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If you use propane in your Western NY home, you have to keep close tabs on how much gas is in the tank so you know when you need to schedule a propane delivery or get a propane cylinder refill. The question is, how do you read that gauge?
In some small propane gas cylinders (such as the one on your barbecue), there is no gauge – the best way to judge how much gas is left is to simply weight it.
Most propane grill tanks come with two numbers stamped on the handle – the water capacity (“WC”) and “Tare Weight” (TW – the weight of the tank when empty). Most empty barbecue tanks weigh about 17 pounds and hold about 20 pounds of gas; to measure how many pounds of propane are left in your tank, simply weigh it on a scale and subtract the TW number. For example, if a tank weighing 28 pounds has a TW of 17 pounds, there’s about 11 pounds of gas left – a little more than half a tank.
Don’t have a scale? Try this method using a little hot tap water.
It gets easier with large (100+ gallons) propane tanks, since they usually have a fuel gauge. Typically located under the tank dome or cover, the gauge looks a lot like the fuel gauge on an old car, with readings ranging from 0 to about 90 percent (see why 90 percent and not 100 percent below). We recommend that you schedule a propane delivery when your tank is no less than 25 percent full – especially during heating season – to avoid a propane run-out.
Keep an eye on your propane levels this fall and winter – and when the time comes, always schedule propane delivery in Buffalo and Rochester, NY from the pros at Irish Propane. Contact us to schedule a propane delivery today!
