Replacing LP tank in motorhome

[Scottiemom]

My sister and her husband are on a trip from Indiana to Las Vegas in their 1997 Class C. They've not had problems with snow/rain but it has been cold. First night out (Dec. 26) they heard a "pop" and attributed it to one of the dogs dropping a bone on the floor. Spent the night in a campground and used the gas furnace and auxiliary electric heater.

Yesterday morning got up and started driving. Around 11 a.m. they were near Joplin, Missouri, when they heard the "pop" again. They knew then it wasn't a dog bone on the floor, but didn't know what it was. The next time they heard the "pop," they started smelling propane. They immediately got off the highway and my BIL inspected but could not find anything amiss with the propane tank. Sister got on her smart phone (don't you love these things?) and found 3 RV service centers. Called one and they said they were about 40 miles away and if they could get there, they had someone who could inspect and repair the tank. BIL opened all the windows and they sped away. I don't know the name of the service center, but their SIL looked it up and said of the 3 in the area, it had the best ratings.

The tech pulled the coach in the garage and got under it. While he was there, the "pop" sounded again. A secretary came running from the office having "seen something" (I'm guessing flame maybe). The tech came out from under it and said he was pulling it out of the garage because he was afraid of what would happen.

So, they found a leaking pressure relief valve. Okay. But the service center told my sister and BIL that the stationery tanks on the motorhomes were required BY LAW to be REPLACED every 10 years. Huh? I said, "Perhaps they meant inspected." She said no. The people there told them they were to be inspected EVERY YEAR and REPLACED every 10 years and their motorhome which they bought new and have always stored inside is 20 years old and it had never been replaced.

Now, we are sitting here in our Phaeton and it has a 12 year old tank which we've never changed, and never had inspected. My DH said this was not true. DOT tanks, like your grill tank, etc., must follow the inspection and replacement rules governed by DOT, but the motorhome stationery tanks are covered under ASME rules. I did some research last night and found this to be true.

My sister asked them to just remove the tank then, cap the lines and they would get it fixed (when they could do some of their own research). They refused saying that was against the law, a removed tank must be replaced with a new tank. One cannot remove and cap the lines. No other option.

But instead of just replacing the pressure relief valve, they are going to replace the entire tank and all the fittings and gas lines, because of rust and because it's past the "10-year rule." DH says he is sure it will cost them over $1000. In the meantime, sister and BIL rented a car and are driving the rest of the way to Las Vegas and will pick up the motorhome on their return as parts were not readily available.

We once had a fill valve replaced on a Class C tank, no problem. DH said that if they had gone to a propane business, they would have gotten the tank fixed.

Sister said there is rust on the tank and they told her and BIL that rust is a no-no and that again was a reason to replace it. I read where people clean and repaint them. It is possible to have a defective tank, but in their case, it is the pressure relief valve leaking.

Beware out there.

Dale

[Scottiemom]

When I find out the name I will post it, but my sister and BIL are not upset with them. They think replacing the tank saved them from blowing up. And they believe everything the service center told them about the tank being bad and unfixable due to the pressure relief valve leaking. They are not interested in hearing anything else. I kind of liken it to replacing an engine when a wire popped off.

Also, I wouldn't want to have people making it hard for them to settle up once they get back.

Dale

[Pirate1]

So we have this big forum with many members. It would be nice to see the name of the place and perhaps an email address. I would like to shame them and if enough of us shame them, perhaps they will refund the theft money.

[dougrainer]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:

gbopp wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:
Well, my sister and her husband left the coach there for the "necessary" repair

I would tell the serice center to write on the bill, the repair was MANDATED BY LAW and the statute number/section.

x2

I'd definitely pursue legal action, or at least threaten it. The deception may not have been intentional, but it resulted in a costly and unnecessary expense.

Fraud!

As to the Service Center NOT Knowing or misinformed....BS!!

They are in the business. They are liable especially when they STATE there is a LAW that 'Requires' replacement of tank.

FRAUD..........knowingly with intent





Doug////
What is the 'emergency BLOW' that can not be replaced??

On the bottom side of the tank. Doug

The safety relief valve is one of the most important and vital valves on any LP Gas container. All propane tanks and cylinders are required by law to be fitted with pressure relief devices designed to relieve excess pressure. The function of a safety relief valve is to keep a propane tank from rupturing in the unlikely event of excessive pressure buildup. Propane tank relief valves are also known as pop off valves, pressure venting valves or relief valves.

[DiskDoctr]

gbopp wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:
Well, my sister and her husband left the coach there for the "necessary" repair

I would tell the serice center to write on the bill, the repair was MANDATED BY LAW and the statute number/section.

^^THIS^^

Then you can do your own research and recoup any ill-gotten-gains, if there were any.

[beemerphile1]

The shop is either a thief or uneducated, either way they should have gone elsewhere.

I also suspect that the work either won't be done as described or will be done wrong due to incompetence.

[Kayteg1]

I hope they got the inspection results and estimate in writing.
Not sure how it changes between the states, but there is a law requiring written estimate on all jobs bigger than certain amount.

[Old-Biscuit]

turbojimmy wrote:

gbopp wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:
Well, my sister and her husband left the coach there for the "necessary" repair

I would tell the serice center to write on the bill, the repair was MANDATED BY LAW and the statute number/section.

x2

I'd definitely pursue legal action, or at least threaten it. The deception may not have been intentional, but it resulted in a costly and unnecessary expense.

Fraud!

As to the Service Center NOT Knowing or misinformed....BS!!

They are in the business. They are liable especially when they STATE there is a LAW that 'Requires' replacement of tank.

FRAUD..........knowingly with intent





Doug////
What is the 'emergency BLOW' that can not be replaced??

[turbojimmy]

gbopp wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:
Well, my sister and her husband left the coach there for the "necessary" repair

I would tell the serice center to write on the bill, the repair was MANDATED BY LAW and the statute number/section.

x2

I'd definitely pursue legal action, or at least threaten it. The deception may not have been intentional, but it resulted in a costly and unnecessary expense.

[gbopp]

Scottiemom wrote:
Well, my sister and her husband left the coach there for the "necessary" repair

I would tell the serice center to write on the bill, the repair was MANDATED BY LAW and the statute number/section.

[Scottiemom]

Well, my sister and her husband left the coach there for the "necessary" repair and they rented a car to travel to their daughter's in Las Vegas. On their return, they will pick up the repaired motorhome and head back to Indiana. I will try to find out the name of the place. She couldn't remember last night and she was driving, so will have to report back.

We full time in our 12 year old coach and we would have done what is suggested. . . we would have found a propane dealer to repair the valve. I would have been much more comfortable with that.

But sister and BIL are on a 7-10 day trip and didn't have time to check it out further. Too bad.

Dale

[turbojimmy]

dougrainer wrote:
JAXDAD


READ your statement again. I think you will realize how ridiculous it sounds. REPLACE all the LINES, APPLIANCES and ASME tank every 5 years???????? That would cost upwards of 5000 dollars and more. Doug

Yeah, it's INSPECTED, not replaced. Makes much more sense:

"....will require RVs equipped with permanently mounted propane tanks to have the propane appliances, propane piping system and tank inspected on a five-year cycle."

https://fuelslc.com/2016/02/inspection-of-propane-systems-on-recreational-vehicles/

[dougrainer]

I don't think the service center is ripping them off knowingly. I believe they do NOT really know the LP standards and laws. There are a LOT of postings on various forums about so called RV service centers and even LP fillers that state there is no difference between the DOT tanks and ASMKE tanks as it pertains to inspection and certifications. There IS. ASME tanks require no certifications at all. It is up to the LP fillers to notice any part or problem with as ASME tank when filling. ALL screw/bolt in parts on an ASME tank can be serviced and replaced except the emergency BLOW which if blown, odds are the Motorhome will not be around much longer

[dougrainer]

JAXDAD


READ your statement again. I think you will realize how ridiculous it sounds. REPLACE all the LINES, APPLIANCES and ASME tank every 5 years???????? That would cost upwards of 5000 dollars and more. Doug

[gbopp]

Can you get and post the name of the service center? Someone may have more info or experience with the center.

[Old-Biscuit]

ASME Propane tanks fall under the NFPA Jurisdiction which 'recommends' that the Pressure Relief Valve be replaced every 10 years.....but that us only a recommendation NOT a requirement.

Only time an ASME tank HAS to be replaced is it damaged from an accident/fire etc or rusted thru.

Clean up surface rust, repaint and replace relief valve---good to go.

And I would write a bad service review on that rip off joint.
They should be able to provide the documentation showing the requirement to replace tank at 10 years......hahahaha