I copied this from another forum I belong to, but after talking to a guy at
a refill station I totally agree with all of the following. My milage and dollars may be bit different than below but hey....not much.
Killbuck
.................................................. .........................
With the possible exception of a romance shortage on your
honeymoon, there's nothing more frustrating than running out
of propane for the old gas grill about halfway through a
cookout while entertaining a house full of noshing guests who
are drooling in anticipation. But like John Wayne might have
said, "Pilgrim, get used to it." Why? Because while you
weren't paying attention, the propane tank exchange folks
(with very little fanfare) have reduced the amount of gas in
those 20-pound cylinders by a cool 25%. Yep, you heard
correct, so that they could avoid raising prices when the cost
of propane skyrocketed; they now pump as little as 15 pounds
of gas into those 20-pound tanks. But, before we continue,
here's a brief propane primer.
Some folks believe that propane and natural gas are one in the
same. They're not. Propane is produced during the refining of
crude oil. It rises to a specific elevation in a fractionating
tower where it is collected for distribution/sale. Natural gas
consists primarily of methane and is pumped from gas wells.
I've learned about propane because the area where I reside is
bereft of natural gas lines, so I'm compelled to fuel my
kitchen and parlor stoves with the stuff along, of course,
with my gas grill. Lastly, a gallon of propane weighs 4.24
pounds. Therefore, 4.71 gallons are required to refill a
completely empty 20-pound cylinder.
In 2008, when oil prices spiked to $140/barrel, a gallon of
propane was selling for nearly $1.80. Now, like oil, the price
of propane has fallen dramatically. But the propane tank
exchange guys are still putting 25% less in their exchangeable
tanks. Why? It's called greed. Help me out here. 20 doesn't
equal 15, right? So what's a gas grill guy to do? Simple, quit
buying those exchange tanks at the convenience/grocery store
and go directly to a propane supplier, where 20 still equals
20. The savings you'll reap can be substantial. Here's what I
mean.
At my local convenience store, a "20-pound" cylinder of
propane carries an "exchange" price of $22.99. Add in the
dreaded sales tax and that tank of grill gas tops out at
$24.83. At our local propane dealer, located a mere two miles
farther up the road, a 20-pound tank refill sells for $14 with
tax included. Yikes, what a price differential!
Now in defense of the tank exchange outfits, the sign on the
tank exchange cage states that the cylinders only contain 15
pounds. But think about it. By shopping directly with the
dealer, I'm purchasing 25% more propane for 44% less money.
Most importantly, I'm confident that I'm getting what I'm
paying for. The propane dealer's scale has been checked for
accuracy by the county's department of weights and measures.
Conversely, I really can't say for certain exactly how much
propane is in the tank at the exchange place, because I wasn't
present when it was filled.
And here are two more strategies for saving money on propane.
First, pick up the phone, call various propane outfits, and
compare prices. As an example, there's another propane dealer
in our general area that advertises 20-pound tank refills for
$9.98. The problem with that for me personally is that they're
located 22 miles from my home. So while I'd save another $4
per tank, I'd burn up three gallons of gas driving over and
back. My point here is this. Most of us keep a mental list of
which service stations have the cheapest gasoline, and there's
no reason not to keep that same kind of information handy when
it comes to propane prices.
The second tactic is to purchase an additional 20-pound tank.
If the first one runs dry during a BBQ, slap #2 in place and
keep right on cooking. Then refill the empty when your travels
will take you near a propane dealer. You'll avoid driving
extra miles, your grilling won't be interrupted, and you'll
probably save some money. Then you can use some of those extra
dollars for some nice steaks, the gas grill's best friend!
Disclaimer: Propane prices quoted were as of May 26, 2009.
a refill station I totally agree with all of the following. My milage and dollars may be bit different than below but hey....not much.
Killbuck
.................................................. .........................
With the possible exception of a romance shortage on your
honeymoon, there's nothing more frustrating than running out
of propane for the old gas grill about halfway through a
cookout while entertaining a house full of noshing guests who
are drooling in anticipation. But like John Wayne might have
said, "Pilgrim, get used to it." Why? Because while you
weren't paying attention, the propane tank exchange folks
(with very little fanfare) have reduced the amount of gas in
those 20-pound cylinders by a cool 25%. Yep, you heard
correct, so that they could avoid raising prices when the cost
of propane skyrocketed; they now pump as little as 15 pounds
of gas into those 20-pound tanks. But, before we continue,
here's a brief propane primer.
Some folks believe that propane and natural gas are one in the
same. They're not. Propane is produced during the refining of
crude oil. It rises to a specific elevation in a fractionating
tower where it is collected for distribution/sale. Natural gas
consists primarily of methane and is pumped from gas wells.
I've learned about propane because the area where I reside is
bereft of natural gas lines, so I'm compelled to fuel my
kitchen and parlor stoves with the stuff along, of course,
with my gas grill. Lastly, a gallon of propane weighs 4.24
pounds. Therefore, 4.71 gallons are required to refill a
completely empty 20-pound cylinder.
In 2008, when oil prices spiked to $140/barrel, a gallon of
propane was selling for nearly $1.80. Now, like oil, the price
of propane has fallen dramatically. But the propane tank
exchange guys are still putting 25% less in their exchangeable
tanks. Why? It's called greed. Help me out here. 20 doesn't
equal 15, right? So what's a gas grill guy to do? Simple, quit
buying those exchange tanks at the convenience/grocery store
and go directly to a propane supplier, where 20 still equals
20. The savings you'll reap can be substantial. Here's what I
mean.
At my local convenience store, a "20-pound" cylinder of
propane carries an "exchange" price of $22.99. Add in the
dreaded sales tax and that tank of grill gas tops out at
$24.83. At our local propane dealer, located a mere two miles
farther up the road, a 20-pound tank refill sells for $14 with
tax included. Yikes, what a price differential!
Now in defense of the tank exchange outfits, the sign on the
tank exchange cage states that the cylinders only contain 15
pounds. But think about it. By shopping directly with the
dealer, I'm purchasing 25% more propane for 44% less money.
Most importantly, I'm confident that I'm getting what I'm
paying for. The propane dealer's scale has been checked for
accuracy by the county's department of weights and measures.
Conversely, I really can't say for certain exactly how much
propane is in the tank at the exchange place, because I wasn't
present when it was filled.
And here are two more strategies for saving money on propane.
First, pick up the phone, call various propane outfits, and
compare prices. As an example, there's another propane dealer
in our general area that advertises 20-pound tank refills for
$9.98. The problem with that for me personally is that they're
located 22 miles from my home. So while I'd save another $4
per tank, I'd burn up three gallons of gas driving over and
back. My point here is this. Most of us keep a mental list of
which service stations have the cheapest gasoline, and there's
no reason not to keep that same kind of information handy when
it comes to propane prices.
The second tactic is to purchase an additional 20-pound tank.
If the first one runs dry during a BBQ, slap #2 in place and
keep right on cooking. Then refill the empty when your travels
will take you near a propane dealer. You'll avoid driving
extra miles, your grilling won't be interrupted, and you'll
probably save some money. Then you can use some of those extra
dollars for some nice steaks, the gas grill's best friend!
Disclaimer: Propane prices quoted were as of May 26, 2009.
