A crisis is growing, just as we’re about to enter backyard barbecue season. Those five-gallon propane tanks used for gas-powered grills appear to be in short supply.
For every propane tank used by restaurants nationwide to provide heat for outdoor dining amid COVID-19 restrictions, there’s one less new tank available for backyard cooks. (And yes we Kansas Citians know the best BBQ is cooked with wood, that's a different discussion, simmer down now)
Many big-box retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's are running short or are completely out. Out west, retailers have posted signs warning of a propane shortage posted on cages that store propane tanks. Supply is currently backordered six to eight weeks.
"During the winter, all these restaurants … have outside seating and there was a big demand for having cylinders and having propane as well," said Donte DeCarli, manager of of a California propane store.
"They have those outdoor patio heaters and really anything they could get, there was a shortage of those as well," he added.
Grill enthusiasts on the hunt for a new tank seem to be compounding the propane problem. If you're lucky, some smaller retailers and gas stations seem to have what short supply remains on the market.
There’s also reportedly been more exports to China and other parts of Asia, increasing demand and prices.
The propane shortage is nothing new, as businesses were trying to get propane for those outdoor tables as far back as the winter. Customers throughout the South also were seeking propane during a series of hurricanes and winter storms.