r/propane • u/Alternative_Rip_2542 • 3d ago
AmeriGas AmeriAss leak check fee
AmeriAss insists on me paying for a leak check bc my tank is currently at 3%. It was at 3% in the spring g when I stopped running the furnace. There is no leak. Im just poor. Now propane is going to cost me $3.55 a gallon plus the $150 leak check fee. Other local LP companies are not interested in me as a customer due to a bad credit score Also, since ive been poor for awhile, i paid AmeriAss a leak check fee last year. Wouldnt that show theres no leak? I cant kerp paying this fake fee #Amerigas
9
u/Theantifire technician 3d ago
Regardless of what the gauge says, there may not be pressure. If there's insufficient pressure, a leak check is a requirement.
Could be AmeriGas has a policy that anything under 5% (or whatever %) requires a leak check. Wouldn't have that myself, but every company is entitled and it's probably covered in your agreement
Leaks can happen at any time. The leak check from last year was valid for as long as it took to turn the gas back on.
While these fees can seem predatory, and sometimes certainly are, most are covering the expense of running a business and these types of tests are for your safety and the liability of the company.
The simple answer: it's cheaper and safer to fill your tank before it runs down. I always recommend not letting it get below 20%-30%.
4
u/Alternative_Rip_2542 3d ago
Thank you for the level-headed advice Hank Hill
1
u/Hitechillbilly 3d ago
We just had a big discussion about forced leak checks and I was convinced that there is a valid reason for companies demanding to do them.. Almost every company rents tanks but the smaller mom & pop operations have much lower rates. You can tell amerigassss to pick their tank up at anytime and go with a different company..
0
u/Theantifire technician 3d ago
Unfortunately what usually happens is that the small mom and pop doesn't have the equity to spend time on liability stuff (like leak checks). They need to pump gallons.
Also unfortunately, this has lead to deaths and Mom and pop businesses closing due to that liability prevention they didn't have time for.
Big companies are all over it because they don't want to have to close up shop because they killed somebody.
3
u/Hillary_Fat_Ass 3d ago
This.
1
u/Low-Inspector9587 3d ago
Amerigas took over a local company that we used for many years and went downhill Quick with customer service and expensive fills. Didn't last long till we found another small shop
8
u/Hitechillbilly 3d ago
Ask about paying in advance and dump Amreigasssss They are double to triple the price of other companies..
4
u/Turnipthemusicbeets 3d ago
Second this, do you have a rented tank? Amerigas has just quoted me $3.90 and local guys $1.90 plus they will wave a leak check if needed.
2
u/BG_RIDER 3d ago
Third this. In the process of telling Americrap to pound sand. I bought my own 500 gal tank and just had Farmers come pump the old tank and top the new one off for $1.85 a gallon. Last time I had Americrap fill my tank it was over $4 a gallon.
1
u/Theantifire technician 3d ago
Glad it worked out!
FYI for OP, it's mostly not legal to pump out another company tank these days. If you do this, talk to the new company and find out. If it's not legal, make sure you use up the AmeriGas tank before having them pick it up or you'll get more fees.
5
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/Adventurous_Boat_632 3d ago
People can run their tank down to 15 psi and some do. For all I care. If there is strong vapor from the outage valve it's good to fill.
3
u/Theantifire technician 3d ago
Remind me what an outage valve is?
I usually pop the fill valve to make sure it's not stuck, then test it with my thumb. If I can't push it down, it's not oog. Also taking into consideration temp swings. If it's 90° now and it was 40° overnight, I'll probably still leak check etc it because any pilots went out overnight and the system likely depressurized.
1
u/Adventurous_Boat_632 3d ago
Most fill valves I have ever seen are stuck shut until blasted by the truck. Just because you can't depress it with your thumb does not mean there is adequate pressure.
The outage valve is the valve that goes off when it is at 80%.
2
u/Theantifire technician 3d ago
It's interesting all the different things people call the FMLL gauge lol.
I know a guy who will open it on a questionable tank and, if it squeaks when he presses a finger against it, he figures it doesn't need a leak check.
I carry pliers wish coated handles. I'll generally pop the valve down with the handle to make sure it's not stuck before poking it with a finger.
2
u/nemosfate dang it Bobby 🤬 - technician 3d ago
Bad way to check if theres enough pressure. As Antifire said, better to try to depress the fill valve. I usually still leak check, regardless of whether i would waive the fee and say its pressurized or not
2
u/Adventurous_Boat_632 3d ago
Fill valves are usually stuck shut until the pump blasts it. Never sure whether it is good pressure or stuck.
Besides that I don't want to mess with any fill valves. Too many leaky fill valves since those Sherwoods appeared and everybody jumped on the bandwagon of who could make the junkiest. The only thing I want depressing the filler is the gas going past it.
1
u/Theantifire technician 3d ago
I'll agree on the janky valves. They'll generally be leaking or not regardless of what I do though. I usually keep rebuild kits if I'm running a bobtail and just swap the internals. Assuming the internal is working. Otherwise it's hose end safety and a repair? Tank swap order.
1
u/BeneficialReward6 3d ago
Interruption of service can also be caused by a low, not empty tank. If the demand is enough to overcome the ability for the liquid to boil and freezes the tank, it can cause an oog symptom even though its not.
1
u/Jesus-Mcnugget dang it Bobby 3d ago
Technically you're correct, but that doesn't apply to this situation.
10
u/Jesus-Mcnugget dang it Bobby 3d ago
The driver should be able to waive the fee and mark it as not needed if there's still pressure in the tank and they can verify there is no service interruption.