While natural gas is certainly gaining popularity in the grill industry, propane still dominates the market. It’s available in small one-pound cylinders like the DOT-39, from municipally provided gas lines, and in pressurized liquid propane tanks.
Now, knowing just how much liquid propane there is left in a particular tank can be a little bit tricky without some type of scale or gauge. Fortunately, grill and propane appliance manufacturers have gotten wise to this foible and now offer a few different propane gauges to consider.
When you consider the very low price point and weigh it against the inconvenience of running out of fuel in the middle of a grilling session, they might be well work the investment. There are a few different options to consider depending on the size of your liquid propane tank and how you have your gas grill set up.
What To Look For In A Gas Pressure Gauge
There are a few cues to look for when shopping for a gas pressure gauge for your propane grill.
Materials
Right off the bat, you have to keep in mind that these gauges experience a significant amount of pound per square inch pressure. It’s not the sort of thing where you want to risk cheap plastic parts. You want to look for things like brass construction and secure fittings. Brass is often the superior choice because it doesn’t rust or corrode.
Compatibility
With most larger propane tanks, you want to look for compatibility terms such as: Compatible with all appliances with a QCC1 / type1 connection. Most will also give you a maximum size rating like works with up to 40-pound propane tanks.
Dial And Display
Of course, you want a dial that is easy to read at a glance. When you are firing up your grill, you don’t want to waste a lot of time squinting. You also want some degree of color-coding. Most of the best gas pressure gauges have a zone that’s in green that tells you the pressure from the tank to the line is good. Then another section indicating that it’s getting low, and a red area that tells you it’s time to get a refill or a replacement tank.
If you live someplace with four distinct seasons, or you just like to grill out in the wintertime, then you might want to prioritize a gas pressure gauge that accounts for ambient temperature. As a tank gets lower and the temperature outside starts to dip the liquid propane struggles to transition into its gaseous state. There has been more than once where a gas grill or an RV’s propane system was overly cold and read that it was low, giving the owner the perception that they needed to get more gas.
Then the temperature outside comes up and the pressure inside the tank and line leading to the gauge comes up. The last thing you want to do is waste 10-pounds of liquid propane just because your gas pressure gauge couldn’t account for the ambient temperature.
Adaptors For A Smaller Propane Tank
There are some portable and tabletop gas grills that are designed to run off a small 1-pound liquid propane cylinder. The manufacturer sets them up this way to make them convenient to take on the move with you. Every year droves of camping enthusiasts and tailgaters purchase these grills to make life easier.
Yet there are times when a one-pound gas cylinder can be an annoyance. Especially if you want to use your grill as your daily griller on the deck, or you already have a propane tank setup at your campsite or in your RV.
In a situation like this, you might want to look for a propane hose that includes an adaptor that connects to the small port on the gas grill on one end, then connects to a larger 20 or 40-pound liquid propane tank on the other.
Accessory Hose
If your gas grill came with a hose you might only be looking for a propane gauge to connect in line to the regulator. If you don’t have a propane hose, then you might want to prioritize one. This can be especially handy if your liquid propane tank will be tucked away out of sight from the grill itself.
It’s also worth noting that there are different hose materials to consider. A reinforced rubber hose will usually get you by if you are just going to use it for a gas grill. Yet if you also plan to use the liquid propane tank to fuel other things like a turkey fryer, then you really should prioritize a hose with a braided stainless steel exterior. With a rubber hose it just takes a single drop of hot oil to make a catastrophic gas leak
The Best Gas Pressure Gauges Without A Hose
- SHINESTAR Upgraded Gas Pressure Gauge for 5-40lb Propane Tank with Type 1 Connection
- DOZYANT Propane Tank Gauge Level Indicator Leak Detector Gas Pressure Meter
- GasSaf Propane Tank Gas Gauge Leak Detector – Universal for QCC1 Type1 Propane Tank Gas Pressure Meter(2-Pack)
Propane Gauges With An Adaptor Hose
- SHINESTAR 12FT Propane Hose Adapter with Propane Tank Gauge, Propane Adapter Hose 1lb to 20lb Converter
- GasOne 50140 4 FT Propane Hose 1 lb Converter-16.4 oz to 20 lb
Propane Pressure Gauge With An Adaptor And Braided Stainless Steel Hose
- DOZYANT 6 Feet Stainless Braided Propane Hose Adapter with Propane Tank Gauge
- WADEO 6 FT Stainless Steel Braided Propane Adapter Hose with Propane Tank Gauge, 1 lb to 20 lb Converter for QCC1 / Type1 LP Tank to 1 LB Propane Stove
- SHINESTAR 15FT POL Stainless Braided Propane Hose Adapter with Propane Tank Gauge
