A propane fuel tank gauge can save your barbecue

Running out of propane gas, just as hungry friends gather around your grill, is a hassle. To keep tempers from flaring some gas grills come with a fuel gauge but if yours didn't, you can buy one. Consumer Reports recently tested two tank gauges from GasWatch and Refuel from Quirky, which you can monitor from a smartphone. Here's what we found.

What we tested
GasWatch TVL214, $30
GasWatch TVL216, $25
Refuel from Quirky, $50

Claims

GasWatch: Never run out of gas again while cooking. Displays tank level and cooking time left. Low-level audible alarm. Digital electronic display. Easy to set up, no tools required.

Refuel: Monitor your propane tank from your smartphone. Get alerts when your propane is low. Works on all grills with non-hanging propane tanks.

How they work

These gauges are scales that sit underneath a tank and report the weight of the liquid propane in the tank. Each gauge adjusts the displayed weight by subtracting the empty tank weight. For the scales to work properly the tank cannot hang from the grill or be secured in a way that prevents the scale from supporting the full weight of the tank. Typically they're installed under the grill or in the grill's cabinet, where they can be protected from the weather.

How we tested

We set up each gauge following the instructions, which for Refuel included connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Then we placed full, mostly full, and mostly empty propane tanks on each gauge and recorded what the displays showed, comparing the values to the actual propane weight. We substituted a large water jug of appropriate weight for an empty tank.

What our tests found

These gauges are fairly accurate but they tended to slightly over report the propane level. Refuel only reports quarter tanks and only works with your smartphone if your home Wi-Fi extends to your grilling area, though it will show the propane level by lighting up LEDs on its communications hub, the electronics package wired to the base and used to power the scale and connect to your home's Wi-Fi.

The takeaway

They work, but it's hard to imagine why you would use them instead of just having an extra tank of propane on hand and storing it properly. Empty tanks are available for less than the costs of these gauges and the cost of filling the tank really shouldn't be taken into account for the cost comparison. Low gas levels are easy to spot—just lift the tank to check weight or pay attention to the flame, which will become lower as the tank is nearing empty.

Shopping for a grill?

Well you've come to the right place. Our gas grill Ratings include well over 100 grills from Weber, Char-Broil, Napoleon, Kenmore, and many others, and they range from $115 to $2,600. Use the gas grill selector to narrow your search by price, brand, and so on. And click the "Features & Specs" tab to see how these grills compare features-wise. Our user reviews offer insight and feel free to e-mail questions to kjaneway@consumer.org.

—Kimberly Janeway