Refilling your propane tank at Rowlett Hardware costs less per gallon than trading it at a convenience store, and you get more gas for the money. Exchange cages rarely fill a tank to its limit. A twenty pound tank swapped at a gas station often holds closer to fifteen pounds of fuel.
We fill your own tank to the maximum legal limit at all four of our Johnson County stores. You keep the tank you already own, and you can shop while we work. Our evening and weekend hours mean you are not stuck waiting for a weekday trip.
We fill portable cylinders up to one hundred pounds, which is about twenty five gallons. That covers grill tanks, RV and camper tanks, patio heaters, and forklift cylinders.
Tank Safety and Inspection
Every tank gets inspected before we fill it. Grill tanks, RV and camper tanks, and heater tanks all require a safety check. National propane rules set clear limits on which cylinders can be refilled and when they have to be retired.
- Certification Date
Barbecue cylinders older than twelve years must be requalified before anyone can fill them. We check the date stamped on the collar. - Condition
A tank with a bent or missing collar or foot ring, heavy rust, or a coat of paint over it violates national propane rules and cannot be filled. - OPD Valve
All barbecue cylinders need an overfill prevention device. If yours predates that requirement, we cannot fill it. - Leak Check
We test every valve after filling. If a tank leaks, we have to keep it. NFPA rules do not allow us to release a leaking cylinder, and we stock replacement tanks if that happens. - New Tanks
Manufacturers ship new cylinders filled with a neutral gas to stop rust. A new tank has to be purged before its first fill or pressure can build and open the relief valve.
Checking for Leaks at Home
Check your cylinder before you light a grill or appliance for the first time each season. Propane that escapes without anyone noticing creates a fire hazard.
Brush a mix of soap and water over the valve and connections, then open the valve. Bubbles mean a leak. Close the valve and check the fitting before you use it. A smell like rotten eggs is the other warning sign. Clear any flame from the area and replace the faulty part before going further.
Getting Your Tank Home Safely
Texas heat works against a propane tank left in a closed vehicle. Sunlight and motion raise the pressure inside, and the safety valve can vent gas into an enclosed space.
- Keep It Upright
Regulations require tanks to travel upright and secured with the valve closed. On its side, the relief valve can open and release gas. - Take It Out Right Away
Remove the tank from your vehicle as soon as you get home or back to your shop. Do not leave it sitting in a hot cab or trunk. - Store It Outside
Use and store cylinders only in well ventilated outdoor areas. Never inspect or use a propane cylinder indoors.
What Happens When You Pull Up
The process takes just a few minutes. Knowing the steps ahead of time makes it faster for everyone.
- Leave the Tank Outside
Propane cylinders cannot come inside the store. Keep yours in your vehicle or set it outside the gate by the dispensing station. - Ask Inside
Let a team member at the counter know you need a fill, then drive or walk around to the side lot dispensing station. - Stand Clear
Stay twenty five feet back while we fill. A motor home or camper has to be unoccupied during the process. - Pay at the Counter
When the fill is done you get a sales slip to bring to the cashier.
