Propane Tank Recertification

Why would anyone not want to replace them after 12 years? Propane is very volatile and unforgiving. Replace the tank(s) and forget re-certification!

I had 2 - 20 lb cylinders and 1 - 6 lb cylinder recertified. I had to really look around to find someone that would/could do it and found a distributer that would do it for $5 each (visual inspection) for the whopping total of $15. It only took a few minutes.

Bill.Satellite wrote:

footslogger wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
For that money you could buy new tanks. The last place that gave me info on a re-certification said it was $25.

Apparently prices for re-certification vary widely by region and/or dealer. There is an LP distributor near my home that will perform a re-certification for $5.00.

I am sure it does! I just knew that $250 was not the right number in any circumstance.

The $250 was for a replacement horizontal DOT cylinder, not a recertification. $250 is not unusual for a horizontal cylinder, although here's a 30 pounder on Amazon for just $196.23.

DOT PORTABLE PROPANE CYLINDER

footslogger wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
For that money you could buy new tanks. The last place that gave me info on a re-certification said it was $25.

Apparently prices for re-certification vary widely by region and/or dealer. There is an LP distributor near my home that will perform a re-certification for $5.00.

I am sure it does! I just knew that $250 was not the right number in any circumstance.

It may have been in another thread here, but it has been pointed out that if you go shopping for a 20# Cylinder at Lowes or Home Depot, it might pay to check the manufacturing date stamped on the cylinder's collar... your 12 years starts with that date. Some of the bottles may have been manufactured two or more years ago.

Also, the $30 20# bottles at Home Depot had a sticker with a date saying they had been purged on that date and if filled with six months (IIRC) no need to purge again.

Portable generators can be subject to reduced power when using a bottle that has been filled without either being purged of air or at least vented. YMMV

Thanks for all your help. I found a place a few miles from my house that can do recertification at a reasonable fee.

Happy Camping

Bill.Satellite wrote:
For that money you could buy new tanks. The last place that gave me info on a re-certification said it was $25.

Apparently prices for re-certification vary widely by region and/or dealer. There is an LP distributor near my home that will perform a re-certification for $5.00.

DOT tanks are portable 5 thru 420# containers. ASME tanks a permanint mount tanks
250 gal all the way thru 90,000 gallons or more.
If you will look on the collar of your cylinder you will see a date EX 5/14 or similar. That is the original manufacturer date, if it has been re certified you will see another date stamped or etched on it Ex 5-14E The E denotes a visual inspection good for 5 years. All new recerts will also have a sticker with a RIN # (requalifiers indentificatin number) That is how DOT tracks people who do inspections.
And your right most people in the industry dont understand it or dont want to mess with it.

69 Avion wrote:
DOT tanks need to be recertified. ASME tanks don't.

There's a lot of confusing information on this and I'm sure the people who fill tanks probably don't understand all the rules which contributes to the confusion.

I've searched but haven't found any clear documentation, but I have seen in a number of places that ASME tanks don't need recertification, but they do need a periodic inspection (10 years I think). Some places won't fill these tanks without proof of an inspection. I'm not sure what form that proof needs to be in though - label on the tank? piece of paper one presents at the time of filling?

DOT cylinders need to be recertified 12 years after date of original manufacture
That re cert can be visual good for 5 years (most common) or modified hydrostat good for 7 year (uncommon) Call your local LP Gas supplier and ask them if they will recertify dot tanks before you drive all over town, some will not do it because of liability, and record keeping requirements.
Good luck