Blue Rhino Propane

[springer]

they will refill the tanks anywhere . Just read the BR sign at the store they state you still own the tank . Its just like the CO2 I bring in my tank they give me another I can sell it if I want .the only time I will use them is to get a new dated tank and give them the outdated one.

On some valves there is a little triangle on the side that means an adapter is needed to fill it I have one of them but the propane guy has the fitting to fill it so its not a big deal.. i think they did this for a while so you couldn't get it filled.

 

[sopernicus]

Thanks for the advice. I'm ready to take my brewing outdoors!

 

[JKoravos]

I was fed up with paying Blue Rhino's prices. I looked for somewhere else to do a refill only to find that local refill places are setting their price based on Blue Rhino. For a full tank the price at the U-haul for a refill is the same as Blue Rhino. The only benefit is they completely fill the tank, rather than only 3/4 from BR. I don't save any money though.

 

[springer]

I was fed up with paying Blue Rhino's prices. I looked for somewhere else to do a refill only to find that local refill places are setting their price based on Blue Rhino. For a full tank the price at the U-haul for a refill is the same as Blue Rhino. The only benefit is they completely fill the tank, rather than only 3/4 from BR. I don't save any money though.

Huh? If you are getting more fuel at the same price you are saving money.

 

[Scimmia]

Plus, if they completely fill the tank, that's very dangerous. There's a reason propane tanks are only filled to 80%.

 

[weirdboy]

I don't see any reason why they wouldn't fill a Blue Rhino tank.

For that matter, just take the label off; it's just a piece of plastic shrink-wrapped onto the tank.

The BR tanks have a proprietary valve for refilling that doesn't match standard tanks.

 

[JVD_X]

You know, as I was driving by the landfill today, I saw probably thirty or forty empty propane tanks sitting there. Could have just grabbed one, it was near the road and no one was there. But, I have two (Blue Rhino), don't see any value in having a third (or a thirtieth) tank.

You need to be very careful with these. A lot of propane tanks are used in the manufacture of illegals drugs. Tanks are filled with corrosive materials that damage the tank and render them capable of failing.

Here is one of dozens of articles on the subject:

http://wcco.com/crime/propane.tanks.meth.2.715531.html

I am a big fan of getting my tank refilled at u-haul. $2.99 a gallon.

 

[springer]

The BR tanks have a proprietary valve for refilling that doesn't match standard tanks.

Not true . I have refilled all my tanks if you do get the tank with a little triangle on the valve then they need an adapter to fill it any good fill station will have it.

 

[springer]

Plus, if they completely fill the tank, that's very dangerous. There's a reason propane tanks are only filled to 80%.

20 lbs will fill a propane tank with room for expansion but some tanks will only take 18-19 lbs before the OP shuts it down . They are made that way BR is filling to 15 lbs .

 

[weirdboy]

Not true . I have refilled all my tanks if you do get the tank with a little triangle on the valve then they need an adapter to fill it any good fill station will have it.

So, because fill stations may have an adapter for the valve, it's not proprietary? I'm confused. I'm not saying refilling stations can't fill the tanks, I'm saying the valve on the BR tanks is proprietary.

 

[JKoravos]

Huh? If you are getting more fuel at the same price you are saving money.

The cost per fill wasn't the same. It was the cost per gallon (or pound). U-Haul sells by the gallon so it was $4.75/gallon (don't remember the exact number). BR charges ~$18/15 lbs. If you break it down on a per gallon basis, the cost was within a few percent. I can't find the calculation anymore, but it was close enough for me not to bother going back to U-Haul.

 

[springer]

The cost per fill wasn't the same. It was the cost per gallon (or pound). U-Haul sells by the gallon so it was $4.75/gallon (don't remember the exact number). BR charges ~$18/15 lbs. If you break it down on a per gallon basis, the cost was within a few percent. I can't find the calculation anymore, but it was close enough for me not to bother going back to U-Haul.

BR is 21 to 22 here, I fill a 20# tank at Tech air and it was 18 $ the last time

 

[springer]

So, because fill stations may have an adapter for the valve, it's not proprietary? I'm confused. I'm not saying refilling stations can't fill the tanks, I'm saying the valve on the BR tanks is proprietary.

Out of the three tanks I have I think one has the proprietary valve . But since any propane dealer can get the adapter its not really proprietary in my opinion , its just different than the rest

 

[rico567]

I use the local Sunbelt Rentals. They fill the tank to the tare (empty) weight X 2, i.e., if the tare weight on the tank is 17.5 pounds, the guy sets the scale for 35 pounds and fill until the scale balances. This fill is $12. This isn't completely full, but it's as good as anything else available around here. The exchanges are invariably higher, and, as has been pointed out, the exchange companies have reduced the contents of their tanks. AmeriGas was giving rebates based on people's complaints about only filling to 15 pounds. They stated they had done this due to the rising price of propane, to keep the cost of a fill the same. Oddly enough, now that the price of oil (and propane- we filled our bulk tank for $1.59 / gal. this year, which is way down from last yar) is down, they haven't lowered their prices. Surprise, surprise.