Spring is here – time to get out and cooking on your propane grill! Just make sure you have enough gas in your propane cylinder before your next cookout gets underway.
Most portable grills use a 20-pound propane cylinder, which on a medium-sized grill will typically last 18 and 20 hours (larger grill can guzzle gas at twice that rate). The question is, how do know how many hours of cooking time you have left in your tank when most 20-poung propane cylinders have no fuel gauge?
Let’s take a look at three ways you can estimate how much gas is left in your tank.
The FiX IT Home Improvement Channel shared this simple trick for determining the approximate level of propane in a tank using a little bit of water.
To check your fuel level,
The top of the cool spot is the fill level of the tank – it’s cool because liquid propane inside the tank is absorbing the heat from the water, which makes the metal wall of the tank cool to the touch. Once you know the level, estimate how much of your tank is filled with fuel and multiple the 18 to 20 gallons by that number.
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 it’s empty). Most grilling tanks weigh about 17 pounds when empty and hold about 20 pounds of gas.
To measure how many pounds of propane is left in your tank, simply weigh it on a scale and subtract the TW number. For example, if a tank weighing 27 pounds has a TW of 17 pounds, there are about 10 pounds of gas left – a little more than half a tank.
External propane tank gauges come in several different forms, including:
Choose the device you like and you’re good to go!
Don’t grill blind – try these tips to know how much gas is left in your tank before your next grill-a-thon. If you run out, no problem – just fill up your tank at the Holden Oil Filling Station in Peabody, MA!