Propane - Refills better for environment than exchange

16 years ago

1- Refilling may be done at many service stations, garden/nursery center, etc. This is likely to be closer to your home than an exchange location like blue rhino.

2- Tank exchange is much less environmentally friendly than having your tank refilled. Trucking around a bunch of small blue rhino propane tanks is much less efficient than trucking a big propane refill truck that will fill up your local dealer's big tank, then yours. Think about it - by refilling, you completely eliminate the blue rhino mass refill center too.

3- A tank designed and certified by the government as a 20 lb tank should accept a fill for the full 20 lbs. If you pay for 20 lbs don't get 20 lbs, you are getting ripped off and that company is unscrupulously profiteering out of your wallet. Don't do business with them.

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Comments (4)

vanole
16 years ago
princetonz,

Your typical cylinder (not tank)used with a grill has and OPD valve that only allows the cylinder to be filled to 80% capacity. This allows for expansion and lessens the probability of venting of propane.

Jeff
wildboar
16 years ago
You are paying a surcharge for convenience with any of those exchange programs.

I got my own Worthington tank and it actually holds 5 gallons instead of shutting off at 4.x like most do. The local, family owned propane dealership charges a whopping $15 for a 5 gallon fill. The other day when there was still a small amount in the tank and it took 4.2 gallons, it cost me $10.

Any of the exchanges would have been $19.97+ for that.
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palmpooh
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there are a few misconceptions about the propane business. Not only did Blue Rhino drop the level of propane in their tanks, but they were the last ones to do so. Amerigas, and other regional tank exchange companies did so first. Consumers have been continually blaming Blue Rhino for the price of the exchange. Blue Rhino does not set the price. The proprieter at each location sets the price. That is why if you shop around town you will find a cheaper price for Blue Rhino tank exchange. Blue Rhino has dropped their price to our customers. The customer has not dropped the price to the consumer. Blue Rhino is training their customers to not accept tanks that have been serviced at other locations for even exchange because the valve no longer working. If the tank leaks around the valve connection, use plumbers tape to help seal the connection. It is a brass valve and it has a tendency to contract and expand due to temperatures.
homefyres
16 years ago
20 LB tanks can not be filled to a 20 LB capacity. They are not permitted to be filled over 80% capacity for the reasons mentioned above (expansion and contraction).

If you get a fill station that puts more than 80% in they are definitely risking their licenses.

Simple solution - don't prepay when you get your tanks filled. Pay for what they put in, which will never be 20 lbs.

Propane - Refills better for environment than exchange

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vanole

wildboar

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