What is up with wildy varied CO2 prices??

I've been trying to find an ideal place to get my CO2 from - haven't even gotten my first tank filled. I called around and the first place I decided on quoted me $11 to refill the 5lb tank. Only problem is their business hours are weekday only and closing is at 5pm, so it will be hard to figure out how to get to them. So I call around some others with weekend hours. This place in Staten Island quoted me $30 for the refill!!! So I call one here in Manhattan - $17 for the refill. Finally, I call one more in Hoboken, but they unfortunately only swap tanks and I'm not giving away my brand new almost $60 tanks for used ones. Their price? $24.

So lowest is $11 and highest is $30. That's pretty kooky. If anyone is in my area (Bayonne NJ) please let me know where you get your CO2.


Rev.

 

I did what you did first, I shot myself in the foot and wasted a ton of time because I didn't want to give up my new shiny tank. The industry works on swapping tanks and it doesn't like dealing with little 5lb tanks for home owners, it would much rather refill a bunch all at one time and have them sitting ready to swap. Eventually your tank will need a hydrostatic test (5 years IIRC) and you will have to either pay to have that done or trade the tank in and the supply company makes sure it is done before putting it back into the supply line.

 

Well as mentioned though I did find a place that will refill my tank, and it's the cheapest one out of all the one's I called. It's also the first one I found. My only issue is getting to them during their hours. I think I might have a solution though, and that's to see if the father-in-law can make the run on a day he's getting off work early (limo driver so his hours are always changing). The one place I called that only does swaps was still over $20 which is crazy high no? I seem to recall reading others on here also paying around $11 per tank fill.


Rev.

 

Ask at your LHBS. That's where I found the best place to get mine filled.

I have a 5# and a 20# tank. Airgas, a national company, charges me $22 to fill just my 5# tank and wanted over $60 (no thanks) to fill the 20#er. Actually, they don't even refill, they just swap out your tank for a prefilled one and you don't have the option of refilling.

My LHBS guy clued me into a place that refilled them both while I waited for $17. It is another 30 minutes to drive to this place as opposed to Airgas and it is not in the best part of town but since I don't refill very often I can handle the trip every so often. I thought it was Christmas in July when the counterman told me what I owed.

 

Across the country from you but, FWIW, my refill/swap prices from a cylinder supply company are the same and they are:
10 lb = $15
20 lb = $20

I've also had a 5 lb refilled there but can't remember the price. I would guess it was $10-12.

 

Apparently airgas sucks, that negates the entire point of larger tanks. CO2 is cheap, it's more about the labor.

 

I got my 20# filled here with a discount for mentioning my LHBS for $17, that was last year and I'm still looking at 65% per my regulator. They refilled it while I waited (about 15 minutes),

 

You don't mention what kind of place you are calling but if you have not tried a fire extinguisher company try one, one in my area is the only one I could find that refills my own bottle while I wait. Airgas and the local welding shops swap the bottles.

 

My local Airgas does swaps at $20/5# tank and $28/20#.

 

That's a good thought, I did read some saying to use fire extinguisher places to refill. But, I just reconfirmed that first place I mentioned and they indeed only charge $11 for each 5lb tank refill, and they only refill, they don't even offer the tanks unless you pre-order. So I'm really going to try to use this place. Will have to see if the father-in-law can make that run before or after work one day.


Rev.

 

wonder if paintball places would fill bulk tanks?

 

Another thought is, talk to them. I used to have a place that had good prices but inconvienient hours. However, they had a drop off spot. You called and paid over the phone, and could pick your tank up later that day after hours.

 

$20 for a 20lb tank swap in Reno LHBS for me.

 

My father in law works for a welding shop. He charged me $10 to fill my 5 lb tank. I think he overcharged me!

 

In CT.
Airgas - $37 for 5lb
LHBS - $20 for 5lb

Airgas sucks.

 

HVAC supply places will swap 10 and 20lb tanks for less than 20. I fill my little tanks off the 20lb tanks. I don't care what the tanks looks like as long as the hydro is new.

 

$37.... I would literally ball out laughing my ass off to hear such a quote. Luckily, the father-in-law is going to take my two tanks to the place that quoted me $11 for a 5lb refill since his hours are way more flexible than mine. Looks like I got my place, phew!!!


Rev.

 

I have the same issue in Buffalo.

I have a good place I like to go, but even there the price jumps all over the place. It's been as low as $11, and as high as $27. The last time I was in there I had 2 tanks filled and it was over $50. It's getting a little nuts.

I've asked repeatedly why the price fluctuates so much. The guy said the price of most welding gases has gone through the roof lately. I don't know whether to believe him or not. He mentioned something about NY State fees too (which doesn't surprise me at all).

Sometimes I wonder if homebrewers are getting scalped in some of these places.

 

Welp, the father-in-law came through and got my two 5lb CO2 tanks filled today, just came home to see them sitting there. They've got the stickers from the place on the tanks and the receipt for $22 flat, do not even see tax listed. Will have to ask about that. If anyone in my area is looking for a place it's Sos Gases in Kearny NJ. Very happy!


Rev.

 

The local weld shop swaps but they will mark your tank if you want to keep it, they send the tanks off once a week so if you only hav one it'll be one week wait. I bought a refirb steel and traded currently using a 20# aluminum one now for $32 refill. Been pondering buying those pin valve tanks and home filling them for ease of transportation and serving.

 

Air Gas is charging me 12 for a refill and 17 for a swap.