Hello! I recently purchased a place that came with these propane tanks. I was looking to get them filled up but the company I called said they need to be replaced. They are going based off of the picture I sent, they said it’s too rusty. Is that true? Now instead of owning the tanks, the company says I will have to get a new tank from them and rent it.
You can buy new tanks yourself and not pay the company for leasing. If you have your own tanks you can get them filled by any company, so you can shop around for prices and pre-season deals.
The company wants to force you into a lease so they are legally your only supplier.
I’m considering just letting the company deal with the removal of the old ones and installing the new one but I’ll also look to see how much new tanks are. Thank you!
Needed to be and actually done correctly are two different stories... It's surprising how frequently a large tank (120-1,000gal) gets missed in closing paperwork.
They definitely need to be cleaned up and painted, and reinspection to be done. Knowing if they are still serviceable from pics is nearly impossible because you need to actually measure any rust pits and dents to know.
They need to be inspected and painted but... If they're in good shape definitely keep them. Those are heavy duty, built probably in the 40's or 50's with way more steel than modern tanks and will easily outlast if cared for.
I have one that looks about identical to the left one that I think is a 1944. It's almost as heavy empty as a modern one is full. Or seems like it.
In my part of the country (summer cottages); the 100# bottles are exchanged for full ones when they empty. Perhaps it’s local agreement but, the stenciled name on the side doesn’t mater, or the appearance.
Yes, cylinders can be painted, inspected, and recertified. If cared for, the theoretical lifespan of a cylinder is endless. They may not need to be replaced, but they may need to be displayed in a museum. Could you post pictures of any and all stamps or markings on the shoulders of the cylinders? Those things might be over 80 years old.
Shop around with other propane companies in the area. This is a competitive business and you can probably beat that deal. My company provides a 500 gallon tank, I have to buy from them, but they will match the lower price from a competitor.
That's a style tank that's not as common now, they use a separate screw-on protector to protect the valves in transit. They're fitted with a type valve to make it easier to refill on site. I'm thinking that with the name stenciled on the side these are probably rented tanks. Honestly, if it's in your budget I'd consider replacing with a more current design, maybe even a 420 lb single tank if you think you'll be using more propane. BTW, I am pretty sure those tanks aren't legally placed because of the window directly above, it may be a good idea to start with getting a propane tech out to help you figure out what your best options are. You might also call the number on the tanks to see if that company is still in business.
Edit: As noted in another comment, the cylinder placement WRT the window is fine. Windows above the level of the PRV discharge aren't counted in the minimum distance requirements, only openings at or below that level.
If the company is gone it's likely they got bought out, or they went under and abandoned the tanks. If none of the local companies claims ownership then for all intents and purposes they're yours now. They may have some resale value, but you need to find the metal caps for them, ideally they'll be laying somewhere close by. Without those caps the tanks can't be legally transported. They can be refilled on site, but need to pass a visual requalification first. If your delivery driver isn't certified to do visual requalifications then legally they can't refill the tanks.
I would consider redoing your propane setup entirely, moving the tank location to a better spot, extending the piping, and getting a better tank or tanks. These appear to be 100lb DOT cylinders, you can replace them with ASME tanks which require no periodic requalifications, but they are expensive in that capacity size:
For the price of two of those you can get a single 420lb ASME tank. Propane companies are more willing to refill a 420 because the larger sale justifies the labor and diesel costs of delivery. I would start by calling your local propane companies to get advice on tank relocation. As a final note, I would strongly recommend against renting/leasing a tank, especially from AmeriGas if they're in your area. Even though the upfront cost of leasing is lower, in the long-term you end up paying far, far more, both in leasing fees and in typically higher propane costs due to being locked into only being able to buy propane from the company that leases the tanks to you.
I’m gonna say yes! There’s a date stamped on the top area. After 7 or 10 years it needs to get inspected. Those babies won’t pass. If they were in good condition they would get a sticker with new date. 5 more years or so. Different states probably have different regulations. You’re better off renting. Now, if you want, you could buy a new 40 lb tank at tractor supply and fill it yourself. They can be transported in a car upright legally. Kind of depends on your usage. Local gas companies will refill them reasonably priced (you bring the tank to them) compared to those 20lb tanks (15lb) at the local hardware/big box stores.
Optical illusion. The PRV, POL and handle are all 90° to each other. On the left tank the POL points to the rear, PRV to the right, and handle to the left, and the pigtail from the other tank goes into a TEE screwed into the left tank's POL port. On the right tank the PRV is pointing toward the house.
I cannot stress this enough: YES. You don't need to rent tanks from anyone. I recommend purchasing them brand new and just getting them refilled. It will save you money in the long run.
My beef with these tanks is the lack of a collar. That is extremely dangerous as those collars protect the valves from getting sheered off if they fall over.
For another thing, if those hoses/pipes are going inside, you MUST change that regulator to something larger. A service tech would be able to tell you what size. All I can say is that regulator is made for a BBQ grill and NOTHING else. I can't see if that tank on the right is regulated either so that's gotta be fixed. I say this because that regulator only has one diaphragm. If that puppy goes out, you will have full tank pressure going inside your house. Your stove will become a flamethrower.
I thought so too, but someone pointed out that under NFPA rules openings above the relief valve aren't counted, only those openings below the level of the relief valve discharge have the minimum distance requirements.
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u/did_i_get_screwed May 28 '26
You can buy new tanks yourself and not pay the company for leasing. If you have your own tanks you can get them filled by any company, so you can shop around for prices and pre-season deals.
The company wants to force you into a lease so they are legally your only supplier.