Where to find 60 lb propane tank

[Dr Jay]

This is my first post on the site so I have to start by saying I love this site, lots of helpful guys on here.

I have just installed a 50k Big Maxx in my garage and I will only heat the garage 8 or 10 weekends a year. I want to buy two tanks that I can easily take to costco for filling........anyone know where to find 60 lb tanks? I'm in Canada but close enough to the US border to purchase there if needed. Or would two 40 lb tanks keep me warm for a few weekends at a time? Garage is fully insulated 24 x 36 with 8 ft ceiling.

 

[Camper]

My garage is 16 X 24 and a 40 lb tank will last me 3 or 4 weekends in the dead of winter here in Pa.

 

[Krusty]

I bought one used at an equipment rental company.

 

[2CRUZ]

Tractor Supply sells all sizes up to a 100 lb.

 

[joe_padavano]

Never seen 60 lb tanks. 30lb, 40lb, and 100lb are common. Most retail sites like Costco will only refill the small gas grill size tanks (in fact, most places only exchange, not refill. I take my tanks to Southern States for filling. Hint - if you get a 100 lb tank, find a place that can fill it in your truck. It's a lot easier to get a full 100 lb tank down out of the truck than to lift it up into the truck.

 

[Dr Jay]

Thanks guys, I think I will just go with two 40 lb tanks then. I have a self switching regulator already so 80 lbs total should keep me warm for awhile.

 

[Chetter]

I use 2-40lb bottles with my 45000 btu heater with an auto changing regulator and I heat my garage 24/7 at 55* and when I go out to work on something I bump it to 65-70*. I will go through a bottle in 7-10 days when it gets bitter cold, anything below 20* for an extended period of time. Otherwise, bottle lasts upwards 2-3 weeks. My garage is well insulated and the doors have seals around them and are insulated as well. My wife and I go in and out of the garage a couple of times a day, so it's not like the overhead door is never opened much to conserve heat. I use a 20" box fan that is situated on a shelving unit and on low speed to move the air around, that makes a difference too. I continue to learn by trial and error.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I just found the following information here.

If you have a low pressure burner (grill, water heater, furnace, etc), for example, that is rated at 40,000 btu/hr maximum output then you can run that burner at full blast for 10.8 hours: (20# x 21,591btu/# = 431,820 btu of gas in a 20# tank, 431,820 btu ÷ 40,000 btu/hr = 10.8 hrs)​

 

[theoldwizard1]

...in fact, most places only exchange, not refill ...

While Blue Rhino and other 20# "exchange" tanks are convenient (especially if you have a tank that is expired ) everyone should know that those 20# tanks only contain 15-17# of fuel !

If you take your tanks to a place that actually refills it, they will fill it to the maximum that the OPV will permit, which is pretty close to 20# !

 

[RECox286]

Don't you have an LP dealer that supplies tanks and on-site refill ?

When we had LP, before NG came down the street, we had two

100# tanks and service every month. Don't remember if it was

economical, but it sure was more convenient.

Uncle Bob

 

[theoldwizard1]

Don't you have an LP dealer that supplies tanks and on-site refill ?

When we had LP, before NG came down the street, we had two

100# tanks and service every month. Don't remember if it was

economical, but it sure was more convenient.

Uncle Bob

For "occasional use" (OP did state "weekends") hauling a 40# tank to a refill station once every other week would be more cost effective.

 

[NoFatChicks]

Should be a Menards close to you. They sell 20, 40 and 100lb tanks.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Don't you have an LP dealer that supplies tanks and on-site refill ?

When we had LP, before NG came down the street, we had two

100# tanks and service every month. Don't remember if it was

economical, but it sure was more convenient.

Uncle Bob

Before I went and bought a tank, this is what I'd suggest. Contact your local LP dist and inquire about a tank. You may find that it's cheaper to buy it in a larger bulk and if you use their tank, they should be responsible for the upkeep.

For "occasional use" (OP did state "weekends") hauling a 40# tank to a refill station once every other week would be more cost effective.

More cost effective, maybe but you need to figure your time running back and forth having it filled. According to your figures, a 40 lb tank should last about 21 hours, a weekend project might just wipe that bottle out. That will lead to filling every weekend. The OP may not mind but I think it would be a PITA to drag that tank out every other weekend to get it filled.

 

[bfarroo]

When I was using propane in my garage before I switched to NG I had a 100# tank. The cost to fill that was a little more then the cost of 3 20# tanks. So with the larger tank through a propane company I basically got 1.5 20# tanks free. It's definitely worth looking into.

 

[DeuceDude]

I currently use a 60 lb and love it. Just the right size/cap. for me. Not too heavy, fits in trunk of car if needed. Mine was a gift, but it looks as if Worthington Cylinders out of Ohio still makes new. Retailers include Lowes, Ace Hardware and McMaster-Carr. Maybe you could order one through them if close to border.
Good Luck!

 

[matouse3]

+1 on the checking with your local distributor on "leasing" a tank. They maintain, they fill. Beats lugging those tanks around and spending your gas money and time to get the stuff.

 

[Falcon67]

I have a small collection of 30 lb tanks. Good for spot heating and the grill. Easy to transport when full. Locally, if it's not a 100 lb tank or larger you will have to transport the tank to a fill station. And there is also a minimum delivery charge, so you'd want to run the tank down before making the call and not just top off in the spring. I never swap tanks - $22 currently to fill it at the dealer and if you run it dry, you'll get a full 30 lb load. The max I draw off one for heat is a 25K BTU Mr. Heater unit and I don't use that very much.

 

[Kevin54]

Why not just get a 120# tank and let a propane company fill it? My buddy had a 250# tank at his house and it would last 2 years between refills. No penalties or minimum required to have it.