Propane tank age out, refurbish or replace?

bobsallyh wrote:
One thing to keep in mind on the recert, if you are going to Canada, they do not accept our recert. Also new tanks need to be recerted after 10 years now. I have only seen two places that have a 30 lb. exchange. One was at an RV park in Bullhead City, AZ. and at the convenience store at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. And last July, the c-store 30's had disappeared and only 20's were available. I'm sure there is more around but few and far between. Also, the "Blue Rhino" exchange tanks are filled to less than 80%, so keep that in mind when deciding on exchange or recert.

Thanks for that information regarding Canada. I live in the Northwest and Canada is a possibility in the near future.

My tanks are made in USA, Feb. 07.

One thing to keep in mind on the recert, if you are going to Canada, they do not accept our recert. Also new tanks need to be recerted after 10 years now. I have only seen two places that have a 30 lb. exchange. One was at an RV park in Bullhead City, AZ. and at the convenience store at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. And last July, the c-store 30's had disappeared and only 20's were available. I'm sure there is more around but few and far between. Also, the "Blue Rhino" exchange tanks are filled to less than 80%, so keep that in mind when deciding on exchange or recert.

mbopp wrote:

bukhrn wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
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.

X-2, I had 4 20 lb tank recert. for free.
When you get one that's in too bad shape to be recertified, simply take it to one of those Blue Rhino exchange places and trade it in, $18.00 you get a Newer tank full of gas.

I get mine recertified. Aren't tanks from Blue Rhino a 15# fill?

Actually should be 16 lb, which is 80% of 20, tanks are filled to 80% for some safety reg.

KD4UPL wrote:
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.

Yep, most of the time, they don't even look.

Call your Local Farm Supply that sells Propane to get a quote. NOT very expensive from what I remember.

I’m super careful with propane. I replace.

bukhrn wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
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.

X-2, I had 4 20 lb tank recert. for free.
When you get one that's in too bad shape to be recertified, simply take it to one of those Blue Rhino exchange places and trade it in, $18.00 you get a Newer tank full of gas.

I get mine recertified. Aren't tanks from Blue Rhino a 15# fill?

Dutch_12078 wrote:
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.

X-2, I had 4 20 lb tank recert. for free.
When you get one that's in too bad shape to be recertified, simply take it to one of those Blue Rhino exchange places and trade it in, $18.00 you get a Newer tank full of gas.

As others have posted, recertification only lasts 5 years I think? If you know you will be using the tanks for more than the next 5 years, I suggest getting a new one.

I personally prefer to recertify. It is not too expensive.

I did some research a number of years back on this topic.
One consideration is the quality of the new tanks vs that of the old. Especially if it is made in China. Who knows where the steel came from? Can't beat good old Made in the USA.

The really old tanks were heavier, because the steel was thicker. Perhaps not an issue, but these things can become a bomb in a hard collision situation. Kinda like the way car fenders used to be thicker stronger steel.

Having said that, this likely applies to really old tanks, probably past what any of us own.

But, as mentioned, why dispose of a perfectly good tank when revalving it makes it like new again.