Gas Can Hell

I am fed up with the new “safety” gas containers that are now available, or should I say are mandatory available. You can’t buy a regular gas can with a normal spout. Apparently, sometime in 2009, only gas cans with the tricky safety spout became mandatory by law. Since I had purchased my gas containers before the safety spout was implemented, I didn’t encounter the problem with the new cans.

You may ask, “Why am I using gas cans anyway?” Well, I left all my old cans behind in California when we made the move - BIG MISTAKE.  When we bought our new home here in North Carolina, I found we had a large lawn and many weeds that had to be “groomed”. I purchased a zero turn riding lawn mower along with a small trailer to pull behind the mower when I need to haul something. I have to say here that I thoroughly enjoy my new mower. Even Gail wants to mow the lawn. I have also purchased a gas powered rear tinned tiller, as well as a gas powered weed whacker.

 Sooo, I had to purchase a gas can to prevent having to wheel my gas yard equipment down to the gas station. The first one I purchased was on sale at Home Depot. It looked easy enough to operate until I tried to use it the first time. The idea is that you must hold onto the gas can holder with one hand while pressing down on a release button with your thumb to allow the gas to flow into the gas tank with your other hand. It sounds easy enough unless you have arthritis in your hands and fingers.

I finally had to unscrew the cap with the “easy safety spout” and pour the gas into the tank using a funnel. I then went to Lowes to get a different gas can with a different safety spout. The Lowes sales associate assured me that this gas container would be easier to operate. Well, I made the mistake of waiting until I needed gas in my lawn mower again before I filled the new container with gas. I then tried to fill my mower from the new can. Yeah, this safety spout was different, but still difficult for me to coordinate the lifting plus button pushing and then pouring the gas.

I don’t often become agitated and frustrated, but I was thoroughly disappointed at not being able to complete what was once a simple task. A couple of weeks later while I was shopping at a local hardware, store I found a gas can that looked like I could handle, so I bought it. It still is a little cumbersome, but I can manipulate it with a little more ease. However, I just recently discovered that Amazon has an old fashioned pour spout kit for sale. I purchased two so I can still use the first two cans that I bought.

Now I can fill my gas tanks without becoming infuriated with a simple task. At last, my gas can experience is all good, thanks to Amazon.