How to Check Your Propane Levels

Reading your propane tank or portable propane tank level

For so many households in Southeastern Massachusetts and the Upper Cape, propane is a year-round energy source. But that doesn’t mean their home propane usage is uniform every month and every season.

After all, if you have a propane furnace or boiler, your fuel consumption will be especially high in the winter. But if you need propane for a pool heater, you might need extra fuel in the warmer months. A propane water heater’s consumption will be pretty constant across the calendar.

How can you keep track of your propane levels? At Tasha Fuels & Propane, we fill up home propane tanks and portable propane cylinders. Here are some tips for checking your propane levels — and making sure you never run out!

Checking the Levels on Your Propane Tank

You can find your gauge on top of your stationary propane tank. There’s a small dome lid covering it. Lift this dome, and you’ll find a gauge that looks like a car’s speedometer with numbers from 5 to 95. The needle points to a number indicating the current percentage fill of the tank, not the number of gallons inside.

At Tasha, we advise our “Will-Call” customers to reach out to us when their tank gauge is around 30%. Even better, you can try our FREE automatic propane delivery service. Our state-of-the-art computerized system will keep track of your fuel levels using your customer history and current weather conditions. Then, our diligent, locally-based team will deliver propane right when you need it. It’s stress-free and fee-free, and it frees you from propane run-outs!

Checking Your Grill Tank Levels

Unlike stationary propane tanks, portable propane cylinders like your grill’s 20-pound tank typically don’t have gauges. However, there are several simple ways you can check your cylinder’s propane levels.

1. Use your grill’s scale — Many gas grills have scales that measure how much fuel is in your propane cylinder. Generally, you affix your cylinder to this scale with a restraining bolt.
2. Get an external tank gauge — These convenient devices are available at home stores, hardware stores and online retailers. They connect between your cylinder’s valve and your grill’s pressure regulator. Available with analog and digital readouts, they can tell you your percentage fill and even how much cooking time you have left!
3. Use a home scale — If you look at the collar of your grill tank, you should see two numbers: TW (tare weight or how much your cylinder weighs when empty) and WC (water capacity or how many pounds of liquid propane it can hold). With these numbers, you can easily determine how full our propane cylinder is. Just weigh in on a home scale, deduct the TW and divide that number by the WC.
4. Use hot water — Propane absorbs heat quickly, so you can find the fill line on your cylinder by pouring hot water over it. Feel the metal. Your fill line is where it turns cool.

When it’s time to get more propane for your grill tank, you can always turn to the team at Tasha Fuels & Propane. You can come to our service station (1412 Route 28A, Cataumet, MA 02534) to re-fill your propane cylinder. It’s much more affordable than a grill tank exchange!

Are you looking for a dependable propane provider in Cotuit or elsewhere on Cape Cod? Become a Tasha customer today!