Donald Kribbs wrote:
Thanks, not only for this favor but for all of your postings.
Donald Kribbs
Officially, now, #2875
The requirement for recertification of portable LP tanks has been in effect for some time now. The requirement is for tanks at their 12 anniversary of manufacture to be inspected for condition and serviceability. Things such as major rust, a malfunctioning valve or the like prevented a tank from being recertified. Once recertified the tank must be stamped with the recert. month and year. Effective 1 Oct. 1998 no portable tank can be recertified with out an Overfill Protection Device (OPD) style valve. Effective Apr 2002 all, all tanks must have an OPD valve in order to be filled. The OPD valve prevents the tank being overfilled by an LP vendor by means of a float that cuts off the service valve for filling when the tank reaches approximately 80% of capacity. Outflow through the valve is not longer through a large outlet. It is now restricted to an orifice built into the valve. And oh by the way virtually no one has replacement valves yet. The manufacturers are focused on making new tanks and not supplying replacement valve at this time. When they will be available is also unknown. The estimated price for replacement valves is in the 35-40 dollar range. For smaller (5 gal and smaller) the economic sense is to replace it. Current prices are $50 for a new 5 gal tank. For larger tanks, in particular the aluminum ones it will be much more economical to replace the valve. A new aluminum tank runs $350 +. Another problem will be replacing tank valves with gauges built into them. The new OPD valve, as I understand it, will not be able to have a gauge included.
New tanks will have gauges mounted separate from the valve. I have yet to see a price on one of those bad boys. So what it cooks down to is: old tanks ok until they need to be recertified. Then new valve or new tank. After Apr 2002 everybody gets a new valve or tank. Just big brother watching out for us silly little children.
Charlie