Which Costco stores fill propane tanks?

You can see the specific services offered by Costco stores in the United States when you do a search.

They can find out which stores in their locality offer propane service by visiting the website 'Departments and Specialty Items.

I believe this store is open from 10am - 6pm (Mon-Fri), and 10am - 5pm (Sat-Sun), but they are open on the following holidays:

I am assuming that the first day of the month is the next actual day.

I also find that if you shop for Costco fuel, you can find some very cheap gas. Costco gasoline in St. Clair County, for example is $1.60 a gallon. In Belleville it's more like 2.00 dollars per gallon. This is a cost savings of just 25 cents!

- The Gasoline you have in your vehicle is not the same as the Gasoline you will find at a Costco. There are two reasons for this.

But to make sure, it is best to call the Costco store number beforehand to avoid the unnecessary trip.

A 250-Gallon Propane Tank

The price of a 250-gallon tank ranges between $500 and $1,000. A unit this size can usually be installed beside the home. This unit is large enough to handle multiple appliances. However, how often you need to refill the tank will depend on the frequency at which they are used. Homes that use propane heating can often use two 250-gallon tanks installed together. It is a great alternative to having an enormous 500-gallon propane tank outside. The smaller units can be installed close to the house instead of the larger tank, which must be installed 10 feet away.

Above-Ground Tank Cost

The cost of installing propane tanks above ground tends to be lower, because it requires less work and the tank size is smaller. There are other benefits to above-ground installation, including greater accessibility when it comes to checking on and refilling the tank. Any maintenance or repair work that needs to be done will be less expensive because you'll save on labor costs.

You'll need to know the laws that regulate the location of a propane tank before you install it. For example, the tank must be placed a specific distance away from your house, and also far enough from septic tanks. It may be necessary to place it in the middle, on a concrete slab, or even right there. Some homeowners find this an eye sore. Installing an aboveground storage tank can cost between $300 to $3,000.

Background

In my days as a high-school student at Taylor Hardware, I was an expert propane filling device. Due to this, I am familiar with the tare (empty tank) weight and some propane terminology.

Since 2007, I have hooked my Weber BBQ grill into an underground 500-gallon tank in Taylors. After moving to an electric house earlier this year, I was forced to go back to the standard 20-pound BBQ grill tank. I also considered 30, 33, 40, 60, and 100 pound cylinders, to avoid refilling as often. New 30 or 33 lb. cylinders cost at least twice as much as a 20lb. I couldn't find any lightly used ones.

Home Depot sold me a 20 lb. tank for 29,97. This was after a coupon of 10% off the competitors and a discount of 10% on a Gift Card purchased from eBay. Costco offers tanks at 28.99, versus Amazon's price of $45. Where do you fill it up?

A Little About Propane Tanks

The "20-lb" tank is designed to hold up to 20 lbs of propane. The amount of propane you receive may vary depending on how hot the air was and the temperature in the tank when it was filled. Cooler = more propane in, hotter = less in. The tanks can hold an additional 20% of propane, but the extra space will expand as temperatures rise.

There may be stricter rules or regulations in very cold climates like Canada. This is because if you leave a tank outside in very cold temps, filled the tank when the tank is cold, and then bring it into a hot basement/garage for a space heater, the gas will expand as the tank warms. With enough of a temperature increase, the tank's pressure relief value will release a bit of gas. This would be less of an issue if the relief value were bleeding to outside air.

On the collar of all propane tanks is a stamp "Tare Weight" (or "T.W."). stamped on the collar of the tank. For a grill sized tank you simply calculate the tare weight + 20 lbs, and that's how much the tank should weigh when it's full. The tare weigh of most 20-pound tanks is +/-17 pounds. This means a "full" propane tank should weigh about 37 pounds.

There is also a month and year on the collar indicating the date the tank was made. For 20 lb propane tanks, you have 12 years from the manufacture date before the tank must be re-certified with a new date stamped on it. The re-certification only adds 5 years before having to re-certify again. Re-certification is usually more expensive and inconvenient than buying a brand new tank.

New propane tanks can have air in them and will need to be "purged", before they are filled. There are some newer tanks like Bernzomatic that have stickers on them stating they do not need to be "purged" within six months from the date of manufacture.

A special adapter is required to let a tiny amount of propane into the system. The pressure then pushes air out of a one-way bleeder valve. Some places charge $3-4 for a purge, but others don't.

How often should you purge a propane tank?

This purging process is to be done when you first buy your new propane tank. This is because the manufacturers will fill their tanks to a specific air pressure.

This air can also be contaminated with moisture and other contaminants that will not perform well on your gas stoves. These tanks can be filled with 100 PSI by the manufacturers to balance pressures when they are transported over various altitudes.

There are national safety codes in place making it essential that you purge any new propane tank before filling it with that gas. It will help to ensure the propane tank is performing as expected and that your propane-powered activities run smoothly.

Propane Tank For A Gas Stove

The cost of a propane tank to run a stove ranges from $300 up to $1,000. You can get a low-cost 100-gallon tank installed aboveground beside your house. If you wish to have a longer period between fill-ups, it is possible to purchase a larger tank. If you use your stove a lot or plan on adding more appliances, it is best to invest in the larger unit. You can also choose a 500-gallon tank and run heating along with the gas stove for a smaller home. To ensure that your gas stove works, you will need to connect it to a pipe.

Does U Haul Purge Propane Tanks?

The website of this company mentions that new propane tanks need to be purge. They do not mention if this is an option or not. This may or may not happen.

Expect to pay anywhere between $2-$5 for the purging charge. There are refilling stations located at various locations. Since their website doesn't say much, it is always worth asking.

They can't do much worse than say "no". There are trained staff who will answer all your questions, but removing the trash is a completely different issue and requires a separate training program.

They have an exchange policy and they sell new propane tanks. The new tanks have been pre-purged saving you the trouble and the fee. From what we have read on their website, they do not purge propane tanks. That is a service that should only be done by certified professionals which ACE hardware probably does not employ at this time. You may find exceptions, but only at individual stores. You should not count on this happening. Go to the dealer and save yourself some trouble.