Propane Gas in Cuenca
For Cooking, Hot Water and Dry Clothes

Ecuador runs on propane gas. Cuenca's no exception. Stoves, hot water and clothes dryer all run on it. So propane gas in Cuenca is no option, whether you live in a house or a condo, in the city or in the country.

Life in Newer Condos

Living in a newer condo has its privileges, including not having to buy gas tanks (cilindros in Spanish) and not having to buy gas whenever you run out. In fact, you should never run out.

That's because most of the new condos in Cuenca have communal propane. A large tank (often two of them, depending on the number of apartments in the building) holds hundreds of pounds of propane.

Whenever you need hot water, or want to dry your clothes, or cook, propane runs through a meter for your apartment. Every month, the condo manager will present a bill to you for the previous month's use, usually along with a hot water bill (hot water is also communal since it's heated with communal gas, while cold water is paid individually).

Existing Houses

If you're renting, or just bought, an existing house, there may already be tanks that come with the house. They may be full or empty. Either way, eventually you'll need more gas.

You can take the empty tanks (watch your back, as they're twice as big and twice as heavy as North American barbecue tanks), to a local gas distribution center, or you can have some delivered. Depending on the company, you'll have it delivered for $3 a tank, and perhaps less.

If you pick it up, the price may be under $2.00. We say "may be under" because prices in Ecuador are rising, and while propane is heavily subsidized (as are gasoline and diesel), the government may have to start raising rates (very slowly!) soon.

New Houses

It's possible, but unlikely, that your new rental or purchase home will come with propane tanks. If it doesn't, you'll need to buy some.

We recommend four—one each for the stove, calefón (hot water heater) and dryer (if you don't have one, you can reduce the number by one). And the fourth one? It's a spare, so when one tank runs out, you can simply switch to the spare.

If you're on a tight budget, you can skip the fourth tank and just be prepared to swap back and forth whenever you need a particular service (cooking, a shower, etc.) until you can have the empty tank replaced.

Currently, each new tank will run you at least $60. It's possible that you may find them cheaper if you hunt around, or if you find some used (which would be a very good deal, as you'll learn in a moment).

You'll also need to purchase a valve (it's called a regulator here, or regulador in Spanish) for each tank. This regulator fits into the tubing that runs into the house for the dryer, stove or hot water heater. Each of those is well over $5. So for four tanks, you're looking at at least $260 plus tax, or just a bit under $300.

You can buy tanks and regulators at a gas provider, or from some stores, such as Coral stores.

Say Goodbye to Your New Tanks

The first thing you'll do with your brand new empty tanks (unless you buy them from a gas distributor) is trade them in for dented, beat up full tanks of propane. That's why we mentioned that if you can find some used tanks, you should consider buying them. They won't be in your possession very long.

Delivery of Propane Gas in Cuenca

If you don't want to lug your tanks around (and for the extra dollar or so per tank, you won't), you can have propane delivered to your home.

Two companies that offer home delivery are:

• AustroGas, 07-2886000, Agustín Cuesta y Av. de las Américas, cacopio1@austrogas.com.ec.
• Gas Trujillo, 07-2865402 / 07-2830612 / 07-2841542, at the corner of Pumapungo and Rumiñahui, between the Huayna Cápac and Av. Paseo de las Cañaris bridges over Río Tomebamba.

It's also possible that there's already a delivery truck servicing your neighborhood. If you're usually home, listen for a truck horn that seems to be moving from street to street. That's usually a sign that a gas truck driver is trying to drum up business.

Simply go outside and flag him down, or shout to him if you're on the second or third floor. His assistant will take the empty away and replace it with a full one.

Paying for Your Gas

You'll have to pay for your gas in cash. If you're unlucky enough to run out in three tanks at the same time, you'll pay less than $10 to replenish your supply for all of them.

If you live on the second or third floor, and you have the delivery guy carry them up to you, tip him a dollar. He'll remember you, and you'll save your back from some serious abuse!

Summary

Obtaining propane gas in Cuenca can be adventure in the beginning, but once you're established, it's simply a matter of calling for a tank, or listening for the honking truck driving around your neighborhood.

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