Menards has a steel 20-pound empty propane tank with a gauge.
How much does a 20lb propane tank cost?
For our rental home, I recently purchased a propane grill. With heavy use, the tank, as you could expect, runs out rather frequently. Because I deal with propane prices on a regular basis, I can provide you with all the information you require.
Filling a 20-pound gas tank will cost between $14 and $20. The amount you pay is determined by the cost of a refill, which is normally between $3 and $4 per gallon. Multiply the cost of propane per gallon by 4.7 because a 20 pound propane tank holds around 4.7 gallons. For instance, $3 multiplied by 4.7 equals $14.10.
Some people use a propane tank swap, which is a service provided by many big box stores such as Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot. The cost of the transaction is normally around $20 plus tax, however there are occasionally discounts. Filling saves roughly $8 on average.
Pro Tip: If you ever buy a new tank, I highly recommend getting one with a built-in gauge, such as one of these on Amazon.
How does Menards’ propane tank exchange work?
Propane Cylinder Exchange at Your Fingertips All you need is a credit card to get started. The Propane Exchange Kiosk may be found in front of many Menards shops and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply choose whether you want to “Buy” or “Exchange” a propane tank, swipe your payment card, and walk in to receive your tank.
What are the different sizes of propane tanks?
The most typical propane tanks are as follows:
- The 20-pound tank is 18 inches tall and 12 inches in diameter. It has a capacity of 5 gallons of propane.
- The 33-pound tank stands 2 feet tall and has a diameter of 1 foot. It can hold up to 8 gallons of propane.
- 4 feet tall and 18 diameter for a 100 pound tank.
- 4 feet tall by 3 feet in diameter for a 420 pound tank.
- 5 feet tall by 10 feet long is the size of a 500 gallon tank.
How much does an empty 20-pound propane tank weigh?
We’re in the midst of outdoor living season in Connecticut, which means it’s time to fire up your propane BBQ grill! Simply ensure that you have extra gas for your next summer BBQ.
However, as any veteran propane griller knows, most 20-pound propane barbecue cylinders lack a gauge, which means you’ll need to figure out how much fuel is left in your tank in another method.
Here are three easy ideas to get you started:
1. Make use of warm water. This safe and straightforward method for determining how much propane is left in your tank was given by the FiX IT Home Improvement Channel. To do it,
- Fill a small bucket halfway with warm to hot tap water and set aside.
- Pour the water down the tank’s side.
- Feel for a cool location around the tank’s side using your hand.
The fill level of the tank is at the top of the cold spot (it’s cool because liquid propane inside the tank absorbs heat from the water, making the tank’s metal wall cool to the touch).
2. Check the tank’s weight. On the handle of most propane grill tanks are two numbers: the water capacity (“WC”) and the tare weight (TW), which is the weight of the tank when it is empty. When empty, most grilling tanks weigh around 17 pounds and store around 20 pounds of gas.
Simply weigh your tank on a scale and subtract the TW number to find out how much propane is left in it. If a 27-pound tank has a TW of 17 pounds, there’s about 10 pounds of gas left, or little more than half a tank.
3. Install a gauge on the outside of the building. Options for external propane tank gauges include:
- Installed between the gas line from the grill and the tank’s cut-off valve, inline pressure gauges measure pressures to determine how full the tank is.
- Analog propane scales resemble luggage scales and are pre-programmed to account for your tank’s TW.
- Digital propane tank scales provide a digital readout of remaining cook time and gas fill percentage. Some even have apps for smart phones.
Choose a gauge that you like (they’re available at your local hardware shop and on Amazon) and try it out!
Don’t get burned by your propane tank! Use these tips to figure out how much gas is left in your tank before your next summer get-together! Don’t panic if you run out of propane; simply visit one of our Connecticut showrooms for a propane cylinder refill!
Is it true that all 20-pound propane tanks are the same?
Tanks range in size from compact 20-pound containers to over 2,000-gallon tanks. The size of your propane tank is determined by the size of your home and the quantity and size of gas-powered appliances.
More information about propane tank sizes can be found in the propane tank size guide below. It’s crucial to remember that a propane tank can only be filled to 80% capacity. When the tank is full, the details will show how many gallons you’ll have.
Grilling
As previously stated, 20-pound propane tanks are used for small chores such as cooking single meals. If you’re grilling on a medium-sized barbecue, one tank of propane will normally last between 18 and 20 hours. Larger barbecues, on the other hand, can consume 20 pounds of propane in as little as 10 hours.
If you use a medium-sized grill on high heat, you’ll need one or two pounds of fuel per meal on average. That works out to about 8 grilling sessions per tank.
Furnaces
The industry standard for measuring the heating efficiency of domestic equipment is the British Thermal Unit, or BTUs. One gallon of propane equals 92,000 BTUs, and the average house furnace uses 100,000 BTUs. The average house furnace consumes about one gallon of propane each hour.
Depending on how often you turn on your furnace, a house furnace might burn anywhere from 500 to 1,200 gallons of propane every year.
Hot Water Heaters
The amount of hot water you use depends on how many bathrooms you have and how many people are in and out of your home. The average residence uses approximately 1.5 gallons of propane per day for conventional hot water heating.
For hot water, the average homeowner will use between 200 and 300 gallons of propane each year.
The average homeowner will consume about 2.5, 500-gallon propane tanks for house heating and cooking each year.
What is the average lifespan of a propane tank?
Grills, water heaters, and fireplaces all use small, portable propane tanks, often known as DOT tanks. They can weigh anywhere from 20 to 100 pounds. Its lifespan is determined by the size of your grill and how frequently you use your heater or fireplace.
A medium-sized grill on high heat will use about two pounds of fuel per meal as a rule of thumb. On a medium grill, a 20lb propane tank will give 18-20 hours of cooking time if you follow this rule. In as little as 10 hours, a larger barbecue can burn through 20 pounds of propane.
At Costco, how much does it cost to fill a 20-pound gas tank?
Summer is approaching, and you know what that means… it’s BBQ season!!! My BBQ propane tank, unfortunately, needed to be refilled. Of course, propane is available at most gas stations and Costcos, but I couldn’t help but wonder whether there was a pricing difference. If yes, by how much do you mean? This is my review of the Costco Propane Cylinder Refill.
When it comes to gasoline, most people would agree that Costco is usually the greatest value in town. Costco, on average, costs roughly 5% less than the local average gas price, in my experience. Unlike gas pricing, however, propane costs are not publicly displayed. As a result, I figured I’d check in on it so you wouldn’t have to! Note: Prices are as of early May 2020 at MY local gas station and Costco. Your outcomes may differ.
Propane Cylinder Refill Price Example
My neighborhood gas station, as you can see in the photo above, charges $1.10 a litre for propane. As a result, the total cost of a normal 17.8 litre (20 pound) tank is $19.58.
The cost of propane at Costco was $.56 per litre. As a result, a normal 17.8 litre tank costs $9.96 at Costco. It’s basically half-price.
I don’t use a lot of propane, despite how much I enjoy grilling. Once or twice a year, I go through one tank. However, if I can save 50% or approximately $10 each time, I’ll take it! The savings are considerably greater if you own a camper or motorhome with a large propane tank.
Thank you for taking the time to read my Costco Propane Cylinder Refill article. If you find this piece useful, please share it with your friends or other Costco Facebook groups, like I do with all of my writings. You can also click here to see my other Costco reviews. Click here to join my Costco Money Saving Tips and Reviews Facebook Group.
A 30 pound propane tank holds how many gallons?
A 30 pound propane tank holds 7 gallons and weights 55 pounds when filled. Large commercial barbecues, construction heaters, space heaters, propane hawk torches, and a variety of other propane applications all use the 40 pound propane tank.
