The date of manufacturing or requalification of a propane tank is stamped on its collar. It will be written in a month-year format, such as 06-21 for June 2021.
Is it true that propane tanks have an expiration date?
Spring will arrive sooner than you think. That means more time outside, blooming flowers, and, of course, grilling.
Before you light up your grill for the season, there are a few things you should know about the propane tank.
Look carefully at the date stamped on the tank’s top. That was the year your tank received its certification. If your propane tank was certified more than 12 years ago, propane suppliers will not fill it.
It’s a precautionary measure. Leaks, rust, punctures, and other safety issues may exist in old tanks. Expiration dates also verify that your tank has received the most recent valve safety update.
You have two options if your tank is running out of gas. You may be able to recertify the tank depending on its safety features and the date of initial certification. This gives it another five years before it expires.
On a 20-pound propane tank, where is the date?
What if you try to fill up your propane tank and they tell you it’s expired? Propane tanks, due to our federal government, are required to be replaced every 12 years. A warning about it is even stamped on the upper ring of certain tanks. This law is based on safety concerns, according to them. So, what do you do with a 20-pound propane tank that has run out of gas?
On the top ring of all newly made 20 pound propane tanks is a date stamp (see image above). This is the year the tank was built. The expiration date is calculated by adding 12 years to that date. The expiration date for our tank seen above is 02/2026 because the date is 02/2014.
How can you read the number on a propane tank?
In Connecticut, we’re in the midst of outdoor living season, so it’s time to fire up your propane BBQ grill! Simply ensure that you have extra gas for your next summer BBQ.
However, as any veteran propane griller knows, most 20-pound propane barbecue cylinders lack a gauge, necessitating the use of another method to determine how much fuel is available in your tank.
1. Make use of warm water. This safe and straightforward method for determining how much propane is left in your tank was given by the FiX IT Home Improvement Channel. To accomplish this,
The fill level of the tank is at the top of the cold spot (it’s cool because liquid propane inside the tank absorbs heat from the water, making the tank’s metal wall cool to the touch).
2. Check the tank’s weight. The water capacity (“WC”) and “Tare Weight” (TW the weight of the tank when empty) are both stamped on the handle of most propane grill tanks. When empty, most grilling tanks weigh around 17 pounds and store around 20 pounds of gas.
Simply weigh your tank on a scale and subtract the TW number to find out how much propane is left in it. For example, if a 27-pound tank has a TW of 17 pounds, there’s about 10 pounds of gas left just over half a tank.
3. Install a gauge on the outside of the building. Options for external propane tank gauges include:
- Installed between the gas line from the grill and the tank’s cut-off valve, inline pressure gauges measure pressures to determine how full the tank is.
- Analog propane scales resemble luggage scales and are pre-programmed to account for your tank’s TW.
- A digital display of remaining cook time and gas fill percentage is provided by digital propane tank scales. Some even have apps for smart phones.
Choose a gauge that you like (they’re available at your local hardware shop and on Amazon) and try it out!
Don’t be burned by your propane tank; use these tips to figure out how much gas is left in your tank before your next summer get-together! Don’t worry if you run out of propane; simply visit one of our Connecticut showrooms for a propane cylinder refill!
When it comes to propane tanks, how can you know if they’ve been recertified?
If your tank doesn’t have a letter after the date, it was inspected using a process known as “external hydrostatic expansion.” This means you should get it requalified within 12 years of the tank’s manufacture date.
How long can a 20-pound propane tank be stored?
We get asked all the time how long propane can be stored before it spoils.
The basic reason is that propane has a long lifespan. It is, in fact, one of the most storage-friendly, reliable, and durable energy sources currently available. Propane has an unusually long shelf life because it has no expiration date and does not degrade or lose its potency over time. To clarify, “shelf life” is defined as “the amount of time a commodity can be stored before it becomes unfit for use, consumption, or sale” (Wikipedia). Unlike diesel, which has a one-year shelf life and gasoline, which has a three- to six-month shelf life, propane can be stored indefinitely, making it a highly effective and convenient fuel for both residential and commercial applications, as well as an excellent partner in emergency preparedness plans.
Furthermore, the cylinders in which propane is kept have a very long shelf life. This is why propane cylinders must be recertified by a skilled propane technician on a regular basis. When regular cylinder maintenance is followed, it is possible to get 30 or 40 years out of a stored propane tank.
Home heating, portable cylinders for BBQ and gardening/landscaping, space heating, forklift, autogas, and emergency preparedness are just a few instances of how propane outperforms other fuels in terms of convenience and longevity.
Oil-fired heating systems are colossal, filthy behemoths that take up valuable space and necessitate regular maintenance. If heating oil is stored for an extended period of time, it might become dangerous. What is “too much time”? Think 18 months or fewer, depending on how properly it was stored in the first place.
BBQ cylinders are widely used. They’re lightweight, portable, refillable, and easy to store. They can last for years if stored properly, with no need for replacements or additives.
Propane in portable, tiny cylinders up to and including 1,000 gallon cylinders can be used for emergency preparedness.
Space heaters and generators powered by diesel or gasoline emit a foul odor, can cause messy spills and stains, and must be replaced on a regular basis. However, not propane! Its long shelf life makes it an ideal fuel for portable use or powerful backup generator systems that can power a whole house.
It’s no surprise that propane is popular among homeowners and businesses because of its convenience, versatility, and peace of mind.
Visit our Residential and Commercial sections to learn more about all the wonderful things propane can do for you.
At Paraco, we’ve got you covered with daily fuel.
Do Coleman propane tanks have a shelf life?
Yes. The expiration date is written on every Coleman propane tank. The tank has a shelf life of up to 7 years provided it is not opened. The gas should be utilized within two years of opening it before you need to vent and replenish it.
What is the best way to read a gas tank?
If you’re a will-call customer who handles your own heating oil or propane delivery, one easy but crucial task is to monitor your fuel gauge. But how do you go about reading one?
The good news is that reading a fuel gauge is simple whether you use heating oil or propane. Here are the fundamentals if you haven’t tried it yet.
For Heating Oil Tanks:
- The gauge on your heating oil tank is usually a clear glass or cylinder towards the top of the tank. The cylinder is frequently labeled with numbers, such as F, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4. A red or yellow marker or float indicates how much fuel is left in your tank; if the marker is at the bottom of the gauge or is not visible, your tank is empty or nearly empty.
- The most typical heating oil tank size is 275 gallons, but keep in mind that heating oil tanks require space for air and non-combustible material that collects at the bottom. Most 275-gallon tanks only store approximately 240 gallons of fuel, which means you only have about 120 gallons left after your tank is half-full (not 140 or so).
- The weather, the effectiveness of your heating equipment, and the air tightness of your home, to name a few, will all influence how quickly you use up your heating oil. But here’s a ballpark figure: A 2,500 square foot house will use roughly 6-7 gallons of heating oil per day if outdoor temperatures average 32 during a 24-hour period.
For Propane Tanks:
- A built-in fuel gauge is commonly found under the tank dome or cover on domestic propane tanks and bigger propane cylinders.
- The gauge is usually a circular dial with numerals that display the percentage of the tank that is full, similar to a car’s gauge. Because propane gas expands as temperatures rise, most gauges read from 0 to around 95%; tanks are never filled to 100% capacity (space must be provided to allow for the expansion).
How can I tell if my 20-pound propane tank is running out of gas?
1. What should you do if your propane tank has run out?
When those 12 years are over, you have the option of replacing the tank or having it inspected for requalification for another five years of use.
2. What is the expiration date of the propane tank?
3. How should old propane tanks be disposed of?
Propane tanks with a volume of 100 pounds or less have a 12-year shelf life from the date of manufacturing. When those 12 years are over, you have the option of replacing the tank or having it inspected for requalification for another five years of use.
4. What is the average lifespan of a tank?
Propane tanks with a volume of 100 pounds or less have a 12-year shelf life from the date of manufacturing.
5. Do all tanks have an expiration date?
Large propane tanks used for residential heating and hot water are restricted by federal container restrictions in most states. According to the legislation, a propane tank can only be filled by the owner or someone authorized to act on their behalf. In practice, this means that the majority of household propane users lease their tank from a fuel supplier, who is responsible for keeping track of the tank’s expiration date.
6. Where can I have my propane tanks recertified?
Is it possible to recertify a propane tank more than once?
The “requalification” date, often known as the “retest” date, is a crucial date for fillers and/or consumers to remember. Depending on the cylinder type, condition, and previous requalification procedure, propane cylinders must be requalified or replaced every 5 to 10 years.