New Cumberland, Pa. - When propane prices were skyrocketing last summer, the national company Blue Rhino started putting less propane in grill tanks, rather than raise prices. Blue Rhino is still not filling up its tanks.

A place like Old Fashion Heat in New Cumberland is the way everyone used to get propane for the barbecue grill.

"We're a refilling station," said George Homerich of Old Fashion. "Ninety percent of our business is refueling the customers tank that came in."

Then you take your tank, back home. But now, most people just swap their empty tank for a full one from a company like Blue Rhino. It seems the Blue Rhino racks are at every convenience store and big box store. The Blue Rhino tank contains 15 pounds of propane. But a dealer that refills your tank on-site, like Old Fashion, puts in more.

"We put in four gallons and that equates to 16.8 pounds," said Homerich. "Propane is measured in pounds."

Blue Rhino tanks used to be filled to about 17 pounds too. The company cut back to 15 last summer, rather than raise prices when propane was sky high.

The price of propane has dropped, but a Blue Rhino spokesman said the company is sticking with the short-fill because, "What we're selling today, we bought when the propane was high."

He said he doesn't know when the company will go back to 17 pounds.

The bottom line, a local re-filler may not be as convenient, but you do get more propane for your money than most national "swap-a-tank" companies.

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