New Propane Tank Regulations

[LandShark]

Went to get a 30# propane tank refilled last week and was told it needed to be inspected prior to being refilled. I thought the certification was 12 years and I was a few months shy of that. I needed the propane, so paid the $7 fee for a 60 second soapy water test and got a new sticker for the tank that allows it to be refilled for 5 years.

Here's what I found with a Google search today; lifted from lpgasmagizine.com:

"The rule reduces the initial requalification period for DOT cylinders from 12 years to 10 years from the date of manufacture. It reduces the period from 12 years to 10 years for cylinders requalified using volumetric expansion testing. However, the requalification period for DOT cylinders following a proof pressure test increases from seven years to 10 years. The five-year visual inspection method for cylinder requalification does not change."

The new rule was effective 23 January 2018.

 

[DavidC]

Yeah, already been there. Must not be selling enough tanks.

Dave

 

[Tuesdak]

Got to look hard for a place that doesn't want to "total" the tank by during requalification installing a expensive new valve "just because" or "it's policy".

 

[mwilson]

Got to look hard for a place that doesn't want to "total" the tank by during requalification installing a expensive new valve "just because" or "it's policy".

I'm finding that some of the oxy/acetylene type distributors are more wallet friendly on the LP recerts than other options......

 

[algonaman]

When one of my tanks comes up for end of life, I use the tank exchange at Home Depot, put in a empty one, they give you a full one. It's a gamble and you pay a little more for the gas, but then you get a newer cylinder, in most cases that's been certified recently. They tend to short you on the gas more than the refill place though.

 

[The patriot]

My refill guy will refill anything as long as he don't lose consciousness.....:-laf

 

[Tuesdak]

When one of my tanks comes up for end of life, I use the tank exchange at Home Depot, put in a empty one, they give you a full one. It's a gamble and you pay a little more for the gas, but then you get a newer cylinder, in most cases that's been certified recently. They tend to short you on the gas more than the refill place though.

Great for 20# tanks, but, they don't appear to exchange the bigger 30# and 40# tanks. :-laf The exchanges are exactly 3/4 full: 5# short of the full 20# capacity. Never mind the price of propane went down.

 

[JackFate]

Got 20# grill tank swapped out of a machine at menards. Not at all new and valve leaks. I will soon try again to get lucky. If I get a good one I’ll not be doing this again

 

[FrozenDEF]

I've been using the same propane guy at a bulk facility for about 10 years now. The poster above is right, the exchange (blue rhino, actually filled at the place I go to) shorts you 20%, and the bulk price has gone down.
The guy I like who normally fills my 5, 20, and 120 gal tanks likes to closely inspect every tank I bring in, and recommends I take some to exchange at the local department store based on age or o ring condition, not date. He also told me far in advance of the new regs so I could drop off the bigger tanks for recertification on my own schedule instead of when immediately needed.

He also told me to make sure I get to pick the new tank I want out of the exchange rack, and look for newer brass, pliable o rings, etc.

 

[jgillott]

I purchased a new 20# tank at Tractor Supply after Christmas for $20 on sale. Hardly seems worth it to go through the hassle of the recertification or exchange on the small tanks at least. I can see it however on the bigger tanks considering their replacement cost.

 

[mwilson]

I bought a new 30lb tank before I found a place that would recertify for reasonable money. I don’t like the new tank because it takes several turns to open or close the valve. The ones that came with my RV take less than a full turn to open or close. Big difference if you are trying to shut them down in a hurry...

 

[jgillott]

I bought a new 30lb tank before I found a place that would recertify for reasonable money. I don’t like the new tank because it takes several turns to open or close the valve. The ones that came with my RV take less than a full turn to open or close. Big difference if you are trying to shut them down in a hurry...

What do they charge for the recert there? They want $10 here.

 

[DavidC]

What do they charge for the recert there? They want $10 here.

$5.00 in Az.
Dave

 

[mwilson]

$15.00 here for 30lb tanks, either RV or Forklift....

 

[LandShark]

$5.00 in Az.
Dave

$7 for a 30# in Benson, AZ two weeks ago. New 30# tank from Amazon Prime is about $49.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Simple!

Put a wet leg on your large (home/shop) tank and fill your own.

 

[crowman]

Here's what I been doing for years I bought a steel stamp set and inspected my tanks myself then stamped them with the S/year on them. I'm a retired plumbing contractor and would rather inspect them myself than a kid at a refill station that two weeks earlier would ask you "Would you like fries with that order"

 

[Whitewolf]

Slightly off topic, but has anyone tried the Viking tanks. Just curious, been thinking of getting a couple.

 

[jelag]

I've been having tanks re-qualified at Ferrell Gas, the bulk plant I've been going to in Tucson has been charging $5, they are nice people and it only takes a few minutes... I tried to call AmeriGas and they didn't answer the phone and wouldn't return the messages... later found that they charge $20 for the same service...


I don't know if the pricing of $5 is a nationwide price for FerrellGas, but I was pleased with the service...


BTW Costco now sells propane in my area, and its very inexpensive compared to other places... but I'd had 2 tanks re-qualified and took the tanks in to be filled and was told they were outdated.... I pointed out the sticker, dated a few weeks earlier and the guy doing the filling had never seen the sticker and had to go ask for help.... of course one educated there was no problem... so there seems to be a group out there that don't know what the sticker looks like

 

[SnoKing]

It is reported that those swapped tanks are only filled to 75 or 80 percent of what they put in a tank that you have refilled. Another way to make extra money off on you. Weight one some time and compare that to the full weight listed on the tank. SnoKing