Propane tanks ??

[Uncle Bill]

Can I return (trade in) outdated fuel tanks at Fleet farm, home depot ?? how much can i expect to pay ?? Will I need some type of adaptor for the sun spot style heater ??
Thanks in advance!!

[Zimm]

I would double check with the company that fills your tank before you spend the money. I just filled a 100# 2-20# and a 5# cylinder last night and the guy said it is a wait and see issue. They are still filling the old tanks until they hear something different. It is my understanding that they can't get this issue through the house to pass the law. I am no politician, so I am holding strong until they tell me I need to change. Hope this helps. Zimm

[kb1965]

Menards in St. Cloud does a tank exchange for $16. These are filled tanks and equipped with the new valves also.

[Guest]

It passed into law over a year ago and was put into effect this year. If you found a place that is telling you it is a wait and see issue they are breaking the law...not saying I agree or disagree with it but, it was put into law this year feb or april I think.

[Grabs]

This is really in a wait and see state. The manufacture of the valves is not able to produce valves fast enough so they have given the go ahead to the gas stations to fill them otherwise they could lose to much business not being able to have new tanks to fill.

[icedog]

In my area they are enforcing the OPV law which states that you cannot use the old non-protected valve tanks any more. I have not heard anywhere that this is being waived due to inability to produce the valves. Might just be a local issue?
dog

[woodman]

Try Walmart, they have a pretty good exchange deal with the old valves.

Woodman

[doubleUcubed]

Does the law state that you can't use the old style for your own filling and use? I just fill my own off a bulk (household) tank. I wonder if they will only enforce the filling of the older tanks being done by the commercial retailers vs homeowner's? Thanks for any more info.

[Uncle Grump]

doubleUcubed

I'd be interested in knowing what you need for parts (hose, fittings, etc) and the how to fill your own tank....

We have a 500# bulk tank behind the house for the boiler and water heater. Could be handy and alot cheaper too.

Thanks

UG

[bigeyes]

Borch is that a 20 pound tank for $18.

[jt24]

Filling your own tank is alot easier and cheaper if you have the stuff to do it. I dont think they can tell you yourself how to fill if its your tank and your doing it. I am been filling tanks for years and they said nothing about stopping. You need to have a valve with the right hose and a quarter turn valve and the fitting to screw into your tank to fill it yourself. This all must be approved for LP and I dont know if you can get these things any more now that the law has changed.

[Pig_sticka]

i bought a tank last year, do i need to get it fixed? i guess ill find out when i go to fill it up.

[doubleUcubed]

A couple of guy's just got new tanks for their lake homes and I know one of them paid 100 bucks for the set up to fill his own tanks. The other guy paid a lot less than that. AS mentioned above, you need a shut off valve at the big tank, hose, male end to connect to your tank, wrench and screwdriver and your set to go. It sure beats dragging the tanks to town or running out in the middle of the night with no place to fill and yes it is cheaper!!

[Guest]

I had some filled locally with the old valves. Sounds like since they have the valve shortage, ban is lifted. I'd keep in mind this will probably change back around Feb, so a good exchange rate is wise. Tanks over 50 lbs were exempt.
I've heard both ways on exchange, but this sounds like the way to go if you can. Otherwise, you're taking a gamble. New 20 lb around $23 plus fill, valve alone around $20 from what I found.

[Uncle Bill]

Thanks everyone,
exchanged my old tank for a updated (OPD) tank (full) at Home Depot for $19.98.
No adaptors or any extra B.S. needed to hook it up to the old equiptment. 20 bucks and I'm ready for the future!!
(20 lb. tank)

[This message has been edited by Uncle Bill (edited 11-27-2002).]

[Borch]

Bigeyes,

Yes, a 20# tank.

Practically new too.

[Borch]

Just exchanged two at Walmart. It was $18.00 with the upgrade and a filled tank. I've got one more to exchange.

The fine for filling the old style tanks is huge($5,000 or $10,000). No one around here will even consider filling one.

[snowfighter]

Just had a 20 lb. tank filled yesterday at the local Cenex store. Manager said they extended until January to fill old tanks, because of the backlog to get new valves. Wouldn't think he would stick his neck out if it wasn't legal being a propane dealer.

[Ishmel]

Harbor freight has a setup for filling one pounders from bulk tanks. I haven't bought one but it looks like they are set up for the new valves. I'll post a link, but if the mods take it off you can go to harborfreight dot com and search for propane. They want 13 bucks for it, so it even looks like it might be cheap enough to take a gamble on.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45989

-ish

[Uncle Grump]

Ishmel, others

I've seen these adapters at Northern Hydralics too. Price is in the $15 range.

If memory serves me - you need to flip the
tank upside down to get the liquid LP, otherwise, as shown in Harbor Freight pic you get gas vapor.

DOn't know if these will work w/ the OPD valves.

UG

[Hookmaster]

I refilled a 1 # canister with the new valve. I worked just like the old style.

[Bushwacker]

So it really does work, Is there a problem with breaking the seal or do the 1# fill just like the 20#?

[Guest]

I was told to be very careful if I was going to refill my own 1# propane tank, something about overfilling and burning straight liquid versus the vapor??

[Hookmaster]

I filled the 1# bottle with the new valve the same way as the old valve. It worked just the same. It didn't fill it quite as much as the old valve, which is good, less chance of overfilling. I think you may have to refill the 20# tank a little earlier with the new valve, but I have not proven it. I'll know later this winter after I've used up my 4 1#ers first.
To prevent overfilling just read the directions on the coupler. I've used one for 3-4 winters and haven't overfilled one yet. If you are still leary about overfilling, just have the valve open for 45 seconds instead of one minute. You'll still fill the tank 2/3 to 3/4 full.

[Pig_sticka]

HELP!!!
i just ran out to get a new 20# propane tank. my old sunflower heater isn't hooking up to it right. am i just not good at puting it on or am i supposed to get a new sunflower also?????