Beware of Blue Rhino Propane Tank Exchange

Think about it – by refilling, you completely eliminate the blue rhino mass refill center too. In the US, consumers typically use propane exchange tanks for barbecue grills and patio heaters. Beware if you plan to use the Blue Rhino tank exchange service for buying propane. Blue Rhino is installing valves on their tanks that can only be refilled by Blue Rhino, meaning that you will be locked into their tank-for-tank service, and won’t be able to get the tank refilled at your local propane dealer. But it is marked clearly on the plastic shrink wrapped label on the tank. Wal-Mart, Home Depot, the corner store, all have tanks marked with 15 lbs instead of 20.

Backyard grillers who found themselves a little short on flame in recent years may have been burned by Blue Rhino and AmeriGas Cylinder Exchange, the two leading suppliers of propane exchange tanks. In addition to AmeriGas and Blue Rhino, indirect purchasers had filed a complaint against the retailers—including Lowes and Walmart—who sold them the propane tanks in 2008. AmeriGas propane grill tanks contain a net weight of 15lbs of propane.

amerigas vs blue rhino

One of those tanks was added to our 1992 Starcraft tent trailer in 2003. The other two came with our 2006 Fleetwood Niagara tent trailer. One tank was 15 years old, the other two 13 years old. Propane tanks now expire 10 years from their manufacture date .

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They are designed to ensure that the tanks are not over-filled. They will however often result in a tank being under-filled as this is not a safety concern. Now, before getting too upset, a slightly under-filled tank is not a concern, IF you are only charged for the propane received. Make the supplier weigh the tank before and after the fill and determine exactly how much propane you received. From grilling and tailgating to generators and patio heating, we’re wherever you need us! With over 54,000 locations nationwide, find AmeriGas propane at your favorite hardware or home improvement store, convenience store, gas station, and more.

The Blue Rhino Tank doesn’t have 20 pounds of propane in it, or 19.88 pounds of propane either; it ONLY HAS 15 POUNDS OF PROPANE. That’s almost 25% less propane than what a bulk propane dealer will put into an empty tank. You know what I’m talking about — almost every Wal-Mart, Big Box Hardware Store, and even many convenience stores have those cages where you can exchange your 5 gallon propane tank for a “full” tank. Our team combines top-notch technical and legal knowledge with strategy, creativity, experience, and passion. Our wrongful death team combines top-notch technical and legal knowledge with strategy, creativity, experience, and passion. Our traumatic brain injury team combines top-notch technical and legal knowledge with strategy, creativity, experience, and passion. Our tractor-trailer injury team combines top-notch technical and legal knowledge with strategy, creativity, experience, and passion.

amerigas vs blue rhino

Exchanging your old propane tank for a refilled one is the easiest way to dispose of it, but if you need to get rid of it for good- you can also just drop it off at most propane refill or exchange locations. Under the Sherman Act,per seillegal agreements are not strictly limited to agreements on price. Agreements that restrict output or other terms of sale also fall in theper secategory. AFAIK, you can exchange them at either place – whichever is more convenient; i.e. you’re not going to be locked into a brand. It’s usually cheaper to just get them refilled if you have that available as an option nearby.

The Action News 5 Investigators would have never found out — if we hadn’t been grilling burgers with Richard Rendos. However as others have noted they do not fill the tanks full, they short change you. I currently have a Blue Rhino tank and an old one without an OPD valve I got with my van. When I was researching on how to build a website, I read that the “About” page is the most important page.

I have heard that some BR tanks have a special proprietary valve on them so they can’t be filled except by the company so I am going to avoid using them. If you go the Blue Rhino route to exchange an expired tank, check the tanks in the retailer’s store and get a newer one. In my area most of the “Exchange” places sell an exchange tank for just under $20 and almost all of them sell the Blue Rhino product. So I headed off to Lowes to exchange our three tanks for $19.97 each. I took a deep dive into propane tank capacities and how to weigh your tank to determine how much propane is left. Also at the beginning of that post, is the picture below, showing three 20# in the foreground.

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Most retail locations have grill tanks available for both sale and exchange, so you can return your old grill tank and get a refilled one in one simple step! Some retailers can refill your old grill tank instead. The location finder lets you know what services you will find at your local retailer. Where I live the average price is $3.45 per gallon.

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We get ours filled at a local gas company that actually puts the whole 20 pounds of gas into the tank….and cheaper than Blue Rhino. Check the Blue Rhino sign again……they only put 17 pounds of propane in your 20 pound tank….they underfill it, too. Approved cylinders must have triangular valves with „OPD“ etched on them.

The ones here do it by weight so you get what you pay for. Other Mid-South retail outlets offer to re-fill propane cylinders on site, but consumers should confirm if the personnel performing those services are certified amerigas vs blue rhino to fill the tanks. Bill Katz of AmeriGas said his company sent inspectors to each of the retailers where we bought its cylinders. He said the inspectors weighed and inspected every AmeriGas cylinder at each location.

I googled and found that Amerigas and Blue Rhino both offer propane cylinder exchange programs at approximately the same price locally. Consumers should also check cylinders for their manufacturing dates or „re-test“ dates, a month and year etched into the handle. By law, grilling cylinders are supposed to be re-tested and re-certified every 12 years. A closer look at both the Blue Rhino and AmeriGas cylinders revealed the companies disclose right on their labels that they fill only to a net weight of 15 pounds.

  • Locally, I can get mine refilled at B.J.’s for either $9.99 or $10.99 (I can’t remember which it is), and I can get it refilled at a hardware store for about $14.
  • Generally, a 5 gallon bottle should only have about 4.5 gallons in it.
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  • I was in a hurry and did a tank swap at Walmart recently, which is supplied Blue Rhino in the DFW area.
  • Just something to look for when you go get a tank.

I highly recommend you don’t buy your heaters through the mail from Northern. I do believe electric heat is a much cleaner source of heat, and better for my plants. I know this is a big argument here on this forum, but that is how I feel.

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Pay for what they put in, which will never be 20 lbs. Wow, I haven’t been on Garden Web in 7-8 months and what a surprise to find this thread I started https://cryptolisting.org/ several years ago back on the first page, LOL. Last year we moved in December and left my greenhouse at our farm for the rest of the winter.

amerigas vs blue rhino

In order to get flow IN to a TS2 valve, a magnetic key must be inserted into the indentation to hold a steel ball out of the way. I noticed this because I was in the process of exchanging a non-OPD tank for an OPD tank through Blue Rhino at my local Sears Hardware. I also needed a different connection; mine was the sliding sleeve quick connect connection that Weber was selling.

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But nexAir’s scales showed each of the Blue Rhino and AmeriGas cylinders ranged from 16 pounds to a little as 14 pounds. And, the tanks are not fully filled in order to keep a consistent price. Otherwise the price would fluctuate on a regular basis.

February 3, 2021 – A federal judge recently approved a settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought by Paynter Law and co-counsel on behalf of consumers who purchased or exchanged AmeriGas and/or Blue Rhino propane tanks. The new OPD valves are designed to prevent overfilling (no more than 80%), but the tanks can generally be filled with much more than 17#. I know this, because I have had my tanks filled by propane suppliers for many years and weighed them each time I brought them home. The weight was always within a few ounces of the tare weight + 20.

Blue Rhino is now owned by FerralGas which is the largest propane supplier in America. If your using Blue Rhino, your just lining the already rich pockets of corporate America. Simple solution – don’t prepay when you get your tanks filled.

Given that I had three tanks, the exchange cost for me was $11.25 more than if I had taken three tanks to the U-Haul store less than a mile away. 2- Tank exchange is much less environmentally friendly than having your tank refilled. Trucking around a bunch of small blue rhino propane tanks is much less efficient than trucking a big propane refill truck that will fill up your local dealer’s big tank, then yours.