SWAP’n’GO Frequently Asked Questions on BBQ gas bottle swap. FAQs on swapping, safety, out-of-date bottles, safe bottle disposal service & more.

Why should I use SWAP'n'GO gas bottle swap instead of refilling?

• It's faster

• It's safer

• The bottles are always in date

• You know it has been filled correctly and double leak checked.

• SWAP'n'GO Frequently Asked Questions
• SWAP'n'GO
• Where to SWAP'n'GO
• BBQ Safety Tips

Why is SWAP’n'GO gas bottle swap safer than refilling?

Manually refilled cylinders can be incorrectly filled causing the cylinders to vent gas through the pressure relief valve that is part of the main valve. This can happen, with an overfilled cylinder, as the gas gets warmer and the pressure builds. Venting can be a very dangerous situation if it occurs near people or an ignition source and especially in vehicles.

• SWAP’n’GO^® fills the cylinders by weight on very accurate digital scales. The total fill weight is calculated based on the empty weight of the cylinder plus the gas.  The scales are reset for each cylinder to achieve the proper full weight.  So, you can rest assured that the bottle you buy from SWAP'n'GO is safely filled.

• SWAP’n’GO also performs two leak checks on each cylinder before it is delivered to your local dealer.

• We always check the inspection date on every cylinder we fill and only those with valid dates are filled. Cylinders with expired dates are inspected internally and externally, have new valves fitted and have a new date stamp applied.

How do I swap my gas bottle with SWAP'n'GO?

Swapping is quick and easy:

• You just go to your nearest SWAP’n’GO outlet.

• Take your empty gas bottle to the cashier for checking and payment.

• Then swap your empty gas bottle for a full one from the SWAP’n’GO storage cage.

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What sort of gas bottles does SWAP'n'GO accept for swap?

You can swap any brand of 9kg (nominal size) gas bottle and we even accept gas bottles that are out of date (expired test date) that cannot be refilled without re-inspection.There are some basic requirements to swap:

1. The bottle must have a foot ring and protective valve collar/handle
2. It must have a normal BBQ valve installed.  We do not accept cylinders with Primus valves
3. Excessive dents, gouges, rust or other damages are not acceptable.

Does SWAP'n'GO accept out of date bottles?

Yes! We accept out of date bottles at no extra charge.

What if I don't have a gas bottle to swap?

No problem. You can purchase a full SWAP’n’GO gas bottle without a trade-in.

Can I return my bottle and get a refund if I don't need it anymore?

When you purchase or swap at SWAP'n'GO you own the bottle. Unfortunately, there is no basis for issuing a refund.

You might consider giving your bottle to family or friends. Local clubs that do sausage sizzle fund raising would also appreciate the donation. You can also dispose of them at a local council recycling centre or you can leave the bottle at your nearest SWAP'n'GO depot.

Do I own the gas bottle I receive?

Yes, when you purchase or swap a gas bottle from us, you own the SWAP’n’GO gas bottle you receive. Also, you are free to choose swap or refill when it is empty.

How do I know a SWAP'n'GO gas bottle is safe?

At Elgas, we pride ourselves on our bottle quality. All SWAP’n’GO gas bottles are either new or quality checked and have been refurbished by trained technicians.

How can I tell if the gas bottle I will receive is full?

Every SWAP’n’GO gas bottle is precision filled to 8.5kg and leak tested by Elgas technicians. Look for the yellow seal on the neck of the gas bottle which indicates that it has been quality checked and filled to safe industry standards by Elgas SWAP’n’GO.

How much does a 8.5kg or 9kg gas bottle weigh when full or empty?

The full weight of gas bottles can vary based on the weight of the empty bottle.  The weight of the empty bottle, or tare weight, is stamped on the neck ring of the bottle.  To calculate the full weight, you add 8.5kg to the empty (tare) weight of the bottle and the total is the full weight.

How do I check how much gas is left in my gas bottle?

Carefully pour a cup of hot water down the side of the bottle and a line of condensation should appear at the level of the remaining gas.  If no line is apparent, you can also wait a few seconds and run your hand down the cylinder. It will feel cool to the touch at the level of the gas. If you see no line and feel no difference in temperature, chances are the bottle is empty.  Remember to always use care with the hot water.

For safety reasons, NEVER open the valve on an unattached gas bottle to check for remaining gas, even if you think it is empty.

Also, please remember that gas bottles are designed to be full at 80% or just over 3/4. This allows for the natural expansion of the gas during warmer temperatures. 

An alternative way to check the bottle contents is by using a scale.  The tare (empty) weight of the bottle is stamped on the neck ring. The difference between the scale reading and the tare weight should indicate approximately how much gas remains in the bottle.

Why are the cylinders filled with 8.5kg of gas?

The filling of “9kg” cylinders with 8.5kg of gas was a safety initiative.

LPG cylinders are designed to be full while allowing 20% of the space, called ‘ullage’, for the natural expansion of the LPG. Unfortunately, there are many LPG cylinders that are labelled as 9kg but are actually smaller. Filling them to 9kg creates a safety issue, as overfilling can result in gas venting from the pressure relief valves.

However, filling them correctly and safely meant that a company was misrepresenting the contents as 9kg when it was actually less. This put the industry in the untenable position of being either unsafe of misrepresenting the quantity of gas provided. Neither of these was acceptable.

The solution was to take into account the cylinder size variations, standardise on an 8.5kg fill and label the cylinders accordingly.

Why does gas bottle swap cost slightly more than refilling?

The simple answer is that you are getting much more than just the gas.

Here are some examples of the extra services we provide to our customers:

• We refurbish cylinders to ‘near new’ condition
• Cylinders with heavy rust damage are shot blasted down to the bare metal and repainted
• All cylinders are washed to remove dirt and BBQ grease
• Over 50% of the cylinders are repainted before refilling
• We check the inspection date on every cylinder we fill and only those with valid dates are filled.
• We accept out-of-date cylinders at no extra charge. We then inspect them, refurbish them, put in brand new valves and then apply a new date stamp.
• SWAP’n’GO use digital scales to ensure proper and safe filling and we perform two leak checks on each cylinder. Our safety record is second to none.
• We transport the cylinders to and from our refurbishment and filling plants so that you get a ‘near new’, fully inspected, accurately filled and leak checked cylinder ready to go with no waiting.
• We discard thousands of cylinders every year that do not meet our quality and safety standards. We also make them ‘safe’ for recycling by removing any traces of gas so that our recycling friends can stay safe, too.

I still have a little gas left but not enough for a BBQ, what can I do?

Everyone wants to get the full value out of their gas bottle.  The simple solution that many people use is to have a second gas bottle.  Then, you can run your first bottle completely dry and quickly switch bottles without a frantic run to your local servo.  You can then swap the empty bottle at a more convenient time.

Don't have a second bottle?  No problem.  You can purchase a second full SWAP’n’GO gas bottle without a trade-in.

Where can I swap my bottle?

Where to SWAP'n'GO

You will find a SWAP’n’GO outlet at service stations as well as some convenience stores. Or just call 0800 435 427 to find your nearest Elgas SWAP’n’GO outlet.