CO2 Bottle Refill Costs?!

[jcav]

The Air Gas place I use can be expensive and for 5 pound tanks they can charge up to $28. I have brought in my beers to those guys over the years and they take care of me. They charge me $21 for a 5 pound tank. The other day I exchanged my 10 pound tank and I lucked out. The guy told me that the credit card machine was down and asked me if I had any cash on me. He then apologized and said just give me $15 so I did well! When I exchange my 20 pound beer gas tank for my nitro system they usually charge me $26 dollars so not too bad.

John

 

[Dave Sarber]

Damn, that's a great price!!!! I guess I'll be calling around.

A 25%+ price increase seemed unreasonable. Plus, since they have 40% (or was it 60%?) of the business for local restaurants and breweries, and with everything closed, I'm sure they are hurting. So, I'm thinking that had something to do with increasing prices.

Hey @bracconiere or @Dave Sarber, who do you buy your CO2 from?

Brew Your Own Brew, on Campbell north of Grant. You have to buy the bottle from them, and then it's $20 per refill. 5 lb bottles only.

 

[CodeSection]

Brew Your Own Brew, on Campbell north of Grant. You have to buy the bottle from them, and then it's $20 per refill. 5 lb bottles only.

I buy from them as well but not for CO2. They are very convenient since I can alter my route to and from work easily so as I pass by them. Unfortunately, as you pointed out, they exchange 5 lbs only.

I guess the $30 for 20 lbs in this area is the new going price. I'll still call around in the next couple days.

 

[bracconiere]

I guess the $30 for 20 lbs in this area is the new going price.

$30 doesn't sound too bad.....30/12=$2.50 a month.....about as good as my $2.25.....

 

[Brewmaster_CPA]

I'm just getting back to brewing after moving and did my first 5lb CO2 refill the other day at a local beer distributor (PA folks understand) and they didn't charge me since I bought some beer there. But otherwise I think it is $5. For you Philly area folks, its Beer World in Glenside. Cheers.

 

[CaptMogul]

I'm just getting back to brewing after moving and did my first 5lb CO2 refill the other day at a local beer distributor (PA folks understand) and they didn't charge me since I bought some beer there. But otherwise I think it is $5. For you Philly area folks, its Beer World in Glenside. Cheers.

Air-Gas in Ft Myers is charging $ 40.00 pols tax for 20 lb

 

[Bcrasche1]

South Texas, Airgas is most expensive. I use Praxair. Talked them into contract price. Exchanged multiple first go.$79 for 2 20lbs and a 5lb.. keep eye on craigslist.

 

[Amadeo38]

N. Central Florida here and I pay $19 (cash price) at a fire extinguisher shop for a 5# refill. When my stamp expires, I swap at Airgas which is $29+tax. Those are literally the only two places in town, so no way to shop around. I did see an ancient and dusty 20# tank in my neighbors garage that he used to use to “grow plants” and he said he’d give it to me for some beer. Just scared to see how much the swap costs at Airgas for that badboy if it’s already a rip for the 5#...

 

[azdavid]

I recently had 2, 5# filled at Tops Liquors here in Tempe AZ for $7.00 each. That is the cheapest I have seen in my area, that is half of what I have been paying.

 

[Dave Sarber]

Damn, would almost make the drive from Tucson attractive!

 

[CodeSection]

I recently had 2, 5# filled at Tops Liquors here in Tempe AZ for $7.00 each. That is the cheapest I have seen in my area, that is half of what I have been paying.

That's a pretty attractive price for a 5 lb tank. I just called them and the guy said they charge $1.50/lb out the door regardless of the tank size. So my 20lb tank would be $30 which is the same price in Tucson. I guess I will not be seeing anything lower in the area....

 

[bracconiere]

lol, just thinking about all you fancy boys with nice aluminum tanks.....i remember when i had mine filled, till i loaned it for someone 'growing things', and they had it swapped, just been swapping ever since....

 

[bleme]

lol, just thinking about all you fancy boys with nice aluminum tanks.....i remember when i had mine filled, till i loaned it for someone 'growing things', and they had it swapped, just been swapping ever since....

I was a little apprehensive to swap my new aluminum tank, but that is ALL they do here. Fortunately I found a guy who keeps a stock of shiny aluminum tanks for his homebrewer customers.

 

[bracconiere]

you know once when i did a 20lb swap, and they only had a REALLY ugly steel tank to give me, i got a discount......i just laughed, they were the ones that gave me the pretty aluminum one as a swap last time.....

 

[IslandLizard]

you know once when i did a 20lb swap, and they only had a REALLY ugly steel tank to give me, i got a discount......i just laughed, they were the ones that gave me the pretty aluminum one as a swap last time.....

I prefer aluminum, and don't hate the shine either.

When I stopped by Praxair for a 20# swap they only had steel tanks on the lot. I drag that tank around all the time, so that was out. Aside for the extra weight, they don't have a handle!

My wife picked up an aluminum swap at another Praxair location. It was stamped Roberts Oxygen, another gas supplier here, but much too expensive last time I called.

So they take each others' bottles.
$25.

 

[bracconiere]

So they take each others' bottles.

yeah, i brought my tank from N.Cal here, no problem swapping it...personally i don't mind steel tanks, it's just a lot of them don't have a TW stamp on them.....

 

[Carolina_Matt]

My LHBS used to charge around $17-18, although they just shut their doors about a week ago.

I went to the local Praxair the last two swaps, as I heard they were cheaper. It wound up being a little over $20 for a 5lb tank. There's a 'hazard' fee of about $8 included in it. I tend to think they're ripping me off to some extent though, because I remember calling them sometime last year to get a quote, and they said it was like $12-13 all-in. And my last receipt said '10 lb tank' on it. I asked about it, and they said it was a typo but I was only charged for the 5 lb tank.

I swapped my tank today as the local Praxair. The first two times, it was over $20 with their 'hazard' fee. It was a young guy that was at the register both times. Today I got the older man, who seems like the owner (or manager). It was $11 and change with no hazard fee.

Hopefully I get that guy next time.

 

[bleme]

I swapped my tank today as the local Praxair. The first two times, it was over $20 with their 'hazard' fee. It was a young guy that was at the register both times. Today I got the older man, who seems like the owner (or manager). It was $11 and change with no hazard fee.

Hopefully I get that guy next time.

I run into the same thing here. The manager of the WestAir is a homebrewer also and always charges around $12 but at least half the time there is a younger guy there ringing up who charges about $18.

 

[Wayne1]

I did swap out one of my 20 lb tanks today at Way to Grow.
Here is the receipt:

 

[BongoYodeler]

I did swap out one of my 20 lb tanks today at Way to Grow.
Here is the receipt:

Damn!!

 

[Wayne1]

As @bleme suggested earlier in this thread, people should check out hydroponics equipment suppliers.

A quick google search turned up this group in MI:
https://www.horizenhydroponics.com/services/co2-tank-exchange

 

[CodeSection]

I did swap out one of my 20 lb tanks today at Way to Grow.
Here is the receipt:

Wayne, you are so lucky! I'm envious!

Last Wednesday I called and spoke with the owner of where I go and he gave me the same pricing as he did before ~ $30 out the door. I asked if they were still open and filling this Saturday and he said they would be but would close a hour earlier.

So, this morning I drive over there only to find out the owner decided Thursday night to let people go and to stop filling tanks on Saturday. There was only one employee inside and all the lights were out.

I learned my lesson as I should have called this morning. I actually thought about it by decided not to since I directly spoke with the owner on Wednesday. Maybe he found out he didn't get his Paycheck Protection Program. I believe they ran out of money Wednesday......

Oh well, there are worse things in life.

BTW @Dave Sarber, Campbell Ave looked like a ghost town as everything was closed. The strip mall where BYOB was empty...zero activity.

 

[Dave Sarber]

Wayne, you are so lucky! I'm envious!

Last Wednesday I called and spoke with the owner of where I go and he gave me the same pricing as he did before ~ $30 out the door. I asked if they were still open and filling this Saturday and he said they would be but would close a hour earlier.

So, this morning I drive over there only to find out the owner decided Thursday night to let people go and to stop filling tanks on Saturday. There was only one employee inside and all the lights were out.

I learned my lesson as I should have called this morning. I actually thought about it by decided not to since I directly spoke with the owner on Wednesday. Maybe he found out he didn't get his Paycheck Protection Program. I believe they ran out of money Wednesday......

Oh well, there are worse things in life.

BTW @Dave Sarber, Campbell Ave looked like a ghost town as everything was closed. The strip mall where BYOB was empty...zero activity.

I went there this morning and picked up grain. You have to order on their website, and pick it up at the door.

 

[CodeSection]

I went there this morning and picked up grain. You have to order on their website, and pick it up at the door.

Ahh, that explains it....

 

[Dave Sarber]

Ahh, that explains it....

BTW, you can only pick up between 11 and 3. But they don't open until noon on Sunday, so I guess 12 to 3 Sunday.

There's a guy there named Evan, very helpful.

 

[CodeSection]

BTW, you can only pick up between 11 and 3. But they don't open until noon on Sunday, so I guess 12 to 3 Sunday.

There's a guy there named Evan, very helpful.

I deal with Evan regularly and he really tries to help. I drove past BYOB this morning around 10:00 AM and then again around 10:30 AM. Their sign indicated they were open but there were no cars in the the entire parking lot. I didn't know how they were doing business so that now makes sense.

Luckily, I have over 300 lbs of different grains I picked up when they went on sale....I'm good for now except for damn CO2!!!

 

[Dave Sarber]

I deal with Evan regularly and he really tries to help. I drove past BYOB this morning around 10:00 AM and then again around 10:30 AM. Their sign indicated they were open but there were no cars in the the entire parking lot. I didn't know how they were doing business so that now makes sense.

Luckily, I have over 300 lbs of different grains I picked up when they went on sale....I'm good for now except for damn CO2!!!

You will probably have to call the shop for CO2. If you haven't already noticed, their website is sub-par. They show empty bottles on the site, but no refill options.

 

[bracconiere]

I did swap out one of my 20 lb tanks today at Way to Grow.
Here is the receipt:

now you're just bragging....lol

 

[wsmith1625]

I went to refill my 5lb tank today. The hydro test date was expired so I could pay $27 to have it recertified out $25 to swap it. I chose to swap it, so $25 plus $15 for the gas. This was a one time free, so future bottle swaps will be $15 and no more concerns about hydro testing dates.

 

[Dave Sarber]

I went to refill my 5lb tank today. The hydro test date was expired so I could pay $27 to have it recertified out $25 to swap it. I chose to swap it, so $25 plus $15 for the gas. This was a one time free, so future bottle swaps will be $15 and no more concerns about hydro testing dates.

Check the date when you swap. Jus' sayin'.