.:)

Thanks for the feed back. I was wondering what the price was this year.

Propane Refill $10.99 at Alton Circle Aubochon Hardware
 

A 20# refill at the Alton Circle Aubochon Hardware was $10.99 this week. They meter the amount filled. Mine was completely empty, so the cost was $10.99.

Gilford Home Center
 

I was told a 20 lbs refill at the hardware store is $15