Finding the Best Fueling Solutions for Your Outdoor Propane Grill

At LG Jordan Oil Co., we install and service a range of grills and outdoor kitchens thanks to our in-house staff of propane and gas professionals. It’s why households throughout Wake, Chatham, Durham, Harnett, Johnston, Orange, and Lee counties trust us to get their outdoor cooking setups on track!

Propane-fired grills offer optimal heating power and temperature control. They enable you to cook to perfection everything from a rack of spareribs to a fillet of salmon. But what is the best way to fuel your new, top-of-the-line grill? Several propane—and natural gas—options are available, and the LG Jordan team can help you determine the best one for your home.

Can I Connect My Grill to My Home’s Propane Tank?

You can connect an outdoor grill to the stationary propane tank that powers your home’s heating, hot water, indoor cooking or other appliances and amenities. Doing so means that you’ll never have to refill or exchange a propane cylinder, but there are also so things to bear in mind:

• Increased fuel usage: You’ll deplete your home’s propane faster, requiring more propane deliveries. And if you happen to leave your grill’s burners open by mistake, you could face some pricy (and unsafe) fuel losses.
• Greater risk of a gas leak: Mice, bugs, squirrels, and other backyard pests can chew up the line connecting your grill and tank, causing a gas leak, and requiring a visit from our team to repair the issue.
• Lost mobility: Popular freestanding grills have wheels and can be moved on your property, but not if your grill is permanently connected to a stationary tank.

Considering these potential safety, convenience, and monetary issues, it’s often best to get a portable propane tank, or cylinder, for your grill, though the choice is up to you!

What Portable Propane Tank Size Do Grills Use?

The 20-pound tank (also called a 5-gallon tank) is the most common portable propane tank for grills. This is the standard size you often find at home stores, gas stations and hardware stores. These cylinders have the benefit of being easily transported and stored.

You should ensure that you’re following safety procedures when handling propane cylinders:

• Exchange or refill your cylinders filled right before going home.
• Transport and store cylinders upright and safely secured.
• Check your cylinders regularly for dents, corrosion, rust, and other damage.
• Keep your cylinders in an open-air environment, away from flames and out of extreme heat.

Is It Better to Refill or Exchange a Grill’s Propane Tank?

It’s almost always cheaper to refill your grill’s propane than to exchange it. When you refill a propane tank, you only purchase the propane being added. If you swap the tank for a filled tank, you lose any remaining fuel in the tank you turned in. Even an “empty” tank can have some marginal fuel left in it—over a few exchanges, that can add up fast!

At LG Jordan’s showroom in Apex, we offer propane tank refills for 20-pound cylinders, as well as 30-, 40- or 100-pound cylinders. We’ll fill your portable tank with more fuel than you would receive in an exchange, and we can also inspect and recertify it for safety.

Need more information about propane for your outdoor kitchen or grill? Contact the LG Jordan team. We’re always ready to help.