Propane tank age out, refurbish or replace?

Think it cost me $12 to have one of my 30# recertified. In AZ they fill hundreds of tanks and never look at the date. I make sure one of my non re-certified tank is full when I come back to CO.

MarkTwain wrote:

Durb wrote:
My 30# tanks have aged out and my dealer won't refill them. Should I just have them re-certified or replaced? Any estimates on the cost of having them up graded (12 years old). If I elect to buy new ones, will I have trouble recycling the old tanks? Thanks

Recertification of old tanks is costly$$. I just go to Lowes, Home Depot or Wall mart and trade my tank in for one of theirs. Be sure and check the tanks certifection date. I try to get the newest tank available. With a fairly new tank, I just refill the tanks after that.

No, recertification is not expensive. I took my three 20# tanks to my local Southern States Farm Supply propane dealer and it cost me $10 for each tank. Basically, they do a close visual inspection, base check and valve check. They also replace any required stickers that may have become lost or unreadable. I asked and the tech said I can have that done as many times as necessary. No maximum number of times for recertification.

My local refiller recertifies free for regular customers, but I just replaced a 30# that had already been recertified twice and was looking a little worse for wear. The refiller charged me $50 for a purged and filled new cylinder and will dispose of the old cylinder. He used a large bolt cutter to destroy the threaded part of the valve to make it unusable.

I vote for re certification. It should be cheaper and doesn't leave you needing to dispose of what are likely 2 perfectly functional old tanks.
Or, just find a dealer who will refill them anyway. I've found, on my 20# tanks, that less than 10% of the time does anyone ever look at the date. I've used "expired" tanks for years. You just need to know where to get them filled.

I just had my propane supplier, I have propane for the house, they recertified them for free.

MarkTwain wrote:

Durb wrote:
My 30# tanks have aged out and my dealer won't refill them. Should I just have them re-certified or replaced? Any estimates on the cost of having them up graded (12 years old). If I elect to buy new ones, will I have trouble recycling the old tanks? Thanks

Recertification of old tanks is costly$$. I just go to Lowes, Home Depot or Wall mart and trade my tank in for one of theirs. Be sure and check the tanks certifection date. I try to get the newest tank available. With a fairly new tank, I just refill the tanks after that.

They have 30# tanks?

MarkTwain wrote:

Durb wrote:
My 30# tanks have aged out and my dealer won't refill them. Should I just have them re-certified or replaced? Any estimates on the cost of having them up graded (12 years old). If I elect to buy new ones, will I have trouble recycling the old tanks? Thanks

Recertification of old tanks is costly$$. I just go to Lowes, Home Depot or Wall mart and trade my tank in for one of theirs. Be sure and check the tanks certifection date. I try to get the newest tank available. With a fairly new tank, I just refill the tanks after that.

Cost depends on where you have it done, I have been quoted between $5 to $25 correctly tested may need new valve, now cheaper to just get new tank good for 12
Years not 5.

Durb wrote:
My 30# tanks have aged out and my dealer won't refill them. Should I just have them re-certified or replaced? Any estimates on the cost of having them up graded (12 years old). If I elect to buy new ones, will I have trouble recycling the old tanks? Thanks

Recertification of old tanks is costly$$. I just go to Lowes, Home Depot or Wall mart and trade my tank in for one of theirs. Be sure and check the tanks certifection date. I try to get the newest tank available. With a fairly new tank, I just refill the tanks after that.

I know I got mine rectified for a lot less than $40. Find a equipment rental place that sells propane and get a quote.

My Costco has new 30 lb tanks for $40. That's the way I will go when I can no longer get the originals filled.