Tank dates
Reading the date on your propane tank
The short answer
Check the collar around the valve for a stamped month and year. A cylinder is good for 12 years from that date, then needs recertifying every 5 years. An out of date tank cannot legally be filled by anyone.
This is the reason a tank gets turned away, and it catches people out constantly. It is worth thirty seconds in your own driveway before you drive over.
Where to look
The collar
The metal ring that protects the valve. Turn the tank until you find stamped characters, often among other numbers.
The format
Month and year, like 06 14 for June 2014. That tank was good until June 2026.
The 12 year rule
12 years from the manufacture date. Then a recertification buys another 5 years, and another after that.
The valve
A triangular handwheel means a modern OPD valve. A round or star shaped one usually means the tank is too old to fill.
If your tank is out of date
You have two choices. Pay to have it recertified, or exchange it for a full cylinder and stop worrying about it. For a standard 20 lb barbecue tank, exchanging is almost always cheaper than recertifying.
We sell exchange cylinders here, so if we look at your tank and it is out of date, you are not driving home empty handed.
Common questions
How do I know if my propane tank is expired?
Look at the collar, the metal ring around the valve. There is a date stamped as month and year, for example 06 14. A cylinder is good for 12 years from that date. After that it needs recertifying, and a recertified tank is good for another 5 years.
What does the letter after the date mean?
A letter such as E after a date usually marks a recertification and tells you which method was used. If you see a second, later date on the collar, that is the one that counts.
Can you fill an out of date tank?
No. No licensed filler can, anywhere. It is a federal rule, not a shop policy. If your tank is out of date, exchanging it is normally cheaper than recertifying it.
What else stops a tank being filled?
Heavy rust or pitting, a damaged foot ring or collar, a dented body, a leaking or seized valve, or an old valve without an overfill prevention device. We will show you what we are looking at.