Propane Grilling Made Easy

Your guide to propane barbecues and grill tanks.

When it comes to getting the best-tasting burgers, ribs, salmon fillets, brats and other cookout treats, nothing beats the ease-of-use and clean operations of a propane grill. Indeed, a recent survey from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association found that the overwhelming majority of American grillers use propane.

Propane creates a quick, robust flame that you can precisely adjust with the turn of a knob. The clean-up on a propane grill is minimal, especially when you compare it to the mess of a charcoal model.

When it comes to securing propane for your grill in Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs or elsewhere in the Eastern Panhandle region, Roach Energy has you covered. Here’s a rundown of some of the questions we receive about grilling with propane.

How long will my grill tank last?

The most common cylinder size for a propane barbecue is the 20-pound grill tank. You can cook for about 18 to 20 hours on a medium-sized grill with one 20-pound propane cylinder. However, a larger grill might use the whole cylinder’s fuel in closer to 10 hours.

How can I tell how much fuel is in my grill tank?

There are four simple ways to ascertain how much propane you have in a grill tank. Here they are:

1. Use the gauge on your grill. Many grills come equipped with a gauge that tells you approximately how much propane you have based on the weight of the grill tank.
2. Use the hot water trick. This is a neat way to find the fill line on your grill tank. Pour hot water over the cylinder. Since propane quickly absorbs heat, the fill line is where the tank’s metal begins to feel cool to the touch.
3. Buy an external grill tank gauge. You can purchase one of these devices from a hardware store, home store or online retailer. The gauge connects between your tank’s valve and the grill’s pressure regulator and provides a reading of your percentage fill.
4. Weight the tank on a household scale. This process involves some basic math. Weigh your cylinder on a scale and then subtract its tare weight (TW) and divide the resulting number by its water capacity (WC) to determine the percentage fill. You’ll find the TW and WC listed on the collar of the grill tank.

How do I change my grill tank?

Before swapping out the grill tank, please make sure that your grill is turned off and that the valve on your current tank is fully closed. You can usually find the grill tank compartment underneath the grill. To disconnect the current cylinder, unscrew the threaded pressure regulator and remove the restraining bolt (if your grill has one). Then, you can lift out the old grill tank.

You would then reverse the process to connect the new grill tank. Place the new grill tank inside the compartment, tighten the restraining bolt (if needed) and screw on the pressure regulator.

Once you have attached the new propane cylinders, it is a good idea to do this simple leak test:

1. Spray the cylinder’s valve and the grill’s regulator and hose with a 50/50 mix of water and dish soap.
2. Open the valve. If you see bubbles, there might be a leak or loose connection.
3. Close the valve, tighten all connections and open the valve again. If you still see bubbles, you might need to replace the hose, regulator or grill tank.

Grill Tank Refills and Exchanges from Roach Energy

Nothing puts a damper on a cookout like running out of propane. We are here to keep your barbecue fired up when your family and friends are hungry. We provide propane and gas cylinders to local exchange and refill stations. You can be confident that you’re getting premium propane at a great price.

Do you have other questions about your grill fuel? Feel free to contact us, and we’ll help you in any way we can.