Changing propane tanks need help

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

Well the propane company that I use just announced an annual rental fee of $60 for the priviledge of using their tank.

We only use propane for cooking---a stove/oven that consumes about 20 gallons of propane a year.

So I have purchased a 100 pound tank that I'll get filled myself. It appears I also need a regulator off the tank that the company that will fill the new tank can supply.

Anyone have any experience with a change such asthis? Any tips/advice?

 

[heehaw]

did you ask about buying your existing tank?
heehaw

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

did you ask about buying your existing tank?
heehaw

The existing tank is illegal to transport for fill up due to it's size. The limit (at least in NY) is a 100# tank

 

[Egon]

Consider having two tanks so there is backup. The backup tank could be a lot smaller.

 

[kthompson]

Be sure you get the price on having that smaller tank filled. You may find the cost to transport and the higher (here it is) price to have that size tank filled to be high enough you rather pay the rental fee and them come to you. Also just cause one company does this does not mean all do. So call around.

 

[2manyrocks]

I think there was a TBN discussion about a similar situation back during this past winter, but I'm having trouble remembering what all was discussed.

On the larger tanks, there is both a regulator at the tank and then there is a step down regulator at the house. I don't know if you have the same setup on a 100# tank.

I would guess that part of the problem is just dealing with the weight when you take it it to get filled and then making sure it is properly secured during transport.

 

[schmism]

i ran my stove off a 100# tank. it would run about 3 months or so. I have 2.

I used the regulator that was on my popup for it. Just disconnected the hose and got a longer 6' hose at the farm supply store. It also allows me to run the popup on the 100lb tank also.

 

[Duffster]

Well the propane company that I use just announced an annual rental fee of $60 for the priviledge of using their tank.

We only use propane for cooking---a stove/oven that consumes about 20 gallons of propane a year.

So I have purchased a 100 pound tank that I'll get filled myself. It appears I also need a regulator off the tank that the company that will fill the new tank can supply.

Anyone have any experience with a change such asthis? Any tips/advice?

The regulator you had should have been yours. That should work for the new tank(s). You can get what you need to hook it all up at a hardware store. It is very easy.

 

[Shirleyshusband]

We just switched from 100 # tanks for heat (weekend warrier) , about $78 per fill, to a 300 gal tank. Buying by the delivered gallon is about 75% cheaper than me running every other weekend for a 100 # tank, plus I don't have to lift it anymore. Also, on the 100# AND 300 gal there is only one regulator (at least at my place).

 

[impdaddy]

IMHO sounds like a lot of work to save $60/yr. How much is left in their tank? At the coop around here if you bring in your own tank, they say they have to pressure test it before they fill it and that is $20. 1/3 of your 60.

It is your choice but I wouldn't mess with it if it was me.

My $.02 for what its worth.

Oh btw the rental on my 500 gallon tank is $75.00/yr and they deliver.

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

Thanks for the tips...the delivery price for the 20 gallons of propane I use per year is more than double what I will pay to have the tank filled...

 

[Richard]

I've got a ventless propane fireplace for backup heat (actually 3 of them!)

Anyways, I've got them off a single line and outdoors, I have a 2-tank input regulator/manifold. I can flip between tank A/B.

I have two 100 pound tanks (which are a PAIN to carry up my hill) as well as three 30 pound tanks.

I personally think the 30 pound tanks are about the perfect size. 50% bigger than the 20 pounders, not as heavy as the 100 pounder.

I have a cedar log cut to "x" height so that when I set my 30 lb tank on it, it's the same height as the 100 pounder. This way I COULD attach both 100 pound tanks (but only use one at a time via the selector switch)

Each fall, I attach one 100lb tank to the left input and on the right input, I use my 30's.

MUCH MUCH easier for me to toss them into my trunk and get filled (yes I know they should be in truck) and I can carry them up the hill quite easily too.

I do not remember where I got the dual regulator manifold but I absolutely love it. on a cold night, if I need some heat or run out of gas, I can simply flip to tank B and be out/flip/back inside of 15/20 seconds. I can then swap my 30 lb tank when it's easy.

 

[Richard]

VERY similar to what I have except mine has a slide switch not a rotating switch.

Dual Tank Propane Regulator

Two thumbs up from me!

 

[George2615]

I did the same thing. The propane company decided they were going to start charging a rental fee of $60. yr for the tank I've had in my yard for almost 20 years. (probably the same company) and they decided to charge me this fee right after filling my 300 lb tank. I told them to come and get there tank. There was a catch though, If they came for the tank they would have to charge me $50 to pump it out and they would only give me a reduced price back on the propane I had already paid for, not the price that I paid. (A lose, lose situation) So I was forced to pay the rental fee but told them to stop delivery and that they just lost a 20 yr. customer.

I said when its empty I'll call so they can come pick it up. In the meantime I went to another local propane dealer and bought my own 100 lb tank with regulator, had it filled and took it home. I picked up the brass fittings I needed at the local hardware store. Its now sitting ready to go when the other one runs out.

A month ago the first company came to top off the 300 lb. tank. Fortunately I was home and told him not to fill because I was no longer doing business with them and just using up what was in the tank. I even chained the lid shut in case they tried to come again when I wasn't home. The driver was well aware of the rental fee the company was charging and told me they lost a lot of customers for that reason.

I did see recently in the paper that the company was going to send out refund checks to customers who paid the rental fee because they lost so much business but I haven't got one yet. It wouldn't matter to me anyway since I already bought a tank.

 

[Egon]

Where we live the company that owns the tank has to pump it out and pay market value for the propane with no pumping charge.

 

[kthompson]

George, I would have had a hard time paying that rental fee the way they did. It seems they would have had to notify you with some decent notice before such a fee or full refund on the gas. It is amazing how clueless some people are.

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

I did the same thing. The propane company decided they were going to start charging a rental fee of $60. yr for the tank I've had in my yard for almost 20 years. (probably the same company) and they decided to charge me this fee right after filling my 300 lb tank. I told them to come and get there tank. There was a catch though, If they came for the tank they would have to charge me $50 to pump it out and they would only give me a reduced price back on the propane I had already paid for, not the price that I paid. (A lose, lose situation) So I was forced to pay the rental fee but told them to stop delivery and that they just lost a 20 yr. customer.

I said when its empty I'll call so they can come pick it up. In the meantime I went to another local propane dealer and bought my own 100 lb tank with regulator, had it filled and took it home. I picked up the brass fittings I needed at the local hardware store. Its now sitting ready to go when the other one runs out.

A month ago the first company came to top off the 300 lb. tank. Fortunately I was home and told him not to fill because I was no longer doing business with them and just using up what was in the tank. I even chained the lid shut in case they tried to come again when I wasn't home. The driver was well aware of the rental fee the company was charging and told me they lost a lot of customers for that reason.

I did see recently in the paper that the company was going to send out refund checks to customers who paid the rental fee because they lost so much business but I haven't got one yet. It wouldn't matter to me anyway since I already bought a tank.

You and I live within 20 miles of each other...I'm sure we are dealing with the same company---Suburban Propane

 

[George2615]

George, I would have had a hard time paying that rental fee the way they did. It seems they would have had to notify you with some decent notice before such a fee or full refund on the gas. It is amazing how clueless some people are.

They did notify us but only one month in advance that they were going to charge an annual rental fee on the tank. I was on auto fill (once every three months) and they had just filled it two days before I got the notice.

I had three choices
1) Pay the $60 rental fee and cancel further fill ups. Then buy my own tank and do business elsewhere.
2) Pay them to pump out the tank and get a reduced price on propane I paid full price for. The latter would have cost me about $140.
3) Hire a lawyer (big bucks) to try and get them to pump it out for free and refund the full propane price I paid due to the short notice they gave us. I didn't see this as an option.

My previous post has my decision.

Tug Hill, I wasn't going to mention the name but it is the same. I used to buy from Agway till they went under then Suburban took over their customers.

 

[dooleysm]

I have 2 100# tanks with a regulator that automatically flips the supply when one is empty. We have a ventless fireplace and our oven/range is propane as well. We go through less than 200#/year. When I notice the regulator has changed supply tanks (there is a red indicator) I call up my propane company and they come out within about a week or so with a new 100# tank. I believe we paid $68 for the last refill. We don't own the tanks and we don't pay any sort of rental fee...yet.

 

[Richard]

I call up my propane company and they come out within about a week or so with a new 100# tank.

That's pretty cool! I'm under the belief that they can't (won't??) come to my place to fill the 100# tanks because they need a scale.

I might add, I've NEVER seen anyone use a scale when I schlep the tanks to the co-op to get filled

they probably don't want to fiddle with small tanks like that!

(wouldn't blame them either)