Filling CO2 tanks

[Beer-lord]

I've gone to the same place for 2 1/2 years to get my tanks filled ($10 for 5 lb size)
They were late in opening today and a new guy was there by himself. He seemed reluctant to fill my tank and took awhile and came back and said it was no charge because he could only fill about 2 lbs of it. I asked why and he said because it wasn't cold. I thought that they usually make it cold by filling it a little than purging a few times (I usually hear him do this) and once cold, it fills better. I mentioned that to him and he told me he wasn't allowed to do that.
I wasn't happy and other than an exchange of tanks at my LBHS, there's really no place even close that's worth it. Guess I'll have to go back sooner than I wanted and hope to get someone who knows what he's doing.

[ScrewyBrewer]

After moving the new welding shop only swaps out my 5 pound Co2 tank for $20.00 a shot. I used to get my own tank refilled for $14.00 while I waited before moving at Kennedy Supply but it's too far the new guy is right up the street from me. Kennedy's never mentioned anything about tank temperature and the tanks always felt just as heavy when I left there regardless of hot or cold weather.

[Beer-lord]

The last time I got it filled wasn't that long ago and they normally last me nearly 6 months. I think I only got 3 this time.
My LHBS wants $15 for swaps and I can always go there if needed but I prefer to keep my new looking,shiny tank.

[Inkleg]

I get mine filled or exchanged at two places. One called Beverage Control refills tanks, they use a pump so no purge chilling required. 6$ for a 5#er and 21 for a 20#er.
The other is NexAir and they exchange your tank. A 4 pack of Home Brew for a 5#er and 6 for a 20#er. At those exchange rates, I don't care what my tank looks like.

[Beer-lord]

There's only 1 other place near me that fills and they want $15 for both the 5 and 10 lb tanks. But, they are much farther from me. The one's that do it for $10 only do them from 7:30-8:00 am M-F and that's it. It's a commercial biz and they only do this for the locals because they were asked. I think they see me more than anyone else these days.

[DaYooper]

Some rental places will also refill tanks especially if they rent out things like welders.

[Beer-lord]

When I took the take home and put the regulator on my 'freebie' from yesterday, it looks to be mostly filled. Figures the guy didn't know what he was doing and thought he only gave me 2 lbs when he likely gave me almost a full tank.
I'll take it!

[Inkleg]

To find out how much is in your tank look and find your Tare weight stamped on the tank. Should be around 7lbs it will look like TW 7.53 or such it may or may not have lbs stamped on it. Remove the regulator and put the tank on a scale, that total minus the TW is how many pounds of co2 you have. The gauge reads pressure only.

[Beer-lord]

I've seen this on AHA forum long ago but also heard it's not very accurate because it has to be at a certain temperature to be accurate. At different temperatures there are different amounts of liquid inside.
Where I get mine filled they fill and purge once or twice to get the tank ice cold then fill it and weigh it to see how much is in it. I'm told that's the proper way to do it.

http://biabbrewing.com/kegging-bottling ... tors-tank/

This is the gauge I have and it's pretty accurate until I bang it up the more I use it

gauge.jpg (19.56 KiB) Viewed 1357 times

[Kealia]

I have that same regulator. I was getting my CO2 at a company that provides services to commercial businesses for a while but it was inconvenient (due to location). IIRC it was about $15.00 for a fill. My wife bought me a shiny new aluminum tank when I started kegging so I felt bad about swapping it out.

I started doing swaps at MoreBeer locally when I found out that they would swap aluminum for aluminum (when they have them) and that she doesn't really care since the tank and kegerator aren't in the house anyway. It's been a while but I think they swap for about $18.00 - but it's been a while so don't quote me on that.

[FedoraDave]

I'm fortunate to have an American Compressed Gas outlet right up the road from me. They swap out CO2 tanks for ten bucks, easy peasy lemon squeezy. Unfortunately, they're only open from 7:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, so it's a little tricky for me to arrange. So far I've managed; the one time I needed a replacement, it happened to be a time I took a vacation day on a Friday. I guess if I had to, I could get The Bhoy-o to do it, or else hit it early in the morning and carry the thing around with me in my truck. I'm probably bending the rules there, but....

[Rebel_B]

I get my tanks (I have two now) re-filled at a local fire extinguisher company near my work; $15/re-fill.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1416498871.740995.jpg (22.91 KiB) Viewed 1288 times