Refill Propane vs Exchange

[Joseph_T1]

We were camping at Killbear Provincial Park recently. It's a park we routinely go to and there is store just outside the park that sells the usual supplies including refilling of propane tanks. I was disappointed to find out that the owner had gotten rid of his refill service.

When I asked him about it he told me that the cost of getting the required licence and the cost of the liability insurance was prohibitive as he simply did not sell enough to justify the cost.

This concerns me that it might be an indication of where the industry is going. We have no problem getting our tanks refilled in major centres, but I wonder if finding refill stations is going to get harder and harder.

Also I bought a small 10 lb tank for my BBQ. Those are not available at exchange locations.

FYI

[theoldwizard1]

schlep1967 wrote:
One thing about exchanging tanks. Most of them do not fill the tanks. Instead of 20 lbs you will get 16.

20 lb propane bottle exchanges are one of the biggest rip offs in the modern world of conveniences. They do tell you (in fine print) that they only put 15 lbs of propane in the tank for "safety" reasons. That is a CROCK OF SH!T. The tank is deigned, tested and certified to hold 20 lbs. There is even a built in Overfill Protection Device (OPD) to prevent this occurrence.

[SoundGuy]

LOFAT36 wrote:
You think $12 is expensive ? Try $21 in BC

Just my point - the OP is here in S Ontario where a 20 lb fill at Costco is ~ $12 Cdn. Exchange tanks at many times that are pointless.

[LOFAT36]

SoundGuy wrote:

Joseph T wrote:
When I asked him about it he told me that the cost of getting the required licence and the cost of the liability insurance was prohibitive as he simply did not sell enough to justify the cost.

This concerns me that it might be an indication of where the industry is going.

Also I bought a small 10 lb tank for my BBQ. Those are not available at exchange locations.

Hardly an issue, especially if your trailer has dual tanks. That 10 pounder you have can also be used a spare and 16 oz canisters, 'though expensive, are readily available just about anywhere. Carry a "2nd Chance" or "steak saver" adapter and you can even use one to run your camper in a pinch. No way I'd waste $$ on way overpriced, typically underfilled propane exchange tanks when here in Ontario Costco's propane pricing for refills is so inexpensive, about $12 Cdn at the moment for a 20 lb fill.

. You think $12 is expensive ? Try $21 in BC

[mowermech]

Tom_M wrote:
Many Tractor Supply stores refill propane tanks. They are usually the cheapest.

Within 7 miles of my house, I can get cylinders filled at Big R, Ace hardware, U-Haul, and Tractor Supply.
They all fill by the metered gallon (no weight), and I think they are all $2.49/gallon.
I think there are a couple of exchange facilities also, but I have never used them so I don't know where they are.

[westernrvparkow]

BarabooBob wrote:
I was traveling through Maine recently and saw a sign for $11 tank refill. A very nice lady came out and filled my tank to its maximum weight. The tank actually had 20 pounds of propane in it when she was done. She said that during the summer, she fills 10 to 20 tanks a day. She said that they price their refills to be about equal to what they charge for delivered lp only they don't have to deliver it. Most people have partial tanks that they want topped off, it still cost $11. She fills it to the full weight.
Ok, now let someone come on and tell us that a full tank is only 80% capacity, and then claim that 16 pounds is full. Please do some research. These tanks have a 100% volume of 25 pounds.

Even if all the tanks were completely empty, filling 20 tanks in a day is only 100 Gallons of propane. My home and business tanks average around 500 gallons each per fill. My guess is a delivery driver fills 10 or so tanks daily, so they are selling about 50 times the propane as the store on a daily basis.
We quit filling tanks years ago. The profits in filling the tanks was negligible and the labor pretty intense. Seems people on vacation like to fill tanks on the wettest, coldest days of the year when recreation is pretty much out of the question. Filling 20lb tanks is more customer service than a profitable venture.

[wa8yxm]

Refills are generally more cost effective. First you get more propane and 2nd it costs less per gallon.

There are always Places that can refill.. Google as follows Propane near ##### (The 5 digit zip code of the park)

Depending on where you are
Gas Stations
Hardware Stores
Campgrounds
Pilot/Flying-J
Propane Wholesalers (I like Parker's in Flint. MI. Carmichaels in Tekonsha MI and both the Ace Hardware (I think might be True Value) and the Tractor Supply next door in Seneca SC) to name but 3 places.

NOTE Carmichaels is hard to find for most folks. not for me.. (Farm I grew up on).

[schlep1967]

One thing about exchanging tanks. Most of them do not fill the tanks. Instead of 20 lbs you will get 16.

[BarabooBob]

I was traveling through Maine recently and saw a sign for $11 tank refill. A very nice lady came out and filled my tank to its maximum weight. The tank actually had 20 pounds of propane in it when she was done. She said that during the summer, she fills 10 to 20 tanks a day. She said that they price their refills to be about equal to what they charge for delivered lp only they don't have to deliver it. Most people have partial tanks that they want topped off, it still cost $11. She fills it to the full weight.
Ok, now let someone come on and tell us that a full tank is only 80% capacity, and then claim that 16 pounds is full. Please do some research. These tanks have a 100% volume of 25 pounds.

[old_guy]

I have not done an exchange since around here they only exchange 5 gallon tanks not the 7's. most people I know only do the exchange when their tanks are ready to expire and then they request a tank that is not beat all to heck

[Michelle_S]

Only did an exchange once as it came with the purchase of a Grill. Turned in a good Tank and received a piece of Junk in return. Couldn't get a different one as this was one of those where get the code from inside, enter it in the cylinder rack outside and a door opens, pull out the maybe full tank and put your empty in. Have Dual 40's on the 5er, so no exchange of them anyway.

[time2roll]

Refill only for me. Never done an exchange.

[Chum_lee]

Many municipalities already prohibit refilling propane tanks in high density areas due to the fire hazard and previous accidents.

Refilling propane tanks isn't going away in my lifetime. It's just a matter of "where" I have go to get it done and "how much" is costs. Awareness is the key, just like getting a good price on any fuel.

Chum lee

[Tom_M1]

Many Tractor Supply stores refill propane tanks. They are usually the cheapest.

[BB_TX]

I don’t know that it is a trend. Just a case of low volume not justifying the effort and expense of maintaining it. Simple economics.

[Lwiddis]

I treat my propane tanks nicely and I don't want someone else's "beat up" tank.