Posted: February 4, 2025

How to Refill a Propane Tank

Superior Has Easy Refill Service to Help You Save

It’s easy to see the appeal of a swap-and-go cylinder exchange. But when you compare money saved versus the time saved, you might find that refilling your own portable propane tank is the smarter choice. In fact, when you own your propane grill tank and refill it, you can save money in multiple ways.

Multiple Ways to Save

For starters, when you refill your tank, you’re only paying to replace the propane you’ve used. With a propane grill tank exchange, you’re charged for all the propane in the cylinder—including the propane that was left in the tank when you take it to be exchanged.

Think about it: When you see your propane cylinder is starting to run low, your instinct is to take it in to exchange before you run out. So unless you run them until they’re completely empty, you could be wasting half a tank or more over the span of a few refills.

You’ll also save on the price of the propane. Even with “market fluctuations,” the savings can be up to $1.75 per gallon! That’s because when you drop off a tank to exchange for a full one, you’re paying a third party who charges a retail markup for all their overhead: buying propane, maintaining and filling tanks, etc. When you refill your tank from a propane dealer like Superior, you aren’t paying that markup.

When to Fill Up

But how do you know when you need a refill when most portable tanks don’t have a gauge? There are a few easy methods to track the level of propane in your tank, so you don’t run out but also avoid refilling too often.

• Water Trick: Fill a small bucket with hot tap water and pour it down the side of the cylinder. Then run your hand down the side of the tank and find the point where it turns cool. That’s the level of the gas. (The liquid propane inside the tank absorbs heat from the water, which makes the metal wall of the tank cool to the touch.)
• Weight Check: Check the cylinder for markings that let you know the “tare weight” or TW, the weight of the tank when empty. A 20-pound tank usually weighs about 17 pounds when empty. To calculate how much propane is in the tank, place the cylinder on a scale (a basic bathroom scale will work) and subtract the tare weight from the amount shown on the scale. So, if your 20-pound cylinder weighs 27 pounds, and the tare weight is 17, you have 10 pounds of propane or about half a tank. Or, pick up a digital propane tank scale at your local hardware store. Most come with a digital app to let you know when it’s time for a fill-up.
• Add a Gauge: You can buy a gauge to install between the gas line from the grill and the cut-off valve on the tank. It will measure the pressure and show you how full the tank is.
• Keep a Spare: The easiest way to make sure you always have enough propane on hand to fire up the grill is to keep an extra tank available.

Refills Made Easy

Whether you need a cylinder refill or want to buy an extra tank so you always have a spare, Superior Gas has your back! We have 10 convenient locations for our customers in east-central Alabama, west Georgia, and northwest Florida.

Just bring your empty tank during business hours whenever you need a refill. We provide quick and easy, no-wait portable propane tank fill-ups.

Contact us today for more information.