Propane Tank Recertification
I have a Lance camper with two 20# removable horizontal propane tanks. I believe that these are the type of tank that requires recertification every 12 years or so. Is that correct? I am also tol...
Forum Discussion
ralphnjoann wrote:
I took a 20# bottle to Tractor Supply for a refill. The guy wouldn't do it saying it needed recertification. When I asked where in town I could get this done, he said the easiest thing to do is take it to a convenience store that swaps an empty tank for a full one. You now have a full tank with current certification. I asked if this was illegal or unethical. He said "no." The propane sellers employ qualified people to recertify if need be. It's part of the cost of doing business.
That can be a good option, however I have usually found exchange service bottles to filled at less than capacity and to less than what a qualified distributor would fill the bottle to, notwithstanding the 80% volume requirement. Also, there is no guarantee that the exchange tank will have a long certification; it may be only good for less than a year, so soon you are back at the exchange outlet. The last exchange bottle I got had been painted so many times the stamped date was illegible. I don't know what will happen if I try to fill that tank.
