…and they’re both more than twelve years past their manufacturing date.
They each bear a label indicating that they need to be recertified if more than twelve years have passed since the date of manufacture. What’s involved in that? Is it cheaper to just go out and buy a new tank?
Thanks in advance for knowledgeable responses.
This might be either standard practice or unbearably cheesy, but do you have the option in your area of something like Blue Rhino, where you drop off your empty tank and pick up a used refilled one?
It is available, but not appealing to me if having two tanks of my own remains an option.
Also, I thought I was putting this in GQ. Allow me to report it and ask for a venue change.
We sell tanks and refill them. Easiest just to buy the tanks, I think we sell a new, filled tank for around $50.
Moved to GQ and the dupe closed.
I might be mistaken, but my understanding is once you trade in a tank you own, the new, filled tank is yours to do with as you please. IOW, you own it now. It might not be ethical to trade in a tank that has to be either tested or discarded, however. OTOH, sooner or later, a customer is going to get a tank that has reached the end of its useful life. Surely that customer isn’t expected to buy a new tank rather than return the one he received?
This is my understanding as well. The propane exchange tanks are yours to do whatever you want with. The only drawback IME is that it is more expensive than just having one re-filled. In the 4 or 5 times than I’ve used Blue Rhino, I’ve never had them look for a date on the tank. I assume that the Blue Rhino people just include the cost for expired tanks in their business model.
Here’s a link to an outfit that does tank re-certification. They do a complete inspection, leak test, and replace the overpressure relief valve.
Could be, depending on the size of the tank. The link mentions a cost of $55 and up.
If you want to own tanks, then you need to go buy new ones and chuck the old ones.
The hazard to swapping tanks with Blue Rhino or similar services is that some of these companies use special valves that can’t be refilled at the local gas station or rental shop, so you’re locked into a long relationship with the exchange company. Also, they only put 15 pounds of propane in a tank. They don’t hide this, but if you’re used to the days when a grill tank held 20 pounds, you may be in for a surprise.
I think the valve design was changed a few years ago. Your grill might not be compatible with the new tanks from Blue Rhino. If so, then your only options might be recertfying, vs buying new everything.
The exchange system has its value, but I’d rather have my own tanks and care for them.
My main grill is natural gas, but I have some other uses for LP tanks, so I have this or something similar on them.
I may have an extra or two if you want one.
The new valve design still works with old BBQ stuff. The old way used internal reverse threads and the new ones use an external “correct” thread. Those reverse threads are still in there. You just don’t notice them 'cause you ain’t using them.
Just exchange them, the new ones you get are yours to keep and will be up to date. It won’t cost that much more than getting a tank filled up. Nothing at all unethical about it. Blue Rhino, or whoever will take them, check them, re-stamp them and put them back in service. That is what they do.
I just had my tanks recertified. I dropped them off at the local gas company on my way to work and picked them up on the way home. Cost, less than $20 each including 4.2 gallons of propane. Any company that does home delivery can recertify.
The Blue Rino outfits are expensive. They are more per gallon and you never know if you get a full tank.
I think it is likely that a great many places wouldn’t even bother to check this label and would just go ahead and refill them.
Not sure what I’m going to do now. I called the place where I usually get refilled and was advised against recertification. So this afternoon I was out looking for a Blue Rhino dealer, and found that none of their tanks is compatible with the quick disconnect nipple on my grill.
And Home Depot has no adapter that goes from quick-disconnect to standard propane tank fitting.
So now I’m wondering if I can even keep using the grill at all. I could go to get a recert on the tanks, but one of the steps is to replace the valve body. But will valve bodies with quick-disconnect collars be available?
Something’s not sounding right. The QCC fitting (the big plastic nut you screw on by hand) has been standard for grills and small campers for well over 10 years. Probably getting close to 20 years by now.
POL fittings are the more or less thumb-sized left-hand threads that continue to live on, cleverly nestled within the valve body.
I wouldn’t expect a Home Depot to have much in the way of propane fittings. If you need to adapt things, go to an RV/camper shop.
Can you post a picture of your fitting? I used to have a grill that used a fitting that looked like an air hose QD fitting, but a different size.
This is what I’m talking about.
Is this it?
If you can find a real propane store, with propane accessories, you can probably find either a new hose for your grill or an adaptor. My tank had the female fitting to match my photo, so I needed the adaptor when I bought a new grill. I bought mine at a farm supply store.
If that’s what you need, I can check there today and ship you one priority mail tomorrow.
That’s the one.