How to Refill a Small Propane Tank at Home

You usually need to take an empty propane tank to a hardware store or some other business that refills propane tanks. However, if you have a small propane tank, there is a process or method you can use to refill the tank at home. You will need to have a supply tank to connect to the small propane tank.

Things You'll Need

• Digital scale
• Mac coupler
• Wrench

Instructions

1. Find the weight of the empty small propane tank by using a digital scale.

2. Place the small propane tank in the freezer for at least 15 minutes. This will create a temperature differential to help move the liquid into the small propane tank from the supply tank.

3. Connect one end of the Mac coupler to the end of the small propane tank. Use a wrench to tighten the coupler on the tank fitting.

4. Connect the other end of the Mac coupler to a supply tank. A supply tank can be any type of propane tank, such as one used with your gas grill.

5. Turn the supply tank and the small tank upside down. This will allow the heavier liquid to sink from the supply tank into the small propane tank.

6. Open the valve on the supply tank to begin transferring the propane to the small tank. Let the liquid transfer for about 30 seconds.

7. Close the valve on the supply tank and then disconnect the small tank from the Mac coupler.

8. Weigh the small propane tank and then subtract the weight from step 1 to see how much liquid was transferred to the small tank.

9. Reconnect the small tank and repeat steps 6 through 8 until the small tank has been filled.

Tips & Warnings

• The label on the small tank should indicate the total weight when it is full.

• Be careful not to overfill the small propane tank.

References

• Navagear
• Yacht Valhalla

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Mac Coupler