Cost of CO2?!?

[Easycreeper]

I'm glad you posted this. I live in the Warner Robins area and just bought a kegerator about a month ago which came with 2 brand new 5 lb CO2 tanks. I'm in Afghanistan until next April, but I need to find a good supplier before I get home.

I'm in the same area though my profile says Macon...

I use Jones Welding Supply in Centerville.

Thanks for your service and come home safe!

 

[maxr]

In the Sacramento area I cant find anyplace for less than 30 for a 5lb'r.

I am having the same problem in Sacramento. In Portland and Berkeley the prices were always less than half that. Anyone know a local place that fills for less?

 

[PADave]

you cant really fill a partially empty tank is why. You have to weigh what you put in and you cant get a tare weight from a partially empty bottle. I fill my own from a 10 pound tank I refill. The empty tank also needs to be cold.. Sometimes if theres enough co2 left it will cool the bottle when you empty it.

The tare weight should be stamped into the bottle.

I go to a welding shop. $12 for a 5 lb, and about $24 for a 20 lb.

 

[user 40839]

CO2 baffles me. I used to go to a place in Santa Rosa where it was $5 for the service and $1 per lb for the fill. They closed down, and my LHBS wants $21.99 for a 5lb exchange. Thanks to the prevalence of weed around here (woohoo!) there are plenty of hydroponics shops that exchange a 20lb for $20 - but they don't do smaller tanks. So ended up biting the bullet, selling my 5lb and going with two 20s. I do miss the 5lb tank for stuff around the brewery like using it to push beer from the conical, etc.

 

[SanPancho]

last time i refilled my 10 it was damn near 50 bucks at airgas. almost had a heart attack. im generally not a squeamish type, but i dont trust sporting goods or other type places to be pure and clean. so its just forking over cash for me when it comes to swaps. (airgas and praxair is all beverage quality around here)

but lately i've been much better about setting up my carboys to fill the kegs with fermentation gas, so i know its pure and it costs nothing. at 50 bucks a refill i guess i've started to care more.

supposedly there's a place in oakland that has better prices, but then its 4-6 bucks for bridge toll, plus gas, etc. so one way or another, its gonna cost you.

once we move into the new house and i get my brew room going i'll have the space for a 20 and cheap(er) swaps at the hydroponics places.

 

[metaltim]

In TX, about 10 years ago, I used to go a welding supply place, off brittmore. 5lb refill was less than $10.

In CO, there's a pot shop near my work that does 20lb tank swaps for $5.
I refill my 15lb tank at a syrup/bar supply business, and it's $13.

TX needs some more pot shops apparently.

 

[bleme]

The cheapest place I found near me is a welding supply shop. If the manager (a fellow homebrewer) rings me up, it is $12 for a 5lb exchange. If one of his employees rings me up, they add on $8 in California environmental and inspection fees.

 

[dx250]

Airgas here in NE Atlanta is $32 for a 5lb and $42 for the 20lb exchange but then they did not bat an eye at the 20lb that I swapped that was 38 years past its hydro date and gave me a brand new tank in its place. No one around hear will refill due to liability.

 

[Maylar]

Local welding supply shop does a 5 lb refill for $15 if you have an "account" with them. Most places just do swaps, but I own a brand new aluminum cylinder ($100) and I refuse to swap it. Their hours suck though so it's Saturday mornings or nothing for me.

 

[tellyho]

Ouch! I go to a fire extinguisher service place here in MA. $20 for 20lb. Hydro test in exchange for a 6 pack.

 

[bovine_OB]

$16 and change here for an exchange on a 20# tank at a local welding shop. No questions asked on the date stamp.

 

[Transamguy77]

I go to airgas and it's $20 for a 5 lb exchange. It's all food grade and all the tanks are all aluminum.

 

[Sujeto]

I go to my local liquor store that sells kegs and they fill my 5lb tank for $12.

 

[kyt]

I just got back from Holston Gas, Louisville KY.
Fill of my own 2 bottles.
5# $15
20# $20

I guess gas went up, both used to be $2 cheaper about a year ago.

 

[petemoss]

For a 5 pound tank, Airgas tank swap near Birmingham, AL is $28. Refill at LHBS is $12.