|
|
03-20-2019, 12:09 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Name: Brian
Trailer: 1990 13 ft Casita DLX #6
Colorado
Posts: 54
|
20 Pound Propane Refills vs Exchanges-Tip
I thought I would pass this tip on about propane exchanges vs refills.
When you exchange bottles at stores be aware that those bottles are NOT normally full in such as the bottles from the "Blue"company . In most cases they are filled to only 15 pounds. Better to take your bottles to a propane refill store and have them refilled to full (20 pounds). Saving you money and you'll have a full bottle. Paying more for less goes against my judgement.
|
|
|
03-20-2019, 01:05 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,416
|
The exchange deal is good if you have a cylinder that the date is expired. Then exchange it for one that has been inspected and has a recent date stamp.
|
|
|
03-20-2019, 02:09 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: 2013Escape 21
Iowa
Posts: 1,218
|
Exchange
Quote:
Originally Posted by mary and bob
The exchange deal is good if you have a cylinder that the date is expired. Then exchange it for one that has been inspected and has a recent date stamp.
|
I have taken out of date propane tanks to my local propane distributor. They look at the tank and if it’s out of date they put in in a separate cage and the guy has full ones on the edge of the dock that weigh 37.6 lbs. “get yourself a new one” he always says to me. Last year in May I got a tank with a manufactured date of 4/18. It was new and was the first time it had been filled or refilled. Not a nick or a scratch and shiney too. I have never bought a blue rhino exchange tank.
Iowa Dave
|
|
|
03-20-2019, 03:10 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,416
|
Great propane dealer you have there Dave. Most places want to charge to inspect an outdated tank. Before I retired Blue Rhino was a lease customer of ours so I never paid for a "full" tank from them. One driver gave me a couple 11 and 7 pound tanks because they didn't want them.
|
|
|
03-20-2019, 03:10 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
|
Since I never or maybe I should say rarely have I ever run out of propane, single cylinder, which would mean that it was empty. There's always some in the cylinder when I refill it. So if you want to exchange not only are not getting a full cylinder but you're loosing some propane that's in your cylinder. In mine it's usually about 1 gallon.
So far I've been able to find metered refilling places. Once had to pay a flat rate, but I was getting desperate.
FYI - I usually have to refill 4 or 5 times a year.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
|
|
|
03-20-2019, 03:18 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: LiL Hauley
Syracuse, NY
Posts: 657
|
It costs me $5 to have my tanks re-certified. Basically they just look for rust, dents, and the valve. It is good for 5 years.
__________________
Your heirs will inherit money and stuff when you are gone. You can only save or spend money, but you can do things with stuff, so they are going to inherit stuff!
|
|
|
03-20-2019, 08:42 PM
|
#7
|
Junior Member
Name: Jeff
Trailer: Shopping
California
Posts: 16
|
In California most places won't exchange or refill an expired tank until it's re-certified. Must have correct valve and date stamp to refill or exchange. Since the law is not strictly enforced.... A 20 lb. tank weighs about 17 lb. empty. Gallon of propane weighs 4.2 lbs. So a full tank should weigh 37 lbs. about 4.7 gallons.
Jeff
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 12:03 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,892
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey F.
In California most places won't exchange or refill an expired tank until it's re-certified. Must have correct valve and date stamp to refill or exchange. Since the law is not strictly enforced.... A 20 lb. tank weighs about 17 lb. empty. Gallon of propane weighs 4.2 lbs. So a full tank should weigh 37 lbs. about 4.7 gallons.
Jeff
|
I've only had one place ever check and turn me down on an expired tank. And it looked perfect. "Re-certification" is kind of a joke and common sense. If it is severely rusted, or dented, or has serious road rash, toss it. If the O ring in the Acme valve is cracked, replace the valve. If it looks pristine and is out of date, it's just a legal matter. Stamped with a new date, it is good to go for another five years. The magic stamp makes it totally safe again.
I went into a local propane yard, where they were re-certifying hundreds of tanks, and asked them what re-certifying meant. Answer was: "we re-paint them and stamp them with a new date".
If mine become out-dated, I'll do the same by stamping them myself. I have had a couple of Acme valve O rings crack and that seems to mean the entire valve gets replaced. When this happens, they will leak even with the hose screwed on tight.
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 12:22 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspy
If mine become out-dated, I'll do the same by stamping them myself.
|
Can't afford a new cylinder?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 12:36 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Name: John
Trailer: Roamer 1
Smith Valley, Nevada
Posts: 2,892
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo
Can't afford a new cylinder?
|
Why should I go to the trouble of buying a new one and disposing of the old one, when the old one is still fine?
__________________
I only exaggerate enough to compensate for being taken with a grain of salt.
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 01:09 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raspy
Why should I go to the trouble of buying a new one and disposing of the old one, when the old one is still fine?
|
I've generally taken an empty expired tank to the location where I get them filled and they dispose of it and sell me a new full cylinder. Saves me the trouble of buying number punches, exerting myself, and subverting the law.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 05:08 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Name: Carl
Trailer: LiL Hauley
Syracuse, NY
Posts: 657
|
The people that re-certify my tanks place a sticker with a date on the side of the tank, THEN I have them fill it. It cost 5 bucks and it only cost me a couple minutes of time and no additional travel.
__________________
Your heirs will inherit money and stuff when you are gone. You can only save or spend money, but you can do things with stuff, so they are going to inherit stuff!
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 07:00 AM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 1979 Boler1700
Maple Ridge, B.C.
Posts: 383
|
I asked a local LP company here in B.C. how mu h to recertify. They said $90. I bought 2 new tanks instead.
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 09:55 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Name: Bob
Trailer: Bigfoot 17G
Oregon
Posts: 174
|
My experience on the OR coast is that local propane dealers quoted a price to recertify that was greater than the cost of a new tank.
A dealer in Eugene recertified for $10.
Recertification was for 10 years and was designated by affixiing a paper sticker.
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 01:51 PM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft Side Dinette
Posts: 1,279
|
So how many years is a tank good for?
I know they have to have the new valves with tip over safety valve.
|
|
|
03-21-2019, 01:54 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 1979 Boler1700
Maple Ridge, B.C.
Posts: 383
|
Here in B.C. a tank is good for 10 years from the stamp date.
|
|
|
03-22-2019, 02:47 PM
|
#17
|
Junior Member
Name: Jeff
Trailer: Shopping
California
Posts: 16
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Collins
So how many years is a tank good for?
I know they have to have the new valves with tip over safety valve.
|
Tanks are good for 12 years from date of manufacture in Iowa and California. Sorry, don't know about other states and don't want to guess. I could not find out how long re-certification is in Iowa, but California is good for another 5 years. This is for tanks 100 gallons and less.
Jeff
|
|
|
03-27-2019, 11:26 AM
|
#18
|
Member
Trailer: Bonair Oxygen 2002
Posts: 49
|
Visual recertification
In Washington State visual recertification is allowed, but not in B.C. Canada. Has anyone had experience with a visual recert being denied when in B.C. or another province?
|
|
|
03-27-2019, 11:34 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: 2013Escape 21
Iowa
Posts: 1,218
|
Escape Tanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by ststefan
Here in B.C. a tank is good for 10 years from the stamp date.
|
The tanks on our 21 and our 19 were all original to the trailer and were 10 year tanks. I’ve kept the 21 tanks in nice shape
and though I could exchange for tanks that would be good a little longer I will not do that till they get closer to timing out. They are good till spring 2023 so another 4 years if things don’t change much. I bought an 11 lb. tank a couple years ago with a 12 year life and with a $5 recert for another 5 years
I won’t be buying any green bananas by then.
Iowa Dave
|
|
|
03-27-2019, 11:40 AM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
|
Seems strange that someone will gladly spend $50,000 on a trailer / tow vehicle and yet balk at spending $25 on a new propane tank .
Our local propane deale checks the date on my propane tank every time he fills it .
He recertifies tanks at N/C
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
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 Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Upcoming Events |
No events scheduled in the next 465 days.
|
|