20 lb. BBQ Propane Tank – Usage & Refill Guide

Grill Propane Tank 101

The weather is finally breaking and the warm temperatures are being felt across the nation. Baseball season has officially begun and the sound of mowers cutting grass can be heard. All of these things point to the start of summer and thus, the start of BBQ season. Although the perfect hamburger recipe can be debated from here until eternity, there are a few definitive tips to save money while filling up that BBQ tank.

THE FACTS

Weight

A typical barbecue tank is also referred to as a 20-pounder. This is because the tank can hold approximately 20 pounds of propane. This equates to 4.7 gallons of propane. Propane weighs 4.24 pounds per gallon so now you get the 20 pound reference.

So, does a full tank weigh 20 pounds? No, because the tank itself has weight to it, too. That is called the “tare weight” which is the weight of an empty tank. Tanks have “T.W.” (tare weight) stamped on the collar of the tank. On average, the tare weight of a propane tank is about 17.2 pounds. Some might be 18 and some might be 16.6.

All in all, a completely full BBQ tank weighs approximately 37 to 38 pounds.

The Tare Weight on this tank is 17.9 pounds.

Valves

An OPD valve is required on all grill bottle tanks. OPD is short for “Overfill Protection Device”. It is a safety feature that prevents the tanks from being overfilled. If you have a tank without an OPD, the company will not be able to fill your tank. If your tank has a fly wheel valve it’s the older style and cannot be filled. The OPD valves are more of a triangular shape (see below).

 

Above is a non OPD tank and will not be able to be filled.

Above is an example of an OPD valve on a good standing tank.

Date

You will notice that there is date stamped on the collar of your propane tank. The Department of Transportation states that smaller propane tanks have a usable life of 12 years. After that, they will need to be refurbished. For example, if a tank has stamp 04 10 that means it will need to be replaced or refurbished on 05/2022. Most local propane marketers can refurbish out-of-date propane tanks.

To Refill or Exchange

In terms of most value for your dollar, I would recommend having your propane tank filled by a local company versus a tank exchange at a gas station or big box store. The national chains often fill their BBQ tanks with only 15 pounds of propane. This means that you are truly only receiving 3.5 gallons (15 lbs of propane = 3.5 gallons of propane). Your local garden center or propane marketer normally fill your propane tank with 20 lbs of propane or 4.7 gallons.
Some people might ask what the big deal is, because it’s only a difference of 1.2 gallons. However, when it comes to grilling, 1.2 gallon of propane equals about four to five hours of extra grilling time. I could show the calculation of this, but it bore even Steven Hawking.

In addition, the cost at one of these exchanges are usually $20-22 per tank. If you look around many local propane marketers offer deals in the summer time for tank exchanges. The deals normally range from $12-$15 per bottle exchange.

The per gallon comparison looks like this:

Big Box Store tank exchange for $22 equates to $6.28 per gallon of propane.
Local Fill station for $12 equates to $2.55 per gallon of propane.

Knowing When To Refill Your Tank

The simple answer for knowing exactly when you need to refill your tank is to actually weigh it. Use the Tare Weight as your base line and the difference is the amount of propane left.

For example:
TW=17 and the total weight of the tank is 25 lbs. This means that you have 8 lbs of propane (25 lbs – 7 lbs = 8 lbs) or 1.9 gallon left. Note that 1.9 gallon equals about 7 hours or so of grill time.

It’s always fun to leave in the middle of a BBQ with your tank under your arm and go weigh yourself, right? It’s a really cool party move. False.

The best option is to have a backup tank and just swap it out. Also, if you bring a half full tank to get filled you are charged a flat fee and not a per gallon fee. So, it’s also better to run completely out and then get it filled. Having a backup tank allows you to do this.

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How to Switch Propane Providers

How to make the switch

I currently have a propane tank at my house but want to switch to a new company… How do I do that? Is it even possible? These are common questions we get when a customer is looking for a new company, so we decided to write a blog to map out the best way to switch your propane providers.

First things first, you need to figure out what company owns the tank. People often think that if they bought the house, they must own the propane tank on the property. However, that is incorrect. Refer to the seller’s disclosure when you purchase the house for more information. If you want the tank at your home you can basically switch providers as you see fit. The rest of this pertains to propane users who do not own the tank their home or business.

The second question that you will have to answer is whether the tank is above or underground.

Above-ground Tanks

There are a few different size above-ground tanks that could be located at your property. Depending on your usage, we can figure out the size tank. Typically, if you use propane for cooking, fireplace inserts, or space heating you will have a one hundred (100) gallon tank or smaller at your home. One-hundred (100) gallon tanks are approximately four feet tall and two and a half to three feet in diameter. Generally, these tanks are owned by the propane company. It’s obviously best to check your original contract with your provider to determine whether or not you own the tank. If you have a larger tank, follow the same process but there is always a chance that you may own the tank.

If you have don’t own the above-ground tank at your home it’s not the end of the world, you can still switch. First, you will want to figure out the cancellation policy of the current provider. Usually, if you cancel within the first few years of the original contract, there can be a cancellation fee that would be greater than any savings you could realize by switching. If you are out of the cancellation period the chances are your company will not give you a dollar for dollar credit for the gas that is currently in the tank. More than likely, you have already paid for the propane in the tank so you will want to use as much as that propane as possible before switching. To prevent any more deliveries coming to your home make sure you are not currently be delivered propane on an automatic delivery basis.

Now that you have taken these steps it’s time to find a new company. Generally, once your tank is at approximately twenty-percent (20%) you can call your new company to come set their tank. Your new company will simply disconnect the existing tank at your house and set it aside for your old company and place their tank at your house.

Underground Tanks

If you have a below ground tank at your home, the first step again is to determine who owns the tank. It really is equal chances that the propane company owns the tank versus the homeowner owning the tank. Once again, you will have a bill of receipt if you own it, or you will have a contract with the original provider.

If it’s determined that the propane company owns the underground tank at your home or business you will have few options. Option number one is to see if there is a tank buy out option. Generally, a company will offer a deprecation schedule with tank buyout options based on the number of years that the tank has been in service. For example, if you have had a tank at your home for 10 years there might be a buyout of approximately $2,000-$3000 for a 500 gallon tank and it could be more for a 1000 gallon tank. Keep in mind that I am using very general numbers and actual numbers will vary from town to town and from company to company.

If the buyout is acceptable and you purchase the tank you are now a free agent and choose a new provider. If the company does not offer a buyout, it is a little tricky. One option is to have the company dig up their tank and have a company set a new one. This isn’t always the best option. If you fall under this category you can always determine when the contract is up and make the switch then.

Recap:

Step 1 – Determine who owns the tank
Step 2 – Make sure there is no cancellation fee at this time
Step 3 – Cancel auto delivery with current provider
Step 4 – Choose new company
Step 5 – Burn propane in your tank down to approx. 20%
Step 6 – Contact new company to place new tank and remove existing tank
Step 7 – Call your previous provider to pick up their tank

Visit this page for some FAQs on propane pricing and service.

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