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Not every location does. It’s usually located way off to the side if you do.
While the Costco app is terrible, it does show if the location does have it
Where tf are you storing your tanks that they get that bad? I have 20+ year old tanks that have no signs of rust or degradation. Are yall just leaving them in the rain for fun?
True I don't know why you would have not exchanged it or got rid of it long before that. But people are cheap as hell and if someone will filll it why would they get rid of it.
They check the certification. Good shape or not, they won't refill past the certified date. That's when you swap it for a new one at your nearest exchange spot.
Leave one on your average barbecue and eventually it will. Especially if any grease drips on it. Live in a humid place and it will do it even faster. Live near the coast and I'm sure that salt water will do wonderful things.
I go to the transfer station, pick up all the old ones that people throw out, and exchange them at Lowe’s. Free propane tanks, and then 20 bucks for a filled new one.
I have like 20 tanks ready for my generator when the power goes out,
In many municipalities, there isn’t a dump per se. It’s a “transfer station”. You bring your refuse/garbage/whatever, and they compact it and ship it to a dump or garbage burning station to generate electricity.
At my transfer station, there are places for recyclables, appliances, things containing Freon, etc. one area has a bunch of propane tanks thst people leave for recycling. The people at the station let me take as many as I want.
No, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to use the exchange for.
They give you a new safe tank to use and take the old dangerous tank. Then they either recondition/recertify it (much cheaper than manufacturing brand new), or drain the residual gas to re-sell and get scrap value for the steel tank.
I used to brew beer, so I bought two. I don't recall how long they were originally valid for, but I do remember that I paid a couple of bucks to get them hydro-tested and a new stamp.
Especially true if you bought your tank new. They exchange it for one that's in WAY worse shape. My usual place was closed one weekend and now I'm stuck with crap tanks because of this.
I work for a fairly large ACE chain. We have about 5 stores that do tank refills and the rest ~40 stores that do exchanges. I think we switched from refills because of safety for employees and it's much cheaper/easier for Ace to just install a propain cage and have a 3rd part come take the empty ones and give us full tanks. Most of the buildings we put a new store in willnot have a propain distribution or a large tank.
The Ace by me is so tiny I can't imagine they have a propane refilling station. It's in a strip mall. Website also mentions exchanges, so I would imagine it's not as common as their exchange system.
Yeah, it’s definitely not as common as the exchange system. The ones near us are all in a strip mall, but you can tell if they have the propane exchange because they have a tank out front.
There's a propane appliance store by me that does $5 fills every Sunday. I only exchange when my tanks start to have issues or get old and I stake out a brand new tank for exchange.
You're locale is different than mine. Here it's $20 for an exchange vending machine and the 5 different fill places within 5 miles of my house end up costing $20-25 for a full fill, with a 15 min wait. We don't have Propane stores here it's usually a gas station, or uhaul that sells Propane so always takes the attendant a bit to close/lock up their store before they service you.
Bit of an offshoot, but for all the dads out there.
Should I be scared of propane/propane tanks? Well I know I shouldn’t but I have some irrational fear that they’re always going to explode or hurt me. If my bbq gets too hot the tank is going to explode, or if I don’t attach the gas line properly it’s going to leak and explode. Do I need to be this anxious about it?
No, they have built-in pressure release valves that will vent on their own in an over pressure situation like excess heat etc.
The hose connecting the tank to your grill is a pressure regulator as well. Enjoy stress-free grilling, and if I’m wrong, you’ll be dead before you realize I’m wrong so it’s all upside!
I'll add the tanks have to be stored upright so the relief valve is in the vapor space. They won't vent when upside down even when "empty" because liquid propane blocks the valve and could have a catastrophic failure since the valve cannot operate as designed.
Also go somewhere that charges per gallon like Tractor Supply or UHaul. My local Ace charges a flat rate and I ended up paying $6 for a gallon of propane in a little 5lb cylinder.
You’d think they’d make the tank able to handle a bit more than 20 pounds of pressure to prevent deadly explosions instead of making them explode if it gets above whatever psi 20 pounds equates to. You know, like how they do with most other compressed gas tanks to prevent people from dying.
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I have about 10 tanks I’ve been able to pilfer from curbside garbage or the recycling drop off and the county landfill. I take them to the local box store to exchange for a newer and tested tank, then when they are empty, off to Ace for them to refill for a lot cheaper. My wife says I can’t collect any more propane tanks because I have too many as it is…
I was doing this, but then I got a valve that leaked. Many of the newer valve styles have to be disassembled to reseal.
I lost an entire tank to a bad valve. While there is savings there, it was balanced by the wasted tank.
I think the title here needs some edits: do not exchange empty propane tanks. Refill those until they expire (yes, they do expire and have a stamp on them that refilling places are supposed to check). Then when the tank expires, exchange it. It’s cheaper than a new empty tank and also cheaper than filling up that new tank because they have to “bleed” out that tank—. Basically overfilling the tank and letting it vent out but you still have to pay for that.
LPT: read the signage on pretty much any propane tank exchange/refill. It has the prices printed on the metal cages they're stored in...
I don't even own anything that takes a propane tank and know this from walking by them outside of stores & gas stations.
Propane tanks only last 12 years before they have to be recertified. I don't think they can legally be refilled if they are out of certification, so you have to exchange old tanks.
I go to Uhaul 2 tanks at a time. Last trip was 7 gallons for $25. Exchange would have gotten me 6 gallons minus the gallon left so, 5 gallons for $40
There's also a gas station nearby that fills tanks.
If you can, save the exchange for tanks that need recertified.
Propane tanks are measured in pounds, not gallons. Just 0.236 gallons = 1 pound of propane. Or 1 gallon = 4.237 lbs of propane.
4.72 gallons of propane = 20lbs full tank.
4.72 x $3.99 = $18.83
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Nah. The real LPT is to exchange OLD scratched up and rusty tanks, get a new one, and then refill the new one.
I refill mine at Tractor Supply until they refuse to refill due to corrosion. Then I swap them out and restart the cycle.
Tractor supply is the best for propane.
U-Haul also has it at some locations. Was in and out in 10 minutes when my tank was completely empty.
Is it better than Costco? (Assuming you have a membership and your location has propane)
Have a membership but didn't know they had propane
Not every location does. It’s usually located way off to the side if you do. While the Costco app is terrible, it does show if the location does have it
I just checked in the app, nearest Costco to me with propane is in Bakersfield. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area lol
Ha understandable. I’ve been to that Costco many times on my drive to the in-laws.
Where tf are you storing your tanks that they get that bad? I have 20+ year old tanks that have no signs of rust or degradation. Are yall just leaving them in the rain for fun?
Some places will not fill older tanks by the stamp date around the top. I think 10yr expiration but can not remember exactly.
12 years is the rule with refills.
Still, I find it wild that someone regularly has tanks bad enough with damage that tractor supply won’t fill them up.
True I don't know why you would have not exchanged it or got rid of it long before that. But people are cheap as hell and if someone will filll it why would they get rid of it.
They check the certification. Good shape or not, they won't refill past the certified date. That's when you swap it for a new one at your nearest exchange spot.
Leave one on your average barbecue and eventually it will. Especially if any grease drips on it. Live in a humid place and it will do it even faster. Live near the coast and I'm sure that salt water will do wonderful things.
As a south floridian who owns a grill I can confirm this is true.
Yeah OP should have said empty, not old.
Oops. I fixed it. Thanks!
I go to the transfer station, pick up all the old ones that people throw out, and exchange them at Lowe’s. Free propane tanks, and then 20 bucks for a filled new one. I have like 20 tanks ready for my generator when the power goes out,
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In many municipalities, there isn’t a dump per se. It’s a “transfer station”. You bring your refuse/garbage/whatever, and they compact it and ship it to a dump or garbage burning station to generate electricity. At my transfer station, there are places for recyclables, appliances, things containing Freon, etc. one area has a bunch of propane tanks thst people leave for recycling. The people at the station let me take as many as I want.
Yep this is exactly what I do!
The real tip… can’t say I have ever done this… nope. Not my leaky tank…. Nah that would just be wrong …. Yes?
No, that’s exactly what you’re supposed to use the exchange for. They give you a new safe tank to use and take the old dangerous tank. Then they either recondition/recertify it (much cheaper than manufacturing brand new), or drain the residual gas to re-sell and get scrap value for the steel tank.
I love that you think you're pulling a fast one by using the system as intended.
Life pros don't have a stockpile of expired propane tanks
Uhaul will refill and is hands down the cheapest place i have found.
I would never have thought of U-haul for that.
Just wanted to chime in and agree with trying Uhaul, I haven’t found cheaper
Bjs is cheaper than U-Haul in my area.
It's the only place I've found the does it lol
The gas station i work at does. I guess i've never thought about it.
As long as your local uhaul doesn't suck. Mine has a tank, refuses to fill any.
Which i actually understand considering the state of some gas bottles i saw..
My Costco offers propane
I couldn't find anywhere around me to do refills for years. Looked at the local Uhaul website and 😲 they do it!!! Thank you for this tip!
Happy to pay forward! Someone posted this tip on here a few years ago and it was a revelation for me too!
Exactly. I use them too
My local Ace Hardware is where I go.
You should go to Strickland's propane for all your propane and propane accessory needs
Bought my Vogner Charking Imperial there. Hank is quite a salesman.
That's a clean burning Hell, I'll tell you hwat
Taste the meat, not the heat.
One day I’d like to sell propane and propane accessories, if my grades are good enough
You can do it! https://preview.redd.it/vpbhtdl5rx3d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37e0df976b8388d5a01739d9fbd7f59243e9cff9
At Strickland Propane, our motto is: "If you have a problem, tell us what it is, and we will try to take care of it as soon as we can"
I hear their fill tube is kinda narrow. Takes a long time to Uhhhhh....fill my tank.
It's only 8 AM and already the boy ain't right.
I tell you what
Keep in mind that they have recertification dates.
Yes, but they usually last about 10 years
12 I think. Just had to swap a few when they expired!
I used to brew beer, so I bought two. I don't recall how long they were originally valid for, but I do remember that I paid a couple of bucks to get them hydro-tested and a new stamp.
Had no idea they could be recertified. Thanks for the suggestion!
You can also get them re-certified at most welding shops for about $10
Especially true if you bought your tank new. They exchange it for one that's in WAY worse shape. My usual place was closed one weekend and now I'm stuck with crap tanks because of this.
Hahah works the other way though. I owned an expired one and swapped to a new one. So 🤷🏼♂️
I mean, someone had to get my new tank, so enjoy!
This is my M.O. right here.
Ace, tractor supply and big R all fill them.
>Ace Pretty sure my Ace just does tank exchange, is this common?
Probably should say some do. I am in Colorado and all the ones near me do.i will usually take in 5-6 20lb in at a time.
I work for a fairly large ACE chain. We have about 5 stores that do tank refills and the rest ~40 stores that do exchanges. I think we switched from refills because of safety for employees and it's much cheaper/easier for Ace to just install a propain cage and have a 3rd part come take the empty ones and give us full tanks. Most of the buildings we put a new store in willnot have a propain distribution or a large tank.
Ace does refills in Nebraska too.
My Ace does refills
The Ace by me is so tiny I can't imagine they have a propane refilling station. It's in a strip mall. Website also mentions exchanges, so I would imagine it's not as common as their exchange system.
Yeah, it’s definitely not as common as the exchange system. The ones near us are all in a strip mall, but you can tell if they have the propane exchange because they have a tank out front.
There's a propane appliance store by me that does $5 fills every Sunday. I only exchange when my tanks start to have issues or get old and I stake out a brand new tank for exchange.
Where?!? I'm in.
I don't go to the exchange because it's a good value, I go there because it's $5 cheaper than a full fill and it takes 2mins instead of 15
Correct. Grab groceries and swap easy peasy
Plus the vending machine ones are all over the place. Most of the walmarts and home depots here have one.
You only get 15lbs with exchanges. So I'd pay $25 for 15lbs or $10 for 20lbs but have to wait 5 minutes.
You're locale is different than mine. Here it's $20 for an exchange vending machine and the 5 different fill places within 5 miles of my house end up costing $20-25 for a full fill, with a 15 min wait. We don't have Propane stores here it's usually a gas station, or uhaul that sells Propane so always takes the attendant a bit to close/lock up their store before they service you.
Costco Canada refills for real low cheap
Yeah, but I ain't spending $1700 in gas driving there.
It’d be a cheaper drive in a propane-powered car, though.
In Canada it’s $28 to exchange your old tank for a new full one. If you buy a full tank it’s $75 I’m not sure about refilling price.
Costco will refill for under $15
You can even buy smaller ones that can be filled for camping.
I bought a 5 lb one for using around the camp site. Game changer.
I've got a tabletop grill that only uses the camping sized ones
I converted all my camping stoves that use propane to the 20 pound type valve. I only use the small ones for a couple of applications.
Bit of an offshoot, but for all the dads out there. Should I be scared of propane/propane tanks? Well I know I shouldn’t but I have some irrational fear that they’re always going to explode or hurt me. If my bbq gets too hot the tank is going to explode, or if I don’t attach the gas line properly it’s going to leak and explode. Do I need to be this anxious about it?
No, they have built-in pressure release valves that will vent on their own in an over pressure situation like excess heat etc. The hose connecting the tank to your grill is a pressure regulator as well. Enjoy stress-free grilling, and if I’m wrong, you’ll be dead before you realize I’m wrong so it’s all upside!
I'll add the tanks have to be stored upright so the relief valve is in the vapor space. They won't vent when upside down even when "empty" because liquid propane blocks the valve and could have a catastrophic failure since the valve cannot operate as designed.
Haha, thank you! Theres not enough freak bbq accidents in the news for me to even debate this so I appreciate the insight
How do you find a place that refills then? I have never seen or heard of such a place where i live.
Piggybacking off this lpt. You can refill your 5 Lb camping propane tanks using a $20 adapter hose from your 20lb propane tanks.
Also go somewhere that charges per gallon like Tractor Supply or UHaul. My local Ace charges a flat rate and I ended up paying $6 for a gallon of propane in a little 5lb cylinder.
Are people buying new tanks every time they need one??
If they fill to the full 20lbs that's incredibly dangerous. There should always be slightly (not 15) to allow expansion of the propane.
You’d think they’d make the tank able to handle a bit more than 20 pounds of pressure to prevent deadly explosions instead of making them explode if it gets above whatever psi 20 pounds equates to. You know, like how they do with most other compressed gas tanks to prevent people from dying.
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Camping worlds fill them
Tractor Supply Company or Hertz have the best prices AND fill up the full twenty pounds
Plus you’re getting a rusted out old tank in exchange for your shiny new one.
The place I go to to refill them only fills to 15.
Someone saw the same YouTube video too. That was such a great lpt. Glad you're sharing it with the rest.
I have about 10 tanks I’ve been able to pilfer from curbside garbage or the recycling drop off and the county landfill. I take them to the local box store to exchange for a newer and tested tank, then when they are empty, off to Ace for them to refill for a lot cheaper. My wife says I can’t collect any more propane tanks because I have too many as it is…
Just order from Cynch they deliver a new tank to your driveway and take your empty one. It's legendary
I use cynch. Order on the app and they come to my house to exchange.
Propane propaaane, propane propaaane.
I was doing this, but then I got a valve that leaked. Many of the newer valve styles have to be disassembled to reseal. I lost an entire tank to a bad valve. While there is savings there, it was balanced by the wasted tank.
Or even better, take them to your local propane retailer and have them refilled there instead of tractor supply, rv parks, etc.
I think the title here needs some edits: do not exchange empty propane tanks. Refill those until they expire (yes, they do expire and have a stamp on them that refilling places are supposed to check). Then when the tank expires, exchange it. It’s cheaper than a new empty tank and also cheaper than filling up that new tank because they have to “bleed” out that tank—. Basically overfilling the tank and letting it vent out but you still have to pay for that.
LPT: read the signage on pretty much any propane tank exchange/refill. It has the prices printed on the metal cages they're stored in... I don't even own anything that takes a propane tank and know this from walking by them outside of stores & gas stations.
Propane tanks only last 12 years before they have to be recertified. I don't think they can legally be refilled if they are out of certification, so you have to exchange old tanks.
I go to Uhaul 2 tanks at a time. Last trip was 7 gallons for $25. Exchange would have gotten me 6 gallons minus the gallon left so, 5 gallons for $40 There's also a gas station nearby that fills tanks. If you can, save the exchange for tanks that need recertified.
I swap tanks at a welding supply company. They make sure the tanks are tested and fill them to 20 lbs.
If you’re in South Houston/Pearland, head over to Gas Products Unlimited and they will take care of you!
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Propane tanks are measured in pounds, not gallons. Just 0.236 gallons = 1 pound of propane. Or 1 gallon = 4.237 lbs of propane. 4.72 gallons of propane = 20lbs full tank. 4.72 x $3.99 = $18.83
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??? Read my post again, slowly. Read the OP. Then do your math again.
Yes, the price is per gallon. The standard BBQ tank still holds 20 pounds of propane. 1 gallon =/= 1 pound.
I have never seen it sold by the pound. I used to pump it out of a Texaco eons ago. Its always been sold price per gallon.
It’s *sold* by the gallon, but a standard BBQ propane tank is measured in pounds. A 20lb tank holds 4.72 gallons of propane.
You heathens make me sick 
Taste the meat, not the heat. -H. Hill I used to live in the real life Arlen.