Quick Math Problem

[Eugene]

Went to the local propane dealership for a $10- refill of a 20 lb cylinder. Was told that they had to check the date stamped on the ring around the top of the tank. If the tank was over 12 years old they couldn't fill it. Scraped and chipped the ring. Finally found the date stamp, 1977.

Clerk told me that I could get the tank recertified at a location about 70 miles round trip for $6-, and the recertification was good for 5 or 6 years. On the other hand the clerk would exchange my old tank for a filled one for $20-.

70 miles, 24 mpg, $6- for the recertification good for 5 or 6 years, then come back for the $10- fill. HUMM.

Paid the $20-. Sorted through the date stamps on the refilled tanks in the cage until I found one with a 2011 date stamp.

[Boss Hog]

I think you made about $7 or $8 bucks

[Winfield Dave]

[VinceD]

Good choice.

[Eugene]

I have owned that cylinder for perhaps 30 or more years. Refilled it many times. This was the first time I had heard of the 12 year expiration date or anyone checking for it.

I was really surprised would be an understatement.

[Bob McCarty]

All of ours turned over about 5-6 years ago when they added the overfill prevention device. I thought that was national. The price to have a tank tested and the new valve added way exceeded the cost of a new tank.

Bob

[Rudi]

Up here portable propane tanks have a 10 year life cycle. It has been law for almost a decade or more now. Once they reach 10 years of age must be turned in (I turn mine in at Costco and get a new tank for 20 bucks and 8 bucks for a refill), they recycle them via Di-Tech a local company that services Canada and the US surprisingly. So far I have had to recycle two tanks .... better safe than sorry I guess.

[DanR]

Back to the math. Here a new tank will cost you $35 and a refill old tank or new is $20. That's a $27 difference and a guarantee of a new tank. This might become a campaign issue.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

In this area when the new style valves became mandatory many of the exchange places would not take tanks with the old style valves. However after about 6 months to a year, they did not check as close and if you went in when they were pretty busy in the store the kid they would send out never bothered to look. Problem solved. I normally get my old tanks refiled rather than exchanged. If you read the signs at the exchange station their tanks normally only have 14 to 16 pounds of propane rather than 20 the tanks are designed to hold, plus refills are 19 to 20 pounds, and about $6 cheaper. You do the math. If you keep your tanks clean and rust free, they don't check the dates as closely as they do an old rusty one.

[DanR]

WOW, if you can get a tank refilled for $14 better get them all filled now before winter when prices go up. The new style valves are required for a safety reason. They have a dip stick that will not allow the tank to be filled to capacity. The exception to the valve issue is if the tank use used commercially. In that case the old style can be refilled to capacity. Only a propane dispenser can do this. Then the date stamp comes into play. Tanks are required to be inspected within 12 years of purchase. After that they are reinspected every 5-12 years depending on how the tank was inspected the first time around. The date code may or may not be followed with a letter code which says when the next inspection is due. I doubt that any refill exchange place would even know what that code means. Unlike gasoline or diesel which is sold at $ per gallon propane is priced at the amount purchased. A 100# tank would be $65 here so $0.65 per gallon. A 20# tank here is $20 or $1.00 per gallon. A 20# tank at $14 would be $0.70 per gallon. Then there the TARE stamp but I'm not going to get into that. Nor the propane dispensers license issued by OSHA. Bottom line is keep your tanks clean and without damage. And happy grilling!

[DanR]

Oops, I should have said per pound not gallon. Just take those prices X 4.1.