The great thing about renting or buying propane with Butch’s Propane in Cheyenne, WY is that you don’t have to worry about the complexities of the refilling process. We take care of that for you! Our technicians are highly trained to deliver, install, and fill your propane tank, regardless of size. Whether you have one of our 120, 250, 330, 500, or 1000-gallon tanks, or even if you bought your tank from another supplier and want to switch over, we’ve got you covered.
Propane is one of the least expensive and most reliable fuel sources available. It is perfect for homes and places of business where the electric grid is a poorer option, such as rural areas. Butch’s serves Cheyenne, Laramie, Chugwater, Pine Bluffs, Albin, and Burns with quality propane rental and propane refill. Our prices are lower than anyone else's in the area, and you can’t beat our customer service. Below are the steps to refilling a propane tank of any size. If you have any questions, give us a call today!
The first thing our technicians do when driving up is to find a safe place to park the propane delivery truck on your property. We try to park within a safe distance from your propane supply and/or any buildings. Accidents are rare, but we take all precautions since propane is a flammable substance.
Once we’ve chosen an appropriate location, our technicians will check your propane tank for any obvious signs of leaks. Propane is known for having a smell similar to that of rotten eggs. This scent is caused by ethyl mercaptan—a chemical similar to those found in skunk fumes—which is added to propane to make detecting leaks easy. If an odor is present, that means there’s a high enough concentration to cause a fire. In that case, our technicians would use extreme caution in determining the cause of the leak and whether any parts need to be replaced.
The next step is to gather equipment and begin attaching hoses between the truck and the tank to prepare for refilling. Since propane is a gas at natural outdoor temperatures, it has to be stored as a liquid at extremely cold temperatures, as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason, our technicians always wear gloves and eye protection—otherwise ice burns would be a serious threat.
We’ll also bring several hoses: one that sends propane from the truck to a pump, one that runs from the pump to your tank, and a re-feeder hose that circulates propane from one end of our truck to the other. This second hose will allow propane to cycle back into our truck’s storage container when it’s not being pumped into your tank.
Our propane technician will shut off the propane connection to your home or commercial property, and then we’ll attach the hoses, creating a line from the truck to your tank. This line runs through one of our special pumps, which will allow us to begin the refilling process. The process is extremely safe, thanks to the safety valves on both the tank and truck. The valves automatically shut off the pump if either end of the hose comes free. This prevents loss of fuel, as well as over-pressurizing.
Once the hoses are attached, we’ll start checking valves. Your tank has a bleeder valve that allows a slight release of pressure while the tank is being filled. All of our hoses also have bleeder valves for the same reason. It’s important for us to make sure these safety features are closed prior to refilling. Our last pre-fill item will be to make sure the re-feeder valves on our truck are open so that all safety measures are in place.
With everything ready, our next step is to begin filling. Your propane technician will flip the switch on the pump and open the bleeder valve on your tank. You should immediately notice a small amount of gas escaping from the bleeder valve. This ensures that the tank will never be over-pressurized. It’s important that the bleeder stay open any time the hose is feeding fuel into the tank!
Next, we’ll flip open the valve on the hose. The pump will start filling the tank. Once the bleeder valve on your tank starts producing vapor, that signifies that the tank is full of liquid propane, and the excess is being ejected. At this point, we’ll switch off the hose valve, then your tank’s bleeder valve, and then we’ll turn off the pump.
To wrap the process up, we’ll open the bleeder valve on our hose to release pressure between the hose and the tank. Once that vents, the hose nozzle can be removed from the tank safely, and we can replace the fuel cap on your tank. And that’s it!
Our technician will check the valves on your tank one more time to make sure they’re sealed, and then the valve connecting the tank to the power supply of your home or business can be restored. We’ll reconnect your tank to your home or commercial power system. Now you have free-flowing propane from a newly filled tank!
Propane is a cost-effective fuel source for businesses and residences in rural areas, and refilling is a breeze with Butch’s Propane. If you’re in Cheyenne, WY, or in the Laramie, Pine Bluffs, Burns, Albin, or Chugwater areas, give us a call, and we’ll get you filled up! We’re committed to safely securing your tank, and we’ll ensure that there are no mishaps or issues by taking the utmost precautions during the refilling process. We also offer new tanks for rental or purchase, and we’re happy to get those installed on your property. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We look forward to supplying you with a lifetime of quality fuel!
