Propane bottle exchange, a target for thieves?

I only do the exchange when the tank I'm exchanging is expired (close to or over 12 years old)..

I exchange the expired one, get a new one with some propane in it for $20.. If you go into a store and buy an EMPTY tank, it'll cost you over $40..

No brainer for me...

After I get the new tank, I just get it refilled. Tons of places around me, so not big deal. I burn mine up mostly on my Mr Heater for the garage and the gas grill on the back porch.. Yes, I use gas to grill on... Add some wood chips and it does fine.. So you charcoal folks can just keep your comments to yourself.. ha, ha :)

Good luck!

Mitch

Agreed... you're paying a lot more if doing an exchange rather than having your own refilled.

thieves steal anything, tied down or not. friend of mine had his stolen from his TT twice. he finally chained them down

MitchF150 wrote:
I only do the exchange when the tank I'm exchanging is expired (close to or over 12 years old)..

I exchange the expired one, get a new one with some propane in it for $20.. If you go into a store and buy an EMPTY tank, it'll cost you over $40..

No brainer for me...

After I get the new tank, I just get it refilled. Tons of places around me, so not big deal. I burn mine up mostly on my Mr Heater for the garage and the gas grill on the back porch.. Yes, I use gas to grill on... Add some wood chips and it does fine.. So you charcoal folks can just keep your comments to yourself.. ha, ha :)

Good luck!

Mitch

Well are you sure it is "New" do you check the date stamp?
I use 30# tanks, so no exchange tanks, that and local propane shop will re-certify the tanks for $15 and I still MY tanks that have been well treated. Not a tank that may have been beat to death then repainted to look "NEW".

Currently propane is about $2.30 a gal. here, $2.30 X 5 = $11.50, the exchange tanks are down a a bit to $19 for about 4 gal.

I don't like the exchange because you're giving up a good inspected bottle for one that is old and out of date. Had that done before. I opt for going to a place that fills my bottle.

ctilsie242 wrote:
I don't consider this an issue with RV-ing, but how common is it where a store asks one to drop the propane cylinder by the cage they go in, go in, thenpay for an exchange.

However, when one comes out with a clerk and receipt in hand, the cylinder is gone.

Even though propane fillers are harder to find, it is annoying to have to make one purchase for a refill... then turn around, and make another $50 purchase for a new bottle.

Is this common anywhere else, or is this just Austin?

It's probably those looking for a quick buck doing metal recycling that would take an empty tank. Many recyclers don't take manhole covers anymore (don't laugh it used to happen) and these tanks are heavy compared to other things. It's more a crime of opportunity. Oh there's an empty tank I'll just throw it in my trunk and drop it off at the recyclers next trip.

U-Haul and Costco around here both fill tanks WAY cheaper than exchanging them. also many gas stations fill them (still cheaper than exchange but more costly than U-Haul and Costco)

Everyone is talking about the 20 pound tanks here. But those of us who have 30 pound tanks don't exchange them. We get them refilled. If we in the 30 pound group can do it, I don't see why the 20 pound group has such a difficult time finding locations to refille and instead opt to exchange? I guess its a matter of convenience rather than necessity. Necessity MAKES you find somewhere to refill.

Finding a place to fill a tank can be regional. Back home in Louisiana I had tons of options and could pick up good smoked pork sausage at the same store. In CA, I had two options in town and one was only open during hours I worked. I greatly prefer fill but still have to exchange at times. I agree about not wanting to give up a good bottle but have only once had a problem with getting a bad bottle. I exchange at Lowes or Home Depot when possible (and if fill isn't available) and they gave me another bottle. They also let you bring bottle in to the Garden Section where exchange is.

Bulk propane storage containers (anything containing more than one pound of LP) are prohibited indoors by NFPA regulations as well as by law in several states. In states where it's not illegal, the NFPA regs would still prevent a store from getting insurance if they weren't followed.

Personally, I hate exchanging a known-good bottle for an unknown bottle, and we only do it when we don't have another choice readily at hand. Even then, I leave DW outside with the bottle while I go in to pay. She makes an excellent guard dog, since she's far meaner and more violent than I am. :)