How Much Propane in Tank - Easy Test to Check Propane Level 

Thanks for getting straight to the point, not trying to be funny, and not saying "basically" every other word. Nice intro, good content and presentation.

I work at a BBQ grill store where we refill propane bottles. For the record, I am licensed to do so (took and passed a state mandated class/exam to earn the license... and no, it was not a "rubber stamp" deal). The bottle in this video is referred to as a "20# bottle," meaning that it carries a max of 20 lb of propane. But the steel in the bottle has weight, too, which is referred to as "Tare Weight" (TW). Typically nowadays, that TW is 16.6 lbs; some are 17 lbs. So, a full bottle of propane is going to weigh right at 37 lbs on your bathroom scale. You simply count down from there to find out how much propane is left. (Do this outside, of course!) Regarding gauges, I have yet to see any gauge that is anywhere near accurate. A lot of the newer bottles have basic color coded gauges on them already - green/yellow/red - and customers bring them in because their gauge reads in the lower yellow part, supposedly indicating they are close to be out of propane. However, when we put their bottle on our scale (a licensed, agricultural scale, btw), 9 times out of 9 we get readings that show there is anywhere from 4-8 lbs of propane left... meaning that it's 1/4 to 1/3 full. Which means there is still a lot of cooking left in it! One last comment: be mindful that the "propane exchange" places sell you ONLY 15 lbs of propane, and it says so right at the bottom of that big blue label. Problem is, that's a 20 lb bottle. Bottom-line, you are giving up 5 lbs of propane simply for the convenience of exchanging bottles. So, it pays to find a propane station to refill your bottle to the full 20 lbs. I'm not trying to market anything, just educate. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us at Jeff's Backyard in San Antonio, TX. facebook.com/Jeffs-Backyard-188346257945487/ www.jeffsbackyardstore.com/

Awesome tip! Even had Hank Hill to show us.

Easiest way is just to pick it up and estimate the weight. Empty tanks weigh about 10 pounds. Full tanks weigh about 25 pounds.

No time consuming fluff prior to getting to the point??!! Spot on sir!

Dang! It actually works. You saved my cookout tomorrow because I was almost out but thought I still had a few cooks in it left. Great tip. Thank you!

THIS WORKED!!! We weighed the tank (with some propane in it already) and subtracted the actual weight of the empty tank container first.. so we could tell that it was more than half full... then we tried THIS, and we were very happy to see that this is simple and works very well, and is accurate! THANK YOU for sharing this simple idea!

Thanks a lot! I'm only 19 but I'm the man of the house and it's vital that I know home improvement tips like this. This one was really great!

Quick, simple, to the point. 👏🏼 Bravo!

Hi, Just disconnect the tank from the grill and pour hot water down the side. You should get a good idea of how much propane is left in the tank. Then the key is knowing how many btu's your grill uses. The average 3 burner grill uses about 30,000 btu's. That gives you about 9 hours of cooking time with a full tank.

2 tanks, run one dry then swap to the full one. Refill the empty. But thanks for the tip.👍🏼

Now THAT'S something I wish I knew years ago. Thanks for posting.

This is how to make an effective, useful and to-the-point video. Excellent! And this method is better than trusting the built-in tank scale on some grilles, as they are notoriously inaccurate.

Thanks SO much! I'm getting prepped for the coming tropical storm and you saved me a bottle fee!

Nice one!!!!! Also a 20 lb tank is 37 lbs full and 17 lbs when empty. If you have a scale on hand.

Hey nice tip. I sometimes just grab the tank off it and swish it around to feel if there is a litre or two of fluid compressed propane in there!

Thanks for posting this! It really takes the guesswork out of it.

Another option is to get yourself a second tank. That way you're always prepared for an emergency.

You could also weigh it on a bathroom scale and subtract the tank weight which should be printed on it.

You can also easily check the liquid levels using a thermal imaging camera. The downside: thermal cameras are pretty expensive.

Thanks for that! Super handy for a wife trying to cook dinner on my husband's grills.

Fast and to the point thanks for quick video, and for those ppl who rated finger dow GFUS

Thanks! Always wondered how to find this out. Thanks, again!.

Very nice! I really should have paid more attention in physics class.

You rock Hank!!! Will try this suggestion. Thank you!!!

Thanks for making a short and sweet accurate video. So many people buy the stupid pressure gauge that basically tells nothing but the ambient temperature or that the tank is empty. If there is any liquid in the tank, the pressure will read according to the ambient temperature and nothing else.

Omg...awesome!!! I always wondered and now I know!! You are wonderful! Plus, it helps keep the dusty tank cleaned off, too. Thanks so very much!!!😊😊

I've always had great success simply lifting the bottle up and feeling the weight and swirling it around to get a feel for the propane level. No need to make it this complicated.

I am glad i found this video. Perfectly informative

Every time he said propane I was watching Hank again.

Thanks Hank Hill!

My Lord, I have been nervous that I would get the park and not have enough. Thanks for the easy peasey tutorial

Thank you for the tip. It will come in handy. As I have no way of measuring.

My digital bathroom scale works great. Also, I have 2 extra tanks on hand. Found all my tanks in the trash and exchanged them for new.

Trick: fill your own tanks instead of exchange which run 15# instead of 20#

Thank you very much. Very easy and helpful

Thanks for the Tip, It Was Very Helpful and Will Go Well With The Future Shows!

Pro tip. Keep a spare tank and cook til the fire goes out. Hook up spare continue. Refill empty. The cost of the spare tank IS not toss away money… but it’s cheaper than losing a grill full of $15/lb ribeyes.

Great

Thanks

Thanks Hank, just the tip I was looking for.

Thanks for this! Was about to switch out both tanks

Thank you, Hank Hill! Very helpful!

This worked for me until today. It had been a while since we refilled the tank so using the hot water test, it seemed as though it was near empty as the whole tank felt warm after I poured hot water down its side. After getting the refill, I tried the hot water test again (wondering how high the hardware store filled it) but the tank still felt warm, bottom to top.

I use a gauge, but nice trick.

Thanks for the tip!

great tip and thanks for the thorough explanation. Worked like a charm today,

Or buy a propane tank from Costco that has a gauge on top for $40. They use to be $30 but Costco just raised their price on it.

thanks, great idea, simple, can use in the field on my RV

Sweet, I like this tip 👍

That is a proper tip mate thx.

I can tell just by the weight. Done it for years

Have you seen Middle Age Man on SNL. Pretty much like this. 😅

I have done this and it works!

Nice easy trick. It just worked for me. Thanks

Damn that's super clever.

Should definitely have two tanks , then just cook till it runs out and switch

Great tutorial buddy , thanks :).

Excellent Tip, thanks for sharing.

Hell yeah. Hank Hill🤯

Thanks, I’m going to use that

great job... one came on after this, and the time was almost 6 minutes for the same thing, just alot of filler..i wanted to shame him, but ill praise you unstead... thanks alot

Incredible video

My boi out here sounding like hank hill 💯

Awesome trick, thanks!

This was extremely helpful! Thanks!

Do you need to open it up or anything or just go in the yard and pour water on it?

Awsome works great

Fabulous tip! Thank you.

Awesome!!!

awesome video short and sweet. 👍👍

Great trick. Thanks!

Brilliant! Thank you!!

What do you do when you're using an indoor gas heater?

Can you just use the warmth of your hands to tell?

I have a question what does it mean using too much propane may result to gas pooling and will not burn?

You just saved me a trip to Home Depot!

Very informative information.. As a thanks I subbed

Thanks!

Thanks... and could you tell us where the 'full tank' level should be?

Brillliant!

Is this the real life Hank Hill?

He said, run it down the side of the grill

Thank you So simple

My way is easier, when grill goes off it’s empty, put second tank on and keep grillin, fill first tank and keep handy. Also pro tip, use bigger tanks they last longer 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

Hank Hill is real!

Weigh your empty tank. Weigh it again when it's full. The difference is how much propane you have. Propane weighs 4.24 pounds per gallon. Basic math to figure how much you have left.

Thank you sure that was brilliant

Thank you!

Learned this trick from my boy Alton Brown on Good Eats

I get a lot more than 8 hrs from my tank, more like 16 would be my guess.

*Can I use Beer? I don't like water, fish make love in it and it rust pipes!*

Hank Hill lol

great video!

Thank you!!

Thank you

dam sir, u r the dad that i never had. hahahahha

A thermal camera view would have been pretty cool...

After you pour water over it is it safe to use for grilling ?

Boom! lol, Thanks for the tip!! ^^