Propane tanks - What am I missing?

[skfullgun]

Portable propane tanks have more than doubled in price in the last few years, in case you haven’t noticed.

I have multiple 20 lb, several 30 lb, and a 100 lb cylinder I keep for a gas grill, fire pit, outside cooktop, and a duel-fuel generator.

I am 30 miles from the nearest propane filling station, but only 15 miles from Dollar General, where they will exchange your empty propane cylinder for a full one for about $25. They will sell you a full propane tank WITHOUT an exchange for about $55.

Normally, I prefer to take several tanks to the refill facility, where I get the propane cheaper and they actually fill the tank to the top (unlike the “exchange where you only get about 90% of capacity).

I decided I needed a couple of extra 20 lb tanks. A new, empty cylinder at Lowe’s, Home Depot, tractor supply, or Academy is about $65. AND, it’s empty!

Am I missing something, or would it not be better just to buy an extra full cylinder from Dollar General for $55?

I do not have access to natural gas, and other than outdoor appliances and a generator, my house is all electric.

EDIT to add: I just did a bit of research, and it appears that Blue Rhino only puts 15 pounds of propane in their exchangeable cylinders.

 

[striker55]

I'm surprised C02 hasn't gone up, I use it for the Sodastream, buy 5 lbs at a time for about $14.

 

[Polkwright]

You're not missing anything. I've bought the full ones a couple of times because they were cheaper that way. Sometimes I buy full Blue Rhinos from Home Depot because it's less than the empties they sell. Which is stupid. Online doesn't work. You can buy them for less than $40 but shipping and tax pushes them over $60.

 

[dsgrey]

Yes, price shot up a couple of years ago where a 20lb tank had been $13 but I can get them exchanged for $20 now. If you look at the historical prices, it doesn't justify the increase. Cheapest and easiest way to exchange for me is to go to the Walmart fuel station which has two racks and no crowds.

I've got 3 tanks that I use on my gas grill and gas firepit with the latter being the biggest user. I kept the blue tabs starting this fall and I'm currently on tank #20 so $240 worth of propane.

 

[General Zod]

Yeah, it makes no sense to buy an empty tank when you can save money with the exchange tanks. I get one of those, have it refilled until it hits whatever expiration is on the tank, then exchange it again.

 

[skfullgun]

I remember when the convenience stores first started offering a propane exchange. I thought it was a stupid idea and would never catch on. Evidently, I was wrong.

I’ll check the price for buying an extra full cylinder at Walmart next time I’m there.

 

[Coyote9]

Portable propane tanks have more than doubled in price in the last few years, in case you haven’t noticed.

I have multiple 20 lb, several 30 lb, and a 100 lb cylinder I keep for a gas grill, fire pit, outside cooktop, and a duel-fuel generator.

I am 30 miles from the nearest propane filling station, but only 15 miles from Dollar General, where they will exchange your empty propane cylinder for a full one for about $25. They will sell you a full propane tank WITHOUT an exchange for about $55.

Normally, I prefer to take several tanks to the refill facility, where I get the propane cheaper and they actually fill the tank to the top (unlike the “exchange where you only get about 90% of capacity).

I decided I needed a couple of extra 20 lb tanks. A new, empty cylinder at Lowe’s, Home Depot, tractor supply, or Academy is about $65. AND, it’s empty!

Am I missing something, or would it not be better just to buy an extra full cylinder from Dollar General for $55?

I do not have access to natural gas, and other than outdoor appliances and a generator, my house is all electric.

I take mine to a local propane shop, $13 to refill a 30# bottle

 

[skfullgun]

I take mine to a local propane shop, $13 to refill a 30# bottle

I think that’s what the propane dealer in Lufkin gets for a 20 lb.

 

[Darkpriest667]

I never exchange tanks. My tanks are really good and I dont want their shitty old tanks. I fill up at tractor supply. I paid for my tanks brand new and they are in great shape.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

Check the FB market place if you have FB I have bought several filled and unfilled for $20 each.

 

[Lead Belly]

A lot of effort goes into making those tanks...

 

[skfullgun]

A bit more research and I found that propane is retailing for just under three dollars a gallon. A 20 pound tank holds 4.6 gallons. That would indicate a 20 pound refill would be around $13.75 @ current retail pricing.

So, the exchange tanks provide a nice profit margin for companies like Blue Rhino (they only put 15lbs in a 20 lb cylinder) whereas buying a full tank from them for $55 still means you are getting it from them for less than you can buy an empty cylinder elsewhere.

And, they’ve generally allowed me to choose which cylinder I want when exchanging, and I always get a nice looking tank.

 

[gasgas]

The new cylinders are 80% fill have a triangle type valve handle
So actually only get 16 pounds, or 4 gallons

 

[Lonesome Dove]

A lot of effort goes into making those tanks...

They put union guys to bed.

 

[Grumps21]

HEB was 39.99 I think when I last bought a full cylinder. That was abt 1.5 years ago and was the cheapest option near me at the time. For exchange they are all abt the same so I just go to the closest place with the least hassle. Walgreens or CVS.

 

[Fishkiller]

Just remember the exchange tanks may or may not be refurbished tanks. The tanks are good for 12 years from date of manufacture unless they have been recertified by hydro testing or ultrasound. So you might exchange your 3 year old tank for a 10 year old one. Or one that has been supposedly recertified. Also many folk take the expired tank and trade it in at these exchange places, eay way to dispose of one

 

[kbaxter60]

I never exchange tanks. My tanks are really good and I dont want their shitty old tanks. I fill up at tractor supply. I paid for my tanks brand new and they are in great shape.

Tractor Supply has turned out to be a good option for us. They were charging us 2.99/gal, but just bumped it to 3.29. That's still better than the propane place we used to get fills at. They are now $18 for a 20 lb tank fill at Propane Depot. I can fill two 20 lb. tanks for around $26 at TSCO, so it would cost me another $10 at the propane place. Empty tanks at TSCO are $59 for the 20 lb. and $229 for the 100 lb.

BTW, our Dollar General charges $60 for filled 20 lb. tank ($22 for the exchange). And the propane outlet was $73 plus tax for a new, filled tank. So I bought us a third small tank from DG (not Blue Rhino, but Amerigas) and it was fairly new and we still use it almost daily.

 

[tedwitt]

I bought 100 gallons in my 250 last year at 275.00 this year this year it was 380.00 delivered of course.

 

[deemus]

HEB was 39.99 I think when I last bought a full cylinder. That was abt 1.5 years ago and was the cheapest option near me at the time. For exchange they are all abt the same so I just go to the closest place with the least hassle. Walgreens or CVS.

Kroger for me. My son told me there is a U-Haul place that fills them. Planning to do that next time. The three tanks I have now are pretty new.

 

[2ManyGuns]

Somebody needs to find Hank Hill...