Propane dealers don't want you to get a bloated feeling

Feel like you've run out of propane for your gas grill sooner than you used to? No, nothing has happened to the propane you cook with. Rather, it seems as if propane suppliers are filling tanks with less gas than they used to, according to this recent Associated Press article.

The 20-pound tanks used on millions of gas grills have typically been filled with 17 to 18 pounds of propane (for safety reasons they can't hold a full 20 pounds). But when oil prices and propane futures soared last year, propane suppliers including big names Amerigas and Blue Rhino started filling tanks with only 15 pounds of gas, ostensibly to save you from having to pay more for a tank. There was no commensurate drop in price as oil and  propane has become cheaper, and Home Depot would not tell the AP whether the retailer plans to go back to 17- to 18-pound level of gas.

The average price for a tank exchange is $20 to $25, and if you refill your own tank, the cost is about $17 to $20, according to the AP story.

So be aware that you might be getting 11 to 12 percent less propane for the money when you exchange your propane tank. If you refill your own tank(s), ask the propane supplier to put the usual 17 to 18 pounds of gas in the tank. And when you're having a big party and want to ensure you don't run out of fuel for the grill, consider getting a second tank as a backup.

Some grills are fitted with scales to help you determine how much propane is left in the tank. And the Fiesta Blue Ember iQue FGQ65079-U403 we tested for our latest report on gas grills (report and ratings available to subscribers) uses sonar to gauge the amount of propane in the tank; a display shows how much cooking time remains based on the gas level. The grill costs $900 and is our top-rated large model. e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Read more about shrinking items at the Consumerist.com. And post a comment below to let us know about products and services for which you think you're getting less for the money.

Comments

[eric]

Typical - just like the gas at the pump. Quick to go up, very slow to go down.

[Dan]

On a new tank that I bought there is an "Overfill Prevention Device" (OPD) that cuts off the filling of the tank at an 80% level. 80% of 20 lbs is 16 lbs. This may be why we are no longer getting "full" tanks. From the web -

WHAT IS AN OVERFILL PREVENTION DEVICE (OPD)?

MAKE SURE YOUR CYLINDER IS EQUIPPED WITH AN OVERFILL PREVENTION DEVICE (OPD). An OPD is a safety feature that helps prevent small propane cylinders from being overfilled. An overfilled cylinder doesn’t have enough space left if the liquid expands when exposed to warmer temperatures. This can cause an increase in cylinder pressure and create potentially hazardous conditions.

[tmosley]

I knew something was up with the Blue Rhino tanks I was exchanging. They seemed like they did not last very long and I told myself I thought I just bought this tank. I switched to a different brand and it's lasted awhile now. I also wish I would have purchased my online consumer reports subscription sooner. Hind sight is always 20/20. Thanks for the great information.

[propaneman]

A 20 pound propane tank when filled to 100% will hold 25 pounds of propane. 80 % of 25 pounds is 20 pounds. you are being shorted 5 pounds or 25%. Check the URL I posted.