Used propane tanks

[bob farrell]

I guess a propane tank used on the farm qualifies as a tool.

Need to install a tank for home heating (2,000 sq. ft. - central Oklahoma) and a small heater in the shop (600 sq.ft.). Used tanks are considerable cheaper than new (positive).
What are the negatives in buying a used tank? What size should I be considering? thanks. bob f

 

[Mike M]

Make sure you can get a bill of sale. Depending on the age of the tank you may get some hassel getting it filled. Ask around your local gas suppliers and see if they have any and what they need to fill one you find. I have seen them sell for $1.00 a gallon used in Ohio.

 

[SuperHank]

The owner often has a name plate on the tank (Owned by Acme Propane etc) If no plate check the regulator. My propane supplier (new owner) just announced that after 10 years he was going to charge for tank rent. I called said to come get it and had the old tank laying around for years filled. Well there is a valve on the regulator (has a small screen around it at the back of the regulator) that leaks when soap is on it. Had to replace but pretty cheap less than $50. Old tanks work fine but the gas man wants to rent you one.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I got a 500 gallon tank. Keep in mind they only fill to 80 percent, so you get 400, refil at about 100 gallons or 20 percent, that way you get about 300 galon per refill. I would not be be satisfied with any tank less than 500 gallons.

As to used tank, be careful, some companies will not fill them. Testing could cost you. If it is a new home as your permanent residence, then might be worth buying new tank.
Tom

 

[Anonymous-0]

Like others said make sure you get a bill of sale and aren't buying a LP dealers leased tank. Also the older butane tanks were rated at less pressure and dealers won't fill those for you with propane so that may be the cheap ones you are looking at so beware of that. Ask your dealer what pressure of tank your state requires for propane. Your LP dealer is going to want to check valves and all too before they fill it for you or should.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I get a ten cent per gallon discount for owning my own tank. Slow payback but it adds up. It also lets you shop around for a fill or a season contract.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I'm a propane gas service tech for a local propane and oil company. Buying a used tank is fine as long as the data plate is stamed with the letter "U" which makes it a propane tank and not a amonia tank and you can easily read the info on the plate. There are old 200psi tanks which are perfectly legal as long as you don't change the pressure releif valve because you can only buy a 250psi now. Aso make sure there are no dents or gouges because if they are big enough it wont be a good tank. Other than that there is no certification required or a ASME tank. I could go on here for a long time but I would recommend to have a professional hook it up or atleast do a leak check for you. Feel free to Email me if you want more info. I also wouldn't go any smaller than a 500 gal tank.

 

[Bowlegs]

I know a man that has a 500 gal used tank has some propane left in it and a new regulator wants 600.00 for it. It is located close to chickasha.

 

[kendak]

can't understand why you want to buy a tank ...my propane dealer rents me my tank for $1 per year & paints it every year....I shop around for prices & buy LP from someone else if he won't match price....got 400gal. last mo. for $1.92 a gal. .....Kent

 

[Mark-Mi]

Make sure tank has data plate.Try not to buy a tank that is so old it has a multivalve,Mark

 

[Kevin in OK]

Where in central Oklahoma are you at? I'm in NW Oklahoma City, but we've got property just North of town.

Kevin

 

[Anonymous-0]

I live in NW WI,have well insulated 16x24x8 "shop".I keep it at 40-45 when not working,60-65 when in use.Heated w/35000 BTU hanging LP furnace.(Modine Hot Dawg)My LP use is appx 250-275 gal yr.I have a 125gal aluminum"pig".Went w/the "pig" because it is the largest tank allowed to be placed tightly to the building.Larger tanks must be X number of feet from structures.Only gripe I have is that my usage and fill amt is too low to lock in best price of qualify for volume discount.

 

[bob farrell]

Kevin, and all others that answered my post. I am about 5 miles NW of Cushing on the Cimarron river.(used to live in Cashion in the fifties).

I am planning on buying a tank from a licensed propane tank rebuilder (if I go used). They are about 40-50% cheaper than new. From advertising of a couple dealers seems about $500-600 for a 500 gal. ($1,100 new), and $900 to 1,050 for a 1,000 gal. ($2,100 new). The reason I want to own the tank is so I will have no obligation to a particular fuel supplier, and I would not feel right putting fuel from one fuel supplier into a tank owned by another fuel supplier.

I appreciate all the comments and will get at least a 500 gal. (leaning towards a 1,000 gal.) refurbished tank (leaning towards new). Looks like a new 1,000 gal., filled to 80%, will cost about $4,000 (ouch!!) delivered and set up. But, maybe that would position me to buy in quanity from whatever fuel supplier has the best price and have sufficient volume to take advantage of seasonal prices (if there will be any in the future). Thanks again bob f.

 

[Bill in IL]

I always though other dealers would not fill one anothers tanks.

Guess they will if there is money to be made.

 

[Phil Doolittle]

Where do you live? I paid $ 1.92/gal last summer,winter price $2.33 to $2.66 now getting a quote of $2.66 thru 3/31/09. today cost is $2.469/gal. Provided from Ferrellgas.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a question for you Derek: I purchased a used 500 gal L.P. Tank and it was empty -- the reason I know that is because I put a new PSIG pressure gage on it -- and very little gas came out - the old one was rusty.
so then --- I had 160 Gal of L.P. put in the tank -- I could hear it hit the bottom when it started to fill -- and the gage that shows the percentage of the gas was 180% -- then --- 10 days later -- it read 280% --- I used a magnet to move the needle -- but the percentage went right back to 280% --- even though I had only 160 gallons put in the tank --- do you suppose that can be Fixed ?????????? ( If so -- How ) thanks for your time .... Joe

 

[kendak]

there are 14 LP gas dealers within 30 miles of where I live [Boyle, MS.] & they have to get down below $2 a gallon before anyone will buy from them ...located 100miles south of Memphis TN in the MS. delta....LP is used by the farmers to pump water on rice & to dry the rice after it's cut in 250,000 bu. grain bins...I've seen a 1,000 gal. tank freeze up because the burners were sucking so much fuel..a 2 1/2 in line is used to run to these dryers..farmer friend of mine uses 10,000gal a week during peak fall drying time... I grew up on a rice farm & LP was 6 cents a gallon in the[60's & 70's] ....Kent

 

[Sid]

Joe, your problem may have fixed itself. Now as for the guage reading it is impossable to fill a tank to 180%. So apprently you are refering to 18% and 28%. 160 gallon in a 500 gal tank would rread 32% under ideal conditions(tank perfectly level and temp around 60-65 degrees). What I suspect happened is the float assembly may have gotten hung on 18% when filling and the pressure of the float trying to come up caused it to release and read 28% which is pretty close. If the float assembley inside the tank is not working the tank has to be empty to fix it. If it is the needle that was sticking replacement guages can be replace with gas in the tank.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks Sid --- your right -- the gage starts at zero (0) and goes up to 80 --- But -- if I put 180 gallons of LP in the tank -- and it then read 18% --- and 10 days later -- it reads 28% --- I guess I have a problem with the float in the tank --- and can only be fixed when empty -- that makes more sense ---
and when I fix that float -- I have to pump out all the air in it --- cause that can give problems if it has air in the tank when putting LP in it --- Right ??

 

[Frank A]

Not to butt in but in answer your question propane is heavier than air and what air is that does get in I,ve never had any trouble with .But you might need to add methanol to absorb moisture Also the guage bolts realy like to break off. They make a drill block just for broken guage bolts. But I agree with Sid your guage was just stuck that happens alot when a tank sits for awhile. If it doesn,t leak anywhere I would leave it alone and see how it does.