The Original Airstream E-mail List

The Original Airstream E-mail List

Archive Files


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [a/s] propane tanks & regulations



A comment or two....
A new 30# steel tank is in the "under a hundred" dollar category depending on the dealer...(75)  plus purge and gas...
 
Certification was fairly sloppy in the past with dealers allowed to certify... some very carefully stamped the tanks and some used an engraver... there was a post of a paper tag attached to a tank.... some owners certified their own by engraving the MM-YY format on the top tank guard....(dealers now forbidden by law to certify tanks... since 98 I think...so must be back up the food chain somewhat)
 
I you go the recertify route and get new valves at the same time you will have spent most of the 100 and have a tank that is at least 12 years old and has some rust...(??)  With the all aluminum tank, I think the cost of the tank makes the recertify route an easier choice...( I have been quoted as high as 350 for a new aluminum tank with a new valve... )
 
If you catch a new steel tank on sale at one of the outlets, this might push you in the new tank direction...
 
On the scarier side... if the tank was dormant for some time... empty with the valve open... moisture condensed on the inside... rusting began from the inside like an air tank...since the pressure at high temp is just over 200 # for propane.. the tank is not much heavier than an air tank...how much rust is too much???
 
My tanks are in the same situation and I can see some rust around the outlet and have talked myself into new tanks...Aluminum , maybe... but new for sure....
 
Let us know what you decide...(and why)....
 
Jim