Just because you needed to know….C3H8 is the molecular formula of propane. Here is another…..Did you know Wells Brothers fills propane cylinders and we charge by the gallon? As of this writing, propane is $4.05 a gallon. Propane cylinders have a born-on date that is stamped on the cylinder’s collar. They are valid for 12 years or the manufactures recommendations. After that date, they are considered out of date, and by law, we can’t fill that cylinder.

The most common cylinders are called grill bottles or a 20-pound tank. These types of cylinders will hold 4.5 gallons of propane. Propane weighs 4.2 pounds per gallon. This gives us a total propane capacity of 18.9 pounds per cylinder. This information is important since the State of Texas allows a maximum of 90 pounds of propane to be transported in a closed body vehicle. This means the maximum number of cylinders you can haul in your car, van, suburban, etc. is 4 (18.9 x 4 = 75.6 pounds of propane). Here is some more fine print, once a propane cylinder has been filled, it is considered always full. So folks show up to refill 5, empty, 20-pound cylinders in the trunk of a car. We can’t fill any of them. Why? 4 cylinders are, by law, the maximum number of cylinders that can be transported in a closed body vehicle and they have 5 to start with.

“Closed-bodied vehicles such as passenger cars, vans, and station wagons must not be used for transporting more than 215 lb. water capacity [90 lb. propane capacity] but not more than 108 lb. water capacity [45 lb. propane capacity] per cylinder, unless the driver and engine compartments are separated from the cargo space by a vapor-tight partition that contains no means of access to the cargo space.” NFPA 58,§9.3.2.5(B)

I hope this information will help you in the future and you consider Wells Brothers the next time you need propane.

Take a look at our October History for important events that happened this month.  Makes a great trivia game, too!

October 2, 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court saw the first African American associate justice as Thurgood Marshall was sworn in.

October 6, 1927 “The Jazz Singer” opened in New York starring Al Jolson. This was the first full-length feature film using spoken dialogue.

October 7, 1985, the Italian passenger ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists. Leon Klinghoffer, an elderly Jewish wheelchair-bound American, was shot and his body thrown overboard.

October 14, 1912, Former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot by John Schrank while campaigning in Milwaukee. He was saved by his thick overcoat, a glasses case and a 50 page folded speech that slowed the bullet. He made the 90 minute speech with a bullet lodged in his chest.

October 14, 1947, the first man to break the sound barrier is U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager.

October 20, 1818, the 49th parallel becomes the border between the U.S. and Canada.

October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy informed America of the existence of Russian missiles in Cuba. He demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of Cuba. Russia announced they would remove the weapons six days later. The U.S. later removed missiles from Turkey.

October 30, 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Players dramatized the story by H.G. Wells “War of the Worlds” on a radio broadcast that panicked millions of Americans.

Enjoy Wells Brothers’ October History and come see us for all your pet, lawn, and garden needs.