You can purchase a propane tank from Sam’s Club or from any other retailer, and you can easily exchange it at Sam’s Club. The trade will not cost more than twenty bucks.
Sam’s Club also offers AmeriGas propane tank exchange services that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Does Sam’s Club sell propane tanks?
Propane tanks are readily available at most Sam’s Club locations at a reasonable price. AmeriGas and Blue Rhino are two types of propane tanks that Sam’s Club sells. The brand does not important; all that matters is that you purchase a dual valve propane tank.
Is Costco able to refuel propane tanks?
- In the store’s parking area, look for the Costco Propane Service Station (it will probably be near the tire shop).
- To let the attendant know you’ve arrived, press the button. Look for a sign that says anything along the lines of “Call Attendant, Push Button” or something similar.
- The attendant will greet you at the station and check to see if your propane tank is still in good condition. NOTE: Costco does not accept expired tanks, so double-check the expiration date before heading to the store.
- While you wait, the attendant will fill your tank and provide you with a receipt.
- Your tank will remain at the station until you pay for the propane and return to pick it up later.
Is it true that Costco sells empty propane tanks?
5 gal, 20 lb Flame King Max Empty Steel Propane Cylinder with OPD Valve & Gauge | Costco All foods, including fresh, frozen, and basics for the home.
At Costco, how much does it cost to fill a 20-pound gas tank?
Summer is approaching, and you know what that means… it’s BBQ season!!! My BBQ propane tank, unfortunately, needed to be refilled. Of course, propane is available at most gas stations and Costcos, but I couldn’t help but wonder whether there was a pricing difference. If yes, by how much do you mean? This is my review of the Costco Propane Cylinder Refill.
When it comes to gasoline, most people would agree that Costco is usually the greatest value in town. Costco, on average, costs roughly 5% less than the local average gas price, in my experience. Unlike gas pricing, however, propane costs are not publicly displayed. As a result, I figured I’d check in on it so you wouldn’t have to! Note: Prices are as of early May 2020 at MY local gas station and Costco. Your outcomes may differ.
Propane Cylinder Refill Price Example
My neighborhood gas station, as you can see in the photo above, charges $1.10 a litre for propane. As a result, the total cost of a normal 17.8 litre (20 pound) tank is $19.58.
The cost of propane at Costco was $.56 per litre. As a result, a normal 17.8 litre tank costs $9.96 at Costco. It’s basically half-price.
I don’t use a lot of propane, despite how much I enjoy grilling. Once or twice a year, I go through one tank. However, if I can save 50% or approximately $10 each time, I’ll take it! The savings are considerably greater if you own a camper or motorhome with a large propane tank.
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How does Costco handle propane refills?
Take your tank to the fill station, where an employee will fill it and then give you a tab to pay for it. When you return, indicate that you’ve paid and you’re good to go.
What is the capacity of a 20 pound propane tank in gallons?
Propane grills, generators, patio heaters, and other outdoor equipment are examples of its use. Find a location near you to buy or exchange a 20-pound tank. Grill cylinders are 20-pound propane tanks that store 4.6 gallons of propane when fully charged.
Grilling
As previously stated, 20-pound propane tanks are used for small chores such as cooking single meals. If you’re grilling on a medium-sized barbecue, one tank of propane will normally last between 18 and 20 hours. Larger barbecues, on the other hand, can consume 20 pounds of propane in as little as 10 hours.
If you use a medium-sized grill on high heat, you’ll need one or two pounds of fuel per meal on average. That works out to about 8 grilling sessions per tank.
Furnaces
The industry standard for measuring the heating efficiency of domestic equipment is the British Thermal Unit, or BTUs. One gallon of propane equals 92,000 BTUs, and the average house furnace uses 100,000 BTUs. The average house furnace consumes about one gallon of propane each hour.
Depending on how often you turn on your furnace, a house furnace might burn anywhere from 500 to 1,200 gallons of propane every year.
Hot Water Heaters
The amount of hot water you use depends on how many bathrooms you have and how many people are in and out of your home. The average residence uses approximately 1.5 gallons of propane per day for conventional hot water heating.
For hot water, the average homeowner will use between 200 and 300 gallons of propane each year.
The average homeowner will consume about 2.5, 500-gallon propane tanks for house heating and cooking each year.
Does propane have a shelf life?
Another reason to use Bottini Fuel for propane delivery is that propane does not have a shelf life or an expiration date. This is due to the fact that propane is non-perishable! Other fuels, such as kerosene, diesel, heating oil, and gasoline, can degrade with time.
Is it true that all 20-pound propane tanks are the same?
Few people know that when I was in high school, I worked at Taylor Hardware as a gas filling machine. As a result, I’m familiar with tank tare weights (the weight of an empty tank) and other propane jargon.
For the past seven years, I’ve been hooking up my faithful Weber barbecue to a 500 gallon underground tank at my Taylors home. When I relocated to an all-electric house earlier this year, I had to go back to a conventional 20-pound BBQ grill tank. I also explored cylinders weighing 30, 33, 40, 60, and 100 pounds to prevent having to refill as frequently. I discovered that new 30 or 33 lb cylinders cost at least twice as much as 20 lb cylinders, and that locating lightly used ones on Craigslist was impossible.
I paid 29.97 for a new 20-pound tank from Home Depot, which included a 10% off competitors coupon and a 10% discount on an eBay gift card. (Tanks at Costco are 28.99, whereas Amazon’s are around $45). So, where do you put it?
A Little About Propane Tanks
These “20 pound” tanks can hold up to 20 pounds of propane. Depending on the temperature of the tank and surrounding air when it was filled, you may get a pound or two less. More propane in when it’s cooler, less when it’s hotter. Tanks can hold an additional 20% of water, but that extra capacity is designed to expand as the temperature rises.
Filling a tank to the full 20 pound capacity may be more of a concern/rule in particularly cold winter climates, such as Canada. This is because if you leave a tank outside in bitterly cold temperatures, fill it when it’s cold, and then move it into a heated basement/garage to use as a space heater, the gas will expand as it warms. The pressure relief setting in the tank will release a little amount of gas if the temperature rises sufficiently. If the relief value was seeping to outside air, this would be less of an issue.
The “tare weight” or “T.W.” is stamped on the collar of every propane tank. Calculate the tare weight + 20 lbs for a grill-sized tank, and that’s how much the tank should weigh when it’s filled. When entirely empty, most 20 pound tanks have a tare weight of +/- 17 pounds. A propane tank that is “full” should weigh around 37 pounds.
The collar also has a month and year on it, showing when the tank was constructed. For 20-pound propane tanks, you have 12 years from the date of manufacture to re-certify the tank with a new date stamped on it. Re-certification simply adds 5 years to the time between re-certifications. Almost always, the cost and hassle of re-certifying outweighs the cost of a new tank.
New propane tanks may contain air and need to be “purged” before being filled for the first time. Some newer tanks, such as Bernzomatic’s, will have a tag on them stating that they do not need to be purged within 6 months of purchase.
Purging necessitates the use of a particular adaptor that allows a limited quantity of propane to enter. A one-way bleeder valve is then pushed open by the pressure. Purging a new tank can cost an extra $3-4 dollars, though some places don’t charge for it, especially if you buy the tank from them.
The Math on Refills at Costco
When I contacted around, I discovered that a refill at the nearby U-Haul would cost $16. I recall seeing a sign at Costco advertising $9.99 refills. I thought I was getting a good deal, but it turned out I was getting nothing.
Costco in Greenville, SC is misleading since they hand you a slip with the words “20 pound cylinder” on it. The receipt shows “20lb PROPANE” when you pay inside, and the filling printout states “Cylinder: 20S lbs.” The only justification is that the printing of the filling is accurate, stating “3.6 gallons.” Nobody, on the other hand, is aware that a propane tank must contain 4.7 gallons in order to be deemed “full.” They are concealing the fact that they put in 75% by reporting 3.6 gallons. “We will put 15 pounds of propane into this 20 lb cylinder,” they’d say if they wanted to be honest.
The rumour on the web forums is that similar exchange businesses like Blue Rhino and AmeriGas put in 75 percent, or 15 pounds.
If you do the math on Costco, you’ll see that it’s not a horrible deal. It’s comparable to, if not less expensive than, $16 for a whole 20 pound bag. However, Costco’s use of the phrase “20 pound” is regrettable. I believe their motivation is to offer a lower price so that members believe they are receiving a good bargain. Plus, by only occupying 75 percent of the slots, members are more likely to return and shop inside while they wait.
Conclusion
- Owning a propane tank and re-filling it will be less expensive than hiring an exchange service if you’re seeking for the best deal. You pay a premium for convenience, as is customary.
- Inquire about the amount of propane that will be put into the cylinder. For full capacity, there should be 20 pounds going in.
- When you arrive home, weigh the tank; it should weigh around 37 pounds. If it weights 31-32 pounds, it’s safe to assume that just 15 pounds of propane were used.
Bonus – Weber Grills
At Taylor Hardware, I also put the grills together. We sold a lot of Weber grills, and they were by far the best. With proper care and a cover, your Weber barbecue can easily last 10-20 years. You can buy other low-cost brands, but their steel parts will rust in 2-3 years. You can buy a fancy-looking stainless steel grill from Home Depot that won’t rust, but it will cook unevenly or the handle or wheels will break off, and you’ll be back in the store in five years to buy another one.
Bonus – Side Burners
I also assisted in the sale of the BBQ grills. We did sell a couple with side burners, but they were never heavily promoted. Despite their best efforts, I recall many talks with clients who had previously paid more for a side burner and never used it. You’re probably only going to use the side burner once or twice, so don’t spend the money unless you’re certain you’ll use it.
Is it possible to fill a propane tank that isn’t empty?
Propane gas is used in more than 10% of US homes for cooking and other heat-generating appliances. Gas is delivered to households in secure metal containers. But, given that these tanks are pressurized, can they be refilled before they’re empty?
A propane tank can be refilled before it runs out. Before a refill, the tank does not need to be fully empty. To avoid overfilling the tank, take in mind the amount of residual gas and available space before refilling it.
We’ll go over why it’s okay to replenish a propane tank before it’s empty, why you shouldn’t empty it to the bottom, and when it’s the perfect time to restock your tank later in this post. In addition, I’ll point out three things to remember.