Northern VA 15lb tank refills?

[Mellman]

Hey all!

I'm just getting into homebrewing and kegging and am getting ready to purchase my kegging equipment. I scored 8 corny kegs, 4 carboys, and a bunch of other various homebrew equipment (canes/siphons/etc) off craigslist for a heck of a price.

Now I just need a Co2 tank, regs, faucets etc. I think I've decided on doing a dual regulator setup, to 3 faucets, and if i find i need a 4th I can add a 3rd regulator later, or T off the other reg. (i plan on having stouts, ales, sodas, and who knows what else)

My issue right now is finding a place to refill my tank...rather than exchange it. I'm looking at beveragefactory and I can get a 15# tank for $85...sounds like a deal to me. But the problem is I can't seem to find any places around here that will fill it on the spot for me. most want to do an exchange and only have steel tanks...not cool! Or they'll only fill 5# tanks...I know a 5# tank would last me plenty of kegs, but its only $30 more for a 15# tank...seems too hard to pass up.

anyone in the area know a place that will refill and not force me to exchange my pretty shiney new aluminum tank?

 

[McKBrew]

Look for industrial gas suppliers like Airgas. Another option is to find a place that services fire extinguishers.

 

[Hotspur]

The Airgas places around here (Vermont) only do swaps. I've been trying to track down the fire extinguisher place.

But yeah, buying a new aluminum tank and immediately swapping it for a used steel one seems like a bit of a raw deal.

e: Just called FireProTec, local service company, and refilling a 5lb is $13, and a 10lb is $17. Plus, it's while you wait. Looks like I'll be going with them!

 

[Mellman]

Well I thought I'd update this in case anyone searches in Northern VA for places to get bigger tanks filled.

After calling nearly every air supply, and fire extinguisher repair shop in DC, MD, and VA I finally found a guy who was willing to fill my tank for me! woohoo!

Scotty's Fire Extinguisher Service
(703) 548-4422
326 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA

They took great care of me, just requested I call ahead to make sure they have enough air in stock (he uses 50lb tanks, so he's going to need to have a pretty full 50lb tank to fill up a 15 lb tank.) The price was around $25, and I told him I'd bring him some home brew next time I need it filled. Though...with a 15 lb tank it may be a while before I need air again unless i spring a leak.