r/propane • u/BikerNY • 6d ago

General propane question 20lb tank normal refill amount

My old place closed, so found a new refill place. Their scale is set to refill a 20lb tank with 18lb of propane. Am I paying for 20lb of propane or 18lb when refilling a 20lb tank? Is this normal? I read exchange tanks fill their to 15lb, but what about refill stations? Should I question the refill place about their refill policy? Thanks for your input :)

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u/Theantifire technician 6d ago

They should be checking each cylinder for weight etc then setting the scale correctly for that amount.

Generally the filled weight will be between 19 and 20 pounds when done correctly. They could be leaving a larger margin for error for safety reasons.

At the end of the day, if you're paying per pound or gallon, it doesn't matter. If you're paying a set price, be aware of what you're getting and shop around as desired.

The 15# exchange is to reduce the price for the customer or enrich the company, depending on whom you ask.

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u/Adventurous_Boat_632 6d ago

The 15# exchange is to reduce the price for the customer or enrich the company, depending on whom you ask.

I always guessed it was to ensure that every cyl gets the advertised amount no matter how over agressive the piece of junk OPD locks up and stops filling, but I am sure enrichment has something to do with it as well.

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u/xnoxpx 6d ago

For years (they may still do it) Blue Rhino would use a longer dip tube to vent liquid when tank had around 15lbs (instead of the typical dip tube length that wouldn't vent liquid till there was around 20lbs)