|
11-09-2015, 10:18 AM
|
#1
|
Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: South Prairie
Posts: 19
M.O.C. #18034
|
Propane cylinders
Little known fact: if you look on the collar of the propane cylinders, if they are newer, you will see verbiage that says "Must be requalified after 10 years" or "twelve years" depending on when the cylinder was made, and the federal laws in play at the time.
Most propane fillers do not know about this, however, if you run into someone that does, the cylinder will have to be requalified before it can be filled. Now, the Federal law requires this, but no one EVER checks to see if you are in compliance, since the cylinder cannot be FILLED until it is recertified, but if it is filled and goes out of certification, it can still be used until empty. All you have to say is that it was filled before it went out of certification and you paid cash. Yeah, it's a lie, and some people lie, especially to the government, but make no mistake. I would never encourage anyone to lie.
So, the reason why they need to be requalified is for insurance purposes. If you have a propane event, and your coach burns down or you get injured or worse, the insurance company will look at the date on the cylinder. If it is not current, or is out of date, they can deny your claim based on the issue that the cylinder may have had a problem that would have been detected if it was recertified. Get it?
So, here's the thing. There is a number called a "Re-Tester's Identification Number (RIN number) On a compressed gas cylinder, it will appear between the month and year of the retest date. THIS NUMBER IS NOT REQUIRED ON PROPANE CYLINDERS. This means YOU can retest your own cylinders!!!
All you need is steel stamps for the month and year of the retest. Don't wait until you have an incident to do it, but when it's out of date. Stamp it into the collar of the propane cylinder right below or next to, or above the original date in the format of month (dash) year. These must be number stamps, and not a screwdriver tip for if you have a propane incident, the Insurance company investigator will pick up on it and declare it invalid. To do this, you will need to brace the inside of the collar by either holding it up and laying it on a table, or placing a wood block inside the collar cut so that it braces the inside of the collar. Using a steel hand mallet, holding the stamp with a gloved had, you'll have to strike it pretty hard. Or else, you can just pay the $20 bucks or so to have it professionally recertified.
Only, do yourself a favor. Conduct a thorough inspection of your propane cylinder. Inspect the welds, the base of the valve, and the valve itself. If you go to fill it and detect a leak at a seam, the cylinder is junk and cannot safely be filled. And please, do not put duct tape over a split or weld break. That's just dumb, but you'd be surprised what propane fillers see.
|
|
|
11-09-2015, 02:25 PM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 1,058
M.O.C. #9441
|
Our tanks were recertified last year in Yuma and the cost was $9.99 each. The only problem I see with my case is they install a decal on the tank itself with the info. I have been checked about 50 % of the time.
__________________
2020 Ram 3500, 2022 Luxe 38GFB,2500w Solar with Victron equipment, Gen Y Pinbox
|
|
|
11-09-2015, 07:36 PM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Redding
Posts: 1,421
M.O.C. #12339
|
I am not worried. Mine were stolen, second time. Guess it's the thiefs problem! Lol
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 12:23 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
|
Ours are checked every time they are refilled and have been Recertified
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 01:19 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Levi777
So, the reason why they need to be requalified is for insurance purposes. If you have a propane event, and your coach burns down or you get injured or worse, the insurance company will look at the date on the cylinder. If it is not current, or is out of date, they can deny your claim based on the issue that the cylinder may have had a problem that would have been detected if it was recertified. Get it?
|
Just curious, does anyone know first hand of an example where this has happened? Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 01:28 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
|
I've never kept an RV or barbecue grill long enough to envoke the 10 year propane tank dilemma.
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 01:52 AM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
Ours are checked every time we refill at a propane dealer, seldom or never at a campground. We don't use campgrounds, however, except in emergencies since they usually cost more. So in effect your paying for a certification in the additional price.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 02:59 AM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
|
We keep ours up to date. We have seen some pretty bad looking cylinders at our local refill dealer. It is a s mall price to pay for safety.
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 03:43 AM
|
#9
|
Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: South Prairie
Posts: 19
M.O.C. #18034
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jimcol
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Levi777
So, the reason why they need to be requalified is for insurance purposes. If you have a propane event, and your coach burns down or you get injured or worse, the insurance company will look at the date on the cylinder. If it is not current, or is out of date, they can deny your claim based on the issue that the cylinder may have had a problem that would have been detected if it was recertified. Get it?
|
Just curious, does anyone know first hand of an example where this has happened? Jim
|
This is the mantra put forth by the Fire Protection Industry. I would think it's only to justify their requirements to have cylinders recertified so they can earn money, but then what are the chances that we would know if it's happened or not, unless it's happened to us specifically? Rare are the incidents caused by faulty cylinders. Still, I would say to have them recertified according to schedule, as it's just safe and responsible.
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 04:51 AM
|
#10
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redlands
Posts: 460
M.O.C. #9135
|
We just had this happen to us with the propane bottle that we use for our fire pit. Uhaul wouldn't fill it because it was past date. I just bought a new one at Lowes and took the old one to hazardous waste. (Uhaul wanted $10 to dispose of it. They did not do recertifications there apparently)
__________________
2011 3150RL
|
|
|
11-10-2015, 05:17 AM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brandon
Posts: 3,944
M.O.C. #1034
|
We don't keep our rv for anywhere close to 10 years so the 30 lb. tanks are not a problem.
With our two 20 lb. tanks for bbq if a tank gets close to the 10 year date we simply do a tank/refill exchange somewhere and let the tank exchange business worry about doing the recert.
__________________
Darwin & Maureen DeBackere
Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada
2011/3500/Silverado/4x4/DRW/Duramax
2017/3721RL/Legacy Pkg./Pressure-Pro
|
|
|
11-11-2015, 01:40 AM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Full Timer In Naples, Florida
Posts: 1,049
M.O.C. #15731
|
I bought a 20 lb. Blue Rhino cylinder at Walmart for my camp stove and the tanks all looked old and rusted and badly painted and the one i bought had a date of 1998 and the valve would not even close and it find out it was filled with leak detector from the previous owner and it filled my regulator full of oil and it ruined the stove and they still filled it so i took it back got my money back and Walmart said that they are not responsible for my stove being ruined its the gas company that i had to deal with them directly, so being the stove was old. i went and bought a new one and then went and bought a new tank and now i have it filled. so i find the re-certification just to be B.S.
__________________
2017, 3500 Ram Big Horn, 4x4, Crew Cab, DRW, Aisin Transmission, 4:10. Curt Q20, 2014 Mountaineer 331 RLT, Sailun's on the rv and truck.
|
|
|
11-12-2015, 04:31 AM
|
#13
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lakeside
Posts: 606
M.O.C. #7139
|
Hi I have been filling Propane tanks since 1969. Not every year but some where around 15 yrs or so. I was not concerned about checking dates, until a worker of mine. Related this story. Some where in 2011 he was filling a tank for a customer and found it to be out of date. The customer told him he was completely out of propane and had a sick wife and was needing to keep her warm. If he would just fill it and he would buy a new tank as soon as that one was empty. My worker said he protested but was worn done by the customer. Just as soon as he was done filling the tank. The customer pulled out a badge and gave my worker a fine for I think he said $500. I have been diligent in checking dates on the tanks since then. So the powers to be will do stings for propane in some areas.
|
|
|
11-12-2015, 07:17 AM
|
#14
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hudson
Posts: 480
M.O.C. #2446
|
Does anyone know where to get tanks recertified?
I called every propane dealer in the area and asked even oil companies. No one here will recertify tanks. The last time My gas grill tank went out of date. I asked how much a new 20# tank was at true value and it wasn't worth it.
I went to home depot and did the cylinder exchange for $5 more than what it would of cost me just for the fill at true value.
The 30# cylinders are more expensive so I would like to find a recertifier in the MA / NH area.
__________________
Chris Donna and Oliver the rescue Dog.
Old 3255RL It is a weekend warrior and less than 15K miles. Mostly sits at the house. Home is where the heart is.
|
|
|
11-12-2015, 11:07 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Aguanga
Posts: 606
M.O.C. #13601
|
uhftx, I couldn't find anybody in So Cal to do a re-cert on one of mine either. I ended up buying a new one.
|
|
|
11-12-2015, 12:34 PM
|
#16
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bushnell
Posts: 61
M.O.C. #17212
|
I worked for a company called Maine Oxy for 11 years before I retired in Oct. they have locations in ME, NH, MA,CT & VT. Find one of their locations, they can get it done.
|
|
|
11-12-2015, 03:33 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: R
Posts: 261
M.O.C. #17922
|
I had worked for a national propane company in Canada for 9 years delivering propane, filling and recertifying cylinders. Some people would do their own stamping of the cylinder as mentioned earlier but in Canada, to recertify a cylinder the valve had to be changed. On the side of the valve is a year of manufacture date stamped into it. Inspectors would see the valve date and the new date stamped on the cylinder collar and if they were out by more than a year, they would know that the cylinder wasn't properly recertified. We also had to keep a record of every cylinder recertified by the date when it was done and the cylinder's serial number along with other information.
|
|
|
11-16-2015, 08:42 AM
|
#18
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hudson
Posts: 480
M.O.C. #2446
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Clays390
I worked for a company called Maine Oxy for 11 years before I retired in Oct. they have locations in ME, NH, MA,CT & VT. Find one of their locations, they can get it done.
|
Thank you Clays390 for the Tip, It just so happens, one of their stores is located in the town I live.
I've bought welding supplies there a few years back.
I never would of even considered them for tank recerts though.
__________________
Chris Donna and Oliver the rescue Dog.
Old 3255RL It is a weekend warrior and less than 15K miles. Mostly sits at the house. Home is where the heart is.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|