Here’s A Quick Way To Check Your Propane Tank On Your Grill This Summer

We have a relatively large grill on our back porch.  It's enough that you could do a decent sized cookout on it.

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We usually don't use it all at one time, though. Usually just the one side. This one is my first ever big kid propane grill.  I've only had little, almost portable charcoal grills before this one. So I admit, I had a lot to learn about propane and propane accessories (Please imagine I said that in a Hank Hill voice).

So when I saw this video, I was beyond delighted in how easy it is to check the levels on the propane tank (if you don't have a gauge).

If you don't wanna watch the video, I'll tell ya how it works.  Just take a glass of hot water, and pour it down one side of the tank.  Then feel it with your hand.  The top of the tank should feel warm from the water.  But unless it's completely empty, it should feel a lot colder as you move your hand down.  And here's why.

Propane absorbs heat faster than air does.  And when your tank is half full, the top half just has air in it.  So that part will feel warm when you touch it, but the lower half that still has propane should feel much colder.  So if it starts feeling cold about a third of the way down, that means you still have two-thirds of a tank left, and you're probably fine. But if it only feels cold near the very bottom, it's almost empty and you should go get a new tank before you start cooking.

Woila! Grilling made simple and easy.  Now if I can just, you know, not burn the kebobs.