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Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 8:43 am
by Nobody
lrrowe wrote:I have the small tanks and I loved it when I could use it. It was great for portable usage. But it is now over 12 years old and the propane stations will not fill it anymore per the law. So now the high price becomes a serious "con". I am looking into refilling it myself but I realize that can be a risky process and I am not sure if I want to take that on. But then if you take the $59 and divide it over 12 years, then the $5.00 per year for this convenience is not so bad. Everything seems to be a compromise these days.


I'm pretty sure most propane dealers can recertify a cylinder. It is a simple matter of inspection. If the cylinder still has good paint, is not dented, or rusted/pitted severely especially around the collar or footring, it can be recertified for another 5 years, & another 5 years after that, & on & on, as long as it will pass inspection. Propane cylinders are certified for 12 years from date of manufacture, at which time they must either be 'salvaged' or recertified. Recertification (in the USA) is good for 5 years.

I have an 11# cylinder I bought when I built my TD in 2006. Think I paid around $35-40 for it. When it's 12years old I'll certainly have it recertified. Last one I had recertified cost I believe ten bucks or so (20# cylinder) which surely beats buying a new one for upwards of $70...

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:21 am
by lrrowe
gisclair615 wrote:Here's the link. Around $70 http://www.makariosrv.com/manchester-lp ... aQodlRgAHQ


Thanks.....looks like a good size, but the price will most likely slow me down.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:23 am
by lrrowe
Nobody wrote:
lrrowe wrote:I have the small tanks and I loved it when I could use it. It was great for portable usage. But it is now over 12 years old and the propane stations will not fill it anymore per the law. So now the high price becomes a serious "con". I am looking into refilling it myself but I realize that can be a risky process and I am not sure if I want to take that on. But then if you take the $59 and divide it over 12 years, then the $5.00 per year for this convenience is not so bad. Everything seems to be a compromise these days.


I'm pretty sure most propane dealers can recertify a cylinder. It is a simple matter of inspection. If the cylinder still has good paint, is not dented, or rusted/pitted severely especially around the collar or footring, it can be recertified for another 5 years, & another 5 years after that, & on & on, as long as it will pass inspection. Propane cylinders are certified for 12 years from date of manufacture, at which time they must either be 'salvaged' or recertified. Recertification (in the USA) is good for 5 years.

I have an 11# cylinder I bought when I built my TD in 2006. Think I paid around $35-40 for it. When it's 12years old I'll certainly have it recertified. Last one I had recertified cost I believe ten bucks or so (20# cylinder) which surely beats buying a new one for upwards of $70...


Hmmmmm, I did not know that. I will have to check around and see what I can find here in Virginia. Thanks for the tip.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 9:30 am
by MtnDon
2 things... 1. it needs to have an OPD valve retrofitting an OPD to a cylinder w/o one is not very cost effective) and 2. yes, a full service dealer can re-certify an outdated cylinder.Not everyone can do that.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 11:29 am
by GuitarPhotog
In the SF Bay area, finding someone to recertify an out of date propane tank was next to impossible so it was easier to just take the old one to the convenience store and swap it for a full tank. It still cost less than a recert. and a tank of propane.

<Chas>
:beer:

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Mon May 11, 2015 4:17 pm
by lrrowe
I was out today and planned on stopping at a propane wholesale business to see about mine. But my typical old age problem took over and I "forgot" to stop in. So I will try again. But I agree, for the standard size tank, it probably is easier just to swap it out for a another. However for my small tank, there is no swap out service. It is for that one that I am looking for a recertification.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2015 1:26 pm
by gisclair615
lrrowe wrote:
gisclair615 wrote:Here's the link. Around $70 http://www.makariosrv.com/manchester-lp ... aQodlRgAHQ


Thanks.....looks like a good size, but the price will most likely slow me down.

Yeah the price is steep but I can't find anything under 15" tall to fit my box besides a small 1 gallon and this 10lbs. I may have to settle for it. If it's good for 12yrs then I def got my $70 worth.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2015 1:41 pm
by MtnDon
Manchester tank makes horizontal 20# cylinders; about 12 1/4" . Not cheap either, but they fill a need.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2015 8:28 am
by gisclair615
I just purchased the Manchester 11lbs tank. I ordered it through ace hardware for $62 with tax. Free shipping to local ace hardware store.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2015 12:18 pm
by lrrowe
I stopped off today at a "propane and gas appliance store" and found out they do re-certifications for $10.99 each. I forgot to take my tank with me this morning, but will drop it off the next time I go that way. They are the only place in the area that does it, so I got lucky and found them on the first try.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Wed May 13, 2015 11:42 pm
by gisclair615
lrrowe wrote:I stopped off today at a "propane and gas appliance store" and found out they do re-certifications for $10.99 each. I forgot to take my tank with me this morning, but will drop it off the next time I go that way. They are the only place in the area that does it, so I got lucky and found them on the first try.

That's awesome. Hopefully when that time comes I can find someone who does it in my area.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Thu May 14, 2015 7:55 am
by lrrowe
Gisclair,
I have got to thank you for the original post. Had you not done so, and had we not had these varied reply posts, I would have never learned about tank recertification. It will save me many dollars not having to buy a new one. That is what is great about this forum.....others want to help a lot and many times the back and forth replies takes one into a direction where good things happen that were not the subject of the original post.

1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Fri May 15, 2015 10:04 am
by gisclair615
Don't thank me lol. There is a lot of good info on this site for CTC. Can't wait until mine is finish.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 10:39 am
by kludge
i LOVE my 10/11# tank. It's a squatty version of a 20# tank, fits in a milk crate (just like the 20#'ers) and is not much taller than the crate (just the protective ring).

too bad they think they are gold plated. I got mine with a small gas grill, so it was free when I got rid of the grill.

and the 5# tanks, forget it. they want like $80 for those suckers.

Re: 1 gallon propane tank?

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:22 pm
by Andrew Herrick
One other thing to consider is where you want to store the tank. 1-lb cylinders can be stored inside the camper (not preferable, I guess, but not too bad). Small 5- and 11-lb cylinders can be mounted on the exterior teardrop sidewall behind the fenders. Anything larger than that usually has to be stored in a tongue box.

Thanks for all the information on recertification, fellow posters! Big knowledge boost there.