Why are free air pumps so hard to find among Colorado gas stations?

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Finding a gas station where you can fill your tires with free air is few and far between in Colorado: For those who do, it’s a tradition.

In theory, it’s like asking for a cup of water at a restaurant, it could be “free” except it’s not: Someone always has to pay for it. To fill up a car’s tires, it’s more often than not the drivers who are paying rather than the gas station.

In some states, it’s a law that gas stations must offer free air.

Many air pumps in Colorado aren’t free

In California, the law says gas stations must provide free air and water to those who buy gas or diesel. However, when it comes to free air in Colorado, it’s more of a business decision, according to Skyler McKinley with AAA.

McKinley said that gas stations make their money off “high margin” items like soda or a hot dog. The stations bank on people heading into the store after filling up. Some stations offer free air because, to the business, it’s worth it.

“If filling up your tires gets you to stop, pop in and buy something, then it’s worth it from a business perspective,” said McKinley.

However, from the other perspective, McKinley said the air systems cost money.

“They take energy to operate, and they commonly break down. That’s why some owners might opt for a pay model, or more likely, to contract with a vendor that provides the air (and any related maintenance) and gets 100% or some other share of the revenue,” said McKinley.

Because only a handful of states still require air to be free, it’s considered an old tradition. McKinley said free air was offered during “the golden age of the automobile,” but it has become less common because of the upkeep costs.

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