Cost saving on Propane

**azink007** · 01-09-2021, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by JohnSWood

In Texas, many of the U-Haul places sell propane... here is what they say on the matter... https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/Tips/...l-Vs-Exchange/ .

+1 for U-Haul pay at the pump. Very easy and convenient, and actually refills. The only time I’d ever do an exchange is if my tank is expired (12 years from manu) because they do check that

**Wicked ace** · 01-10-2021, 05:41 AM

Originally Posted by BobinICT

To be fair, exchanges are a good place to off load tanks past the ten year mark. Worth the 5LBS to get a newer one.

I learned if you take an expired tank to a commercial propane outlet such as Amerigas or a privately owned enterprise like I have locally they will do an exchange with a full tank that has been certified for 5 years at the cost of the propane only. This is dependent on condition as they take the tanks and re-certify them to be circulated again.
A caution about using an exchange such as Blue Rhino is they don't seem to be as vigilant in examining their tanks. Last year I exchanged a tank because I had a coupon and in exchange got a tank that was painted in an amateurish way. For several months I kept smelling propane and thought it was my fifth wheel leaking which I checked over numerous times. It ending being my gas grill about 10 feet away. Although I do it as a matter of course after using the grill unless I cranked really tight on the shut off valve it would leak past the valve packing. I lost a half season on that tank and honestly I outsmarted myself because of it.
https://www.comparepropane.com/tank-recertification/

**SolarPoweredRV** · 01-10-2021, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Wicked ace

I learned if you take an expired tank to a commercial propane outlet such as Amerigas or a privately owned enterprise like I have locally they will do an exchange with a full tank that has been certified for 5 years at the cost of the propane only. This is dependent on condition as they take the tanks and re-certify them to be circulated again.
A caution about using an exchange such as Blue Rhino is they don't seem to be as vigilant in examining their tanks. Last year I exchanged a tank because I had a coupon and in exchange got a tank that was painted in an amateurish way. For several months I kept smelling propane and thought it was my fifth wheel leaking which I checked over numerous times. It ending being my gas grill about 10 feet away. Although I do it as a matter of course after using the grill unless I cranked really tight on the shut off valve it would leak past the valve packing. I lost a half season on that tank and honestly I outsmarted myself because of it.
https://www.comparepropane.com/tank-recertification/

It's really not that hard to get a tank re-certified.

It is also not too expensive to simply buy a new tank, I like knowing that I have two brand new tanks on my coach. I don't like not knowing how much the tank has been abused before I picked it up from the Exchange bin.

**lorend** · 01-11-2021, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by SolarPoweredRV

It is not Expansion that is keeping them from being filled, it is simply GREED !!!!

A 20lb tank is designed to hold 20 lbs of Propane.

Any expansion requirement is calculated in the design of the tank.

You are simply getting 20% less Propane for the price when you choose to exchange your tanks.

Greed is alive and well !!!

I worked doing home delivery of propane at one time and they were all about making money. We did not fill the cylinders to 100% of capacity to allow for the changes in temperature which would lead to expansion. Also with propane, which is a liquid in your cylinder, it is not burned as a liquid but as a gas. By allowing extra "room" in the cylinder is allows a certain amount of gas when full.