Save on Grilling – Fill up your Propane Tank vs. Exchange

Every spring, I am so excited to start grilling again.  I use both charcoal and gas, but for most things, using gas is just easier.  If you use a propane tank to fuel your grill, you most likely have used the tank exchanges at Lowes or Home Depot.  As I’m sure you are aware, it works like this… you exchange your empty tank for a new “filled” tank (yes, those quotation marks are there on purpose), and it costs at least $20 (possibly as much as $23).  What you may not know, is that those tanks are designed to hold 20 lbs. of propane, but most exchanges only fill with 15 lbs. of propane.  So… that works out to $1.33 per lb. of propane.  Add in sales tax, and we are up to $1.44 per lb.

Here’s another option… there may be a local place near you that will fill your existing tank to the full 20 lb. capacity for cheaper.  Today, I just went to C&B Farm and Garden here in Oswego, and they charged me $14 (which includes all taxes) to fill my tank to capacity.  That works out to $0.70 per lb. of propane.  That’s less than HALF the price of the big box store!  Plus, you won’t have to re-fill as often, because you have 33% more propane.

In addition, you would be supporting a local business.  Seems like a good idea to me!

Do any of you have a local place you can go to to get your tank filled instead of using the exchange?