Propane Tank Life

So I recently moved to all grain BIAB outside on a propane Bayou Classic. On average, how many batches do you guys get from you 15lb propane tanks? I would hate to be in the middle of a boil and have the tank run dead.

 

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you but do have some advice. Get another tank for that very reason.

 

+1 spare tank. Don't even risk it.

 

I usually get 4 brews to a tank but I have a fresh unopened tank ready and waiting. It is not something you want to chance!

 

Get a spare. Keep it full. You'll be glad you did.

All the Best,
D. White

 

I have 3 20lb tanks and usually wait until 2 are empty until I refill just because I procrastinate to much.

 

Yup, can't be said more often...ALWAYS HAVE A FULL TANK WAITING.

 

I remember one to two, 10 gal batch, per 20 pound tank

 

I was using from 4 to 5 pounds per brew (either 5 gallon or ten). That's three batches per exchanged tank (15 pounds) or four to five batches per refilled tank (20 pounds). I always had 'em refilled.

 

So far I've gotten two out of my current 20 lb tank. That is with heating strike water and sparge water. Plus I've used it for the grill.

What you could do. Weigh your tank empty and full. Then weigh it after a brew day. That will give you how much you are using. Do it over multiple brewdays and you will have a good average.

 

I have two tanks, so I don't keep up with it, but number of brew days per tank is dependent on the efficiency of the burner, ambient temperature, wind, your process, and how much propane you were shorted. Sorry couldn't be of some real help.

 

Tare weight of a standard 20 pound tank is 17 pounds. That will let you determine how much gas is still in yours. After an exchange, a fresh tank will weigh 32 pounds. After a refill, a tank will (should) weigh 37 pounds.

 

I get 3 to 4 on a 20lb tank but just like the others I always keep an extra tank full, and yes I have ran out in the middle of a boil and thankfully I had the spare.

 

Echoing everyone else -- spares are your friends. I have 3 tanks and it has saved me repeatedly. Agree, 3-5 batches per tank.

 

Definitely keep a spare, and absolutely do not exchange them. Find a place that refills them. You'll get on average 25% more plus its about a buck or 2 cheaper.

 

tractor supply is a good place to get them filled..last time i did it was something like $2.25 a gallon.

 

Literally 1/4 the price to refill at Costco over exchange price.

 

I have three tanks for brewing and grilling, and always refill once the second goes out. There's a propane place near me that refills 20 lb tanks and really good prices.

As for how many brews per tank, I'm relatively new to brewing outside, but I'm coming up on #5 with my current tank and hope to get through my next brew without switching out.

 

I just got 4 extract and 1 BIAB sessions out of one home depot tank on the same burner you have. I decided before the last brew to get backup just in case, then just fill the other when it empties.

 

A lot depends on your burner, and how high you turn up the flame. 60 or 90 minute boils, etc.

I can get three 10 gallon batches in on mine where I used to get 1-2. I have a KAB-6 and upon installing a windscreen/chimney to steer more heat to the pot my gas 'mileage' went up drastically. But I do agree and echo the others in saying to always have a spare propane tank or two. And dont rely on the one on the grill as it has a way of running out or being near empty when you have to rely on it.

 

I'm with others here who say to always have a spare tank.

It's kind of hard for me to really say how many brews I get out of one tank. I have an odd system where once my one tank gets below 1/3 full, or the less full of the two I have if I just filled one, I start to use it only to get things up to the boil. Then I put on the full or fuller tank and finish it off. Early in my brewing career, I have had a tank go empty, mid boil and it makes for a pain in the butt, remembering to track the time and determining if final boil times really are correct. So I normally don't take the chance, unless I know I'm dealing with a relatively full tank.

It's pretty clear from my observations, that the majority of my gas usage happens getting things up to boil. As it seems it takes a while for the full tank, used only once the boil starts, to get low. But once it becomes the boil tank, it goes pretty fast.

I actually get quite a few brews out of the two tanks I have, but I do most of my strike and sparge water heating on the gas stove in the kitchen, since it's right next to my brewing area. And natural gas is a lot cheaper than propane.

 

3 batches in the winter with one windy day. Any more than that or a 90 minute boil and I'd shoot for the extra tank.

 

I get 3 or 4 10 gallong brews making out of one propane tank using my KAB4. The Bayou Classic burners are optimized for flat bottom pots, so I moved my burner up closer to the pot, which gives me much better efficiency with a Keggle Setup.

I highly recommend Costco for filling your tank and buying a spare if you have one near you with propane. I just got both of my tanks filled (neither was completely empty) for less than $15. When I bought my second tank, it was less than $40 full.

 

I get 6-7 brews (5.5 gallon, all grain) per "20lb tank" (that's usually never filled more than 15-17 lbs). I do use a Blichmann burner, so that may be the reason (they are supposed to be more efficient, and honestly I'd never given it thought but by the looks of these other comments I'm getting almost 2x as many brews out of a single tank, so it must be true!).

Another thing to make sure is that you're not blasting the gas fully open for the whole boil. Once you get a solid boil, back it down as low as you can while still maintaining a rolling boil.

 

Spare tank! Is it time for another grill?? If not, CL is full of them for like $15-$20.

 

I think I also get 4-5+ all grain 5ish gallon brews out of a full tank. BUT... I think you and I are doing things others may not be. Like how I always have my tanks FILLED and not exchanged. You get 5LBs less propane when you do the exchange, because the gas company has to hydrostatically test all the outdated cylinders, and people like me exchange old cylinders for updated ones and then refill them instead of exchange them after that. Furthermore, you and I are both not letting that burner completely RAGE the whole time. Once I'm up to a boil all that's necessary is to maintain a rolling boil. I don't need full throttle on my burner for that.

 

Weigh your tank full. Subtract the empty tank weight, which should be scribed into the tank handle.

Weigh your tank before and after each brew to determine how much you use.

I average about 3.8 lbs per brew

 

I'm half way in between, I do an exchange, but turn the burner down significantly once the boil starts.