Grilling season is here, and there’s nothing worse than getting set up for a backyard barbecue only to run out of propane halfway through cooking a rack of ribs or a serving of burgers. If you’re a griller in Prescott or anywhere across Northern Arizona, ensuring your propane tank is ready to go is a must. Almost all grills use 20-pound propane tanks, providing around 18-20 hours of cooking time on a medium-sized grill or about 10 hours on a larger one. But how do you actually know how much propane is left in your tank?
Here are four easy ways to check your propane levels and a simple guide to swapping out your tank when the barbecue fuel runs dry.
Many propane grills come with a built-in gauge or scale to help you monitor your fuel level. The cylinder attaches to the scale with a restraining bolt, allowing you to gauge the weight and estimate how much propane remains. It’s a simple way to never run out of propane mid-cookout — provided your grill has this feature.
If your grill doesn’t have a built-in scale, that’s no problem. You can use a regular household scale. Start by checking the tank for two crucial numbers stamped on its collar:
To calculate the current propane level, try this process:
For example, if your tank weighs 30 pounds, and the tare weight is 17 pounds, you have 13 pounds of propane left. Divide by 20 (a full tank’s capacity), and your tank is about 65% full.
This quick and clever method requires nothing more than hot water and your hand:
Propane absorbs heat more quickly than the empty part of the tank, leaving the metal cool to the touch where the propane remains. The line between cool and warm metal shows you the current propane level.
Investing in an external propane gauge is another smart way to accurately monitor your propane cylinder levels. These tank gauges, available online or at home improvement stores, connect between the tank valve and the grill’s regulator. These gauges provide analog or digital readouts, and some even estimate how much cooking time you have left.
When it’s time to swap out your propane tank, follow these simple steps for a safe and seamless change-out.
To detach the empty cylinder, start by turning off your grill and closing the tank valve. Next, unscrew the grill’s pressure regulator. Then, loosen any restraining bolts and slide the empty cylinder out of its compartment.
To connect the full tank, place the new cylinder in the compartment and secure it with restraining bolts if needed. Then, attach the pressure regulator to the tank valve and tighten it securely to ensure a proper connection.
For grillers in Northern Arizona, Superior Propane has you covered. With convenient refill stations at our Williams office and other locations in the region, we ensure you’ll never be short of propane for your next cookout. Stop by during business hours and keep the grill fired up!
Superior Propane delivers reliability and convenience every time. Preparing for your next barbecue? Contact us to find your closest grill tank refill option.
