How Can I Fill My Propane Tank at Home?

Chill the empty tank. Propane is transferred by differences in pressure. A chilled empty tank connected to a full tank at room temperature will create enough pressure difference, resulting in the flow of propane from the full to the empty tank. Fifteen minutes in the refrigerator is enough time to chill the small tank.

Attach the tanks to the adapter. Screw the adapter on to the valve of the large tank. Take the small tank out of the refrigerator and screw onto the other end of the adapter. Once secure, the small tank should essentially be perpendicular to the large tank. With the wrench, ensure that each connection is tight.

Turn the large supply tank upside down. Propane naturally rests in in the lowest point possible, so having the supply tank above the empty tank ensures a greater flow of propane.

Open the valve on the supply tank. Once it's open, this will start the transfer of propane from the supply tank to the empty one. If you notice any leaks or strong gas odors, close the supply valve and reconnect each piece.

Monitor the amount of propane transferred to the empty tank. Be careful not to overfill the small tank. A good way to do this is to weigh the empty tank with a small digital scale before you start refilling it. Once you note the the weight when empty, begin the refill process. To monitor the amount of transferred propane, close off the supply valve after 30 seconds, then disconnect and re-weigh the small tank. The difference in weight equals the amount of transferred propane.

Disconnect all pieces and check for leaks. Once you have refilled the small tank to your desired amount, turn the supply tank right side up and tightly close the valve. Unscrew the the small tank from the adapter, then remove the adapter from the supply tank. Rub some soapy water along the valve of the supply tank and the mouth of the small tank to check for leaks. If the soapy water starts to bubble, there is a leak.