How Long Will Propane Store and How To Properly Store It

Do you know the proper way to store and how to safely use propane? I thought I did until I did some research. 😮

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Patrick and Crystal Atkeson

[rustyshakleford]

It takes a lot to show the world your mistakes and learn from them. I worked for a glass blowing studio and we would use about 200 lb of propane a month so our hundred pound tank will get filled twice a month. We are using top of the line propane regulators and part of the shut down procedures was to turn the gases off at night at the tanks and release the pressure from the diaphragm My backing the regulator off all the way. We did this for a couple reasons mainly to make sure that the gas was off and to set the pressure each morning based on the torches we were using. So Monday rolls around and we get our 100 lb tank delivered. I hook up the regulator to it and go inside and start working. About 10 minutes later we start to lose propane pressure then it cuts out all at once. I go outside to find the entire alleyway filled with 100 lb of propane hanging there like a fog. I shut the door carefully and run out of the building in the opposite direction. Thankfully the propane was in a blast proof room built off the back of the building all to fire code so even if it did explode it probably would have only killed half the block as opposed to the entire block. Thankfully by the time the fire department showed up the propane had all dissipated and we got super super lucky. The regulator diaphragm ruptured and caused all 100 lb of propane to leak and it just by pure luck did not level the entire city block. I spoke to Harris the company that makes the regulators and they said that their regulator diaphragms are where items and need to be replaced or rebuilt every 5 years so that's what we do now. If those hair is regulators can rupture the $10 made in China barbecue regulators everyone uses could rupture any time and you better pray that it's outside when it does.

[motov-garage]

All great advice👍.
Found it funny when you brought up the 10 years old part😅 i just had a 100lb tank filled and its from 1956 lol. I do know about that "rule" though. Some places care, some dont. I live in the country so.. yea.
Most of the reason for the 10 pr 12 year rule is for the regulator knob hook up its self, they changed to an updated version 15 or more years ago.
You can change the regulator threaded portion yourself or have a place do it though.
Pressure vessels are supposed to be pressure tested every 10 to 15 years (it ranges frome 35-80$) to have it tested.
Like i said some places are big on having a up to date tank and some arnt.
Out here if it looks like its in good condition they dont care.
Also one thing we've noticed with the big tanks (80-100lb) is that the really old ones are more heavy duty, thicker walled, its noticeable looking at one from the 50's-70's compared to one that we have from the late 90's. The big 1999 100lb capacity tank i can probably carry over my one shoulder jist fine, but the old 1956 100lb'r i deffintly cant.
Might be why the local propane guys didnt bat an eye at our 1956 tank (its built like a tank)😄.
That said, Im sure the new ones are just as good if not better in some sort of way, company's are required to make pressure vessles extra safe and always have been.

[davidhankenson]

Most appliances today have a protection system that stops the propane from flowing when shut off, even if you leave the valve open. It is still a good idea to turn it off. The cylinder you have is a 20 pound cylinder. If you look at most exchange places it says "net weight 15 pounds" i.e.. Blue Rhino, Amerigas. Most refilling place fill it with 20 full pounds. The cylinder has to be visually inspected 10 years after manufacture and every 5 years after that. Fun fact about propane, it will only burn 9% of the time, when it is between 2% and 11% of the air.

[simplisticminimalistic]

I would also get a fire/ carbon
monoxide detector Just like you would in the house or an RV🙏❤️we live a RV, We Use propane for cooking heat hot water etc. If you think the fire alarm would go off Every time you use the stove you can just get a carbon monoxide detector that runs on batteries.

[eyesonly]

Indoor storage is not only illegal, older tanks also tend to develop tiny leaks in and around the valve. I've had them leak even with the knob turned hard off. Having a line attached also adds to the leak risk when not in use. Blue Rhino exchange is no good if you're storing them because you never know what you're getting in exchange. My experience with Blue Rhino is that it's a hit or miss proposition. As for storage life, I recently attached an LP tank that was last filled over 23 years ago. It functioned perfectly and nothing wrong with the propane. LP will last indefinitely as long as it's not leaking.

[evelynnewman]

Hi honey. 🥰. Wonderful advice for those just starting out. I hope you had a blessed day!

[michaellong]

Propane doesn’t have a shelf life but the tank does. Tanks have a 12 life span, then they need to be recertification ! You get 12 years from the date stamped on the collar

[Fredengle]

we should note in the U.S it may be illegal in the Philippiines they frequently have propane tanks in doors it seems !

[goauldassassin]

Unless I missed something, is it ok to have a propane tank bigger than the 1 pound bottles in your home/apartment or whatever as long as it is in use (I currently have a 5 pound tank that I use for a big buddy heater but am thinking of getting a 20 pound tank) but once you turn everything off for the day store it outside somewhere? Thanks

[Spry]

I've found in my area that the most affordable place to refill my propane tank is on the Indian reservation. It's only about $13 there but it's $24 in town.

[nobut]

My entire neighborhoods grid is old when we lose power it’s for days this past winter we froze for 5 days,
I purchased an inverter generator and set my house up to back feed.

[RobertodelaVega-tw]

Love your videos! We have an 836 sq. ft. farm house on 3 Acres, built in 1935, it has 4 rooms divided equally, 2 rooms have a back to back access to a single chimney which was designed for propane heaters. What propane heater do you use in your video? What heater do you recommend?

[Thebakergirl]

Loving your chancel I hope to be off grid one day also I have also just started my own channel

[toomanymachines]

cylinders need to be recertified every 10 years. the tank is stamped with a date. they replace the valve assembly and stamp the current date. good for another 10 years. even welding oxygen and acetylene need to be hydro tested every 10 years. some of mine are 70 years old.

[DocFixit]

At -44 degrees F you will not be getting much, if any vapor (minimally depending on altitude). Avoid any temperatures above 110 degrees F. Cylinders must be recertified after 12 years from new or (most of the time) 5 years after a visual recertification. These are general rules from the NFPA 58. Ask your propane dealer if they are CETP certified (now it's soon to be PEP) certified. If they are you should be able to trust their advice.

[Riva]

My box says don’t store in a room that is used for habitation, but doesn’t say anything about it being illegal to keep in the home.
I’m supposing the garage or workshop is OK so long as it doesn’t go over 120 degrees F.

[donpech]

So i was keeping my 40lbs tanks on my porch where my hose connection is to my 30000 btu lp heater. Once the temp gets below say 31 i notice my gas done but it still have in the tank so the pressure dies and i have to refill even when its not completely done to get back that pressure. So i begin to put insulation around the tank and it seem worse. The tank got froozen and die at about 3/4 done (about 1/4 tank left in side. Any idea would be greatly appreciated thank and thank u for sharing

[jonathanbuford]

Actually where I live now it’s cheaper at the grocery discount store it was cheaper than tractor supply. I was told filling past 80 percent can be dangerous. When I lived close to the city it was cheaper at uhaul

[MGillDesign]

I recently bought a generator that has a propane option. I plan to buy 5-6 (20LBS) propane tanks.
I wanted to store them in my garage, but now I don't know. I live in a townhouse, and only other option is the
small concrete patio, out back. But i don't want neighbors to know i have these tanks, or try to steal them.

I don't plan to use the propane, except for emergency off grid down situations. So they will basically just
be sitting and not used.

[danthesquirrel]

There is nothing official in browser results saying storing propane indoors is illegal. I saw one freedom resistance guy saying it was, but those sorts of people say all sorts of things. Even you said it was illegal without siting anything. When driving only 90 lbs of propane can be moved in an enclosed vehicle or up to 1, 000 lbs in a truck without requiring a license. The Amish use propane indoors for lights, fridge, stove and nobody bothers them. HOA's and anyone renting a place would likely say no and insurance companies would likely try not to pay for any damage caused by storing propane inside, but that is different from being illegal. Federal law requires propane cylinders not be refilled after 10 years from the manufacture date and it wouldn't surprise me if the only legal way to dispose of old or one pound propane cylinders is at special recycling/hazardous waste sites.