SWAP’n’GO FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about LPG for your home? See Home LPG FAQs

The following are frequently asked questions about SWAP’n’GO^®, gas bottle swap, BBQ gas bottles, LPG gas cylinder exchange and SWAP’n’GO Prices from customers and online forums.

If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to send us an Online Enquiry.

Questions that have general interest, and the answers, will be added to this FAQ page.

SWAP’n’GO Prices: Questions

SWAP’n’GO prices – SWAP’n’GO gas bottle prices – How much is SWAP’n’GO pricing?

Typical SWAP’n’GO prices (swap n go prices) range from the upper $20s to the mid $40s for 8.5kg gas bottle swap.

It varies because SWAP’n’GO gas bottle refills are sold by independent dealers who set there own SWAP’n’GO pricing (swap and go pricing).

ELGAS does not have a SWAP’n’GO Recommended Retail Price – RRP – meaning the SWAP’n’GO gas bottle prices are totally under the control of the dealers.

For this reason, it may pay to shop around, as SWAP’n’GO pricing (swap and go pricing) can vary quite a bit, as previously mentioned.

The bottle you receive belongs to you.

“Swap and Go Prices” or the other variants are just another way to say the same thing but SWAP’n’GO^® is the registered trademark.

How can I find the cheapest SWAP’n’GO near me?

To find the cheapest SWAP’n’GO near you, you just need to shop around.

Each SWAP’n’GO dealer sets their own SWAP’n’GO prices.

ELGAS does not have a SWAP’n’GO Recommended Retail Price – RRP.

Why are SWAP’n’GO prices slightly more than refilling?

SWAP’n’GO prices (swap and go prices) are a bit more than refilling.

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

• No waiting
• Refurbished gas bottle
• Accurate filling on electronic scales
• Safety inspection

The SWAP’n’GO prices (swap n go prices) reflect this added value.

New to SWAP’n’GO Questions

LCC27 Gas Bottle for POL Gas Bottle Swap?

You can swap in an old style POL gas bottle for the newer style LCC27 gas bottle at the same SWAP’n’GO prices.

Is an LCC27 Adaptor safe to use?

Using an LCC27 adaptor should be avoided as they create extra opportunities for gas leaks.

Also, combining left-hand and right-hand threads makes it difficult to tighten one without loosening the other and vice versa.

It is much safer to swap for an LCC27 gas bottle and you save money by not having to buy the LCC27 adaptor, as well.

In addition, LCC27 adaptors are banned in WA whilst the QLD, VIC, TAS, NT and SA state governments have posted warnings against LCC27 adaptor use. This follows a homeowner receiving severe burns resulting from a gas cylinder fire in Western Australia whilst using an LCC27 adaptor. The injured person was hospitalised for further treatment.

What kind of gas is in the SWAP’n’GO gas bottles near me?

SWAP’n’GO gas in Australia is propane. SWAP’n’GO gas in NZ is a propane-butane mix.

Please see What is LPG?

Why should I use SWAP’n’GO instead of refilling?

• You get your choice of either 9kg gas bottle or 4kg gas bottle swap.
• We stock both POL and LCC27 gas bottles.
• You can buy a gas bottle even if you don’t have one to swap
• You can swap an older POL gas bottle for a newer LCC27 gas bottle at the same SWAP’n’GO prices
• You can swap your BBQ gas bottle without worrying about:
  a) When it was last checked to and if it is still in date.
  b) Whether it has been filled correctly.
• We pride ourselves on our BBQ gas bottle exchange quality
• All BBQ gas bottles are new or checked & refurbished by fully trained technicians
• Every SWAP’n’GO BBQ gas bottle is precision filled and leak tested.
• The yellow SWAP’n’GO seal on the neck or tamper proof plug indicates that it has been quality checked and filled to safe industry standards.
• No waiting to refill your BBQ gas bottle at petrol stations
• You get a fresh BBQ gas bottle every time you gas bottle swap
• You own the BBQ gas bottle you receive
• You won’t have to travel far to find SWAP’n’GO, with thousands of outlets, city and country.

Swap any 9kg or 4kg gas bottle at your local SWAP’n’GO dealer

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

Should you go out to buy gas bottle that is empty? Not necessary.

No problem if you don’t have a gas bottle swap.

You can select your preferred purchase method, including buy gas bottle as well as the gas.

You can purchase a full SWAP’n’GO gas bottle without a trade-in at any of our convenient SWAP’n’GO Locations.

What gas is in a BBQ gas bottle? What if it says to use Propane?

SWAP’n’GO gas in Australia is propane. SWAP’n’GO gas in NZ is a propane-butane mix.

Propane? LPG? What’s what?    Also… What is Propane Gas?

Does it matter what size gas bottle I use on my BBQ?

No, the BBQ Gas Bottle Size is not an issue as long as it is fitted with the LCC27 gas bottle valve.

An LCC27 gas bottle is backwards compatible with POL BBQ connectors. However, POL gas bottles cannot be connected to a new LLC27 BBQ connector.

SWAP’n’GO stocks both POL and LCC27 gas bottle types.

However, an undersized gas bottle will not last very long in actual use.

An 8.5kg bottle is recommended for most BBQs. 3.7 kg is better as portable gas and is popular for camping gas.

Do I own the gas bottle I receive?

Yes, when you purchase or gas bottle swap with us, you own the SWAP’n’GO gas bottle you receive.

Also, you are free to choose swap or refill when it is empty.

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

When you purchase or gas bottle 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.

SWAP’n’GO near me – SWAP’n’GO locations

Looking for a SWAP’n’GO near you? You can swap any 4kg or 9kg gas bottle at any of your local SWAP’n’GO locations

The SWAP’n’GO Locator let’s you can set your store by using the suburb or postcode.

Gas Bottle & Regulator Questions

Why are the 9kg gas bottle and 4kg gas bottle filled with 8.5kg or 3.7kg of gas?

Many of the 9kg gas bottle and 4kg gas bottle imports are manufactured undersize, as Australia does not have a Standard for gas bottle sizes.

To avoid possible dangerous overfilling, the 8.5kg and 3.7kg fill amounts were adopted.

Please see Are BBQ Gas Bottles 9kg or 8.5kg?

This also answer the same questions about 4kg and 3.7 kg gas bottles.

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.

Full Weight – Tare Weight = Gas Remaining

What does a BBQ regulator do and how does it work?

The BBQ gas regulator controls the gas regulator pressure from the gas bottle to the gas BBQ.

Please see Gas BBQ Regulators & Hoses

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

Every SWAP’n’GO gas bottle is precision filled, on a digital scale, to either 8.5kg (large bottles) or 3.7kg (medium bottles) and leak tested by Elgas technicians.

Look for the yellow seal on the neck of the gas bottle or the tamper proof plug, either of which indicates that it has been quality checked and filled to safe industry standards by Elgas SWAP’n’GO.

Be aware that we are not transitioning away from the yellow seals to the newer tamper resistant plugs, so look for that as the indicator of a full gas bottle.

What is a Primus gas bottle?

A Primus gas bottle is a gas bottle fitted with a Primus valve.

These are not very common and are not offered as part of the SWAP’n’GO programme.

“How To” and other BBQ Gas Supply Questions

How do I clean my BBQ?

Please see: Easy Way How to Clean BBQ Grill – Gus Shares Tricks & Tips on BBQ Cleaning or

Watch this short 2:56 video for some amazing BBQ cleaning tips including the ‘Great Steam Trick’!

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

9kg gas bottle and 4kg gas bottle swap with SWAP’n’GO is quick and easy:

You can swap your empty 9kg gas bottle or 4kg gas bottle for a full one at over 6,000 dealers across Australia.

You can even gas bottle swap an older POL gas bottle for a newer LCC27 gas bottle, at the same SWAP’n’GO prices.

We stock both the LCC27 gas bottle and the POL gas bottle types.

If you don’t have an empty BBQ gas bottle to swap over, or would like an extra BBQ gas bottle on standby at home, you can buy a new full 9kg gas bottle or 4kg gas bottle from any of our dealers to get you underway in the SWAP’n’GO program.

The 9kg gas bottle is the larger gas bottle filled with 8.5kg of LPG. The smaller 4kg gas bottle is filled with 3.7kg of LPG.

Please see How to Swap Gas Bottles

How do I detach or attach my BBQ gas bottle and turn it on?

For detailed instructions with illustrations, please see : How To Attach and Operate Your BBQ Gas Bottle

or watch this short (1:01) video:

How long will an 8.5kg BBQ gas bottle last?

That depends on the gas consumption rating of the BBQ or patio heater being used, how many burners you keep lit and at what level.

For an easy to use duration table showing common BBQ and Patio Heater sizes, please see:

How Many Hours Will a BBQ Gas Bottle Last

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

Unable to determine how much gas is left?

All you need is a bucket of hot water and the palm of your hand.

Please see How Much Gas is Left in the Gas Bottle

How often do gas bottles require testing before they are out-of-date?

Australian Standards determine how often gas bottles must be tested.

BBQ size bottles must be tested every ten years.

For info on gas bottle testing & expiry see Gas Bottle-Cylinder Testing Facts

Does SWAP’n’GO accept out-of-date bottles?

Yes!

We accept out of date bottles at no extra charge.

Please see How to SWAP’n’GO

I am moving & the removalist won’t take my gas bottle. What can I do?

SWAP’n’GO offers a mover’s transfer service, with which you can to take your BBQ gas bottle to your nearest ELGAS branch and reclaim another one at the ELGAS branch nearest to your destination.

It can also be used if you are putting your home contents into storage.  Please see:

Removalists and the Moving or Storage of BBQ Gas Bottles

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 gas bottle 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.

Why are there less places to refill now?

Due to the popularity of SWAP’n’GO, staffing issues and safety concerns, all of the major oil marketing companies removed refilling from their company owned sites many years ago.

The remaining refillers are independent service station operators and multi-site groups, although some have major oil company branding.

The numbers have now stabilised and no further significant reduction of refiller sites is expected.

ELGAS wants you to be able to select your preferred purchase method.

ELGAS is one of the largest suppliers of LPG to refillers and we support them as well as our SWAP’n’GO network.

In fact, many of our independent customers offer both SWAP’n’GO and ELGAS refill gas.

Safety Questions

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

At ELGAS, we pride ourselves on our bottle quality. We comply with all Australian Standards.

All SWAP’n’GO gas bottles are either new or quality checked and refurbished as needed by trained technicians.

Please also see BBQ Safety Tips

Does it matter if my BBQ gas bottles are left in the sun?

No, gas bottles are designed with the hot sun in mind.

They have room for expansion inside the bottle and the white coatings reflect much of the sunlight.

Please see Gas Bottles in the Sun

What is the best way to safely store a gas bottle?

• It is best to store gas bottles outdoors in a well ventilated space.
• Gas bottles should never be stored indoors.
• Gas bottles should always be stored upright and secure.
• It should be on level ground and not where water can accumulate.
• Do not store gas bottles near an ignition source.
• If you store your BBQ or patio heater indoors, when not in use, you should always detach the gas bottle first and store it separately outdoors.

Please also see Safe Gas Bottle Storage

Why is SWAP’n’GO 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, causing possible cold burns, or near 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.

Why do I need to do a soapy water leak test and how do I do it?

Th be soapy water leak test helps you detect gas leaks and prevent gas BBQ fires.

Please see BBQ Gas Leak Test

Why is it important to turn the BBQ off at the gas bottle first?

Turning your BBQ off at the gas bottle first is both safer and could save you money, as gas BBQ burner valves can leak.

Please see:  Turn Your BBQ Off at the Gas Bottle First

Where to dispose of gas bottles near me

Please see Safe Disposal & Recycling of Gas Bottles – Cylinders

What about using a gas BBQ on a unit balcony?

There may be By-Law and lease restrictions on using a gas BBQ on a unit balcony.

There are also a number of other issues that need to be considered for safety and to be polite to your neighbours.

Please see Using a Gas BBQ on a Unit Balcony for more details

Are there special gas bottles for caravans?

Is there a special type of gas bottle required for caravan use? No.

How many gas bottles can you have on or in a caravan? It can vary by State.

One of the requirements is to ensure suitable restraints are available to transport cylinder in a secure and upright position.

Please see Facts About Gas Bottles for Caravans

What should I do with my BBQ gas bottle in a bushfire?

Cylinder features include a pressure relief valve in the event that heat causes increased pressure inside the gas bottle.

For large home gas bottles, turn them off, leave them in place and clear away any brush or other flammable material. Do not lay them down, put them in water or cover them in anything.

For BBQ gas bottles, turn them off and detach them from the BBQ. Take them well away from your home or anything flammable. Point the gas pressure relief valve away from anything flammable, as well. The gas pressure relief valve points in the opposite direction from the gas bottle opening.

For full instructions, please read the following blog: Bushfires and BBQ Gas Bottles

Can freezing weather affect a BBQ gas bottle?

In Australia, this is a very unlikely problem, as the temperature would need to be below -42°C (-43.6°F).

Extremely cold sub zero conditions can affect your BBQ gas bottle, particularly as it gets low on gas.

There could be liquid gas within the bottle that will not come out.

The reason for this is that the liquid gas absorbs heat from the metal walls of the gas bottle to achieve vapourisation, which is the process of going from a liquid to a gaseous state.

As the volume of liquid gas gets lower, there is less metal surface area providing heat to the gas so it may not ‘boil’ and vapourise in extremely cold conditions, when the metal gas bottle become very cold.

The best solution for this is to keep the bottle in the sun, on cold days, so it absorbs as much heat as possible.

Alternatively, switch to a full or near full bottle.

You can use the lesser filled bottle on another day, when the temperatures are warmer.

SWAP’n’GO is Close & Convenient – Fast, Safe & Easy

There are thousands of SWAP’n’GO^® retailers around the country so you never have to go very far to find a fresh full LPG bottle.