BeerBorg

if I went the 20lb propane tank route... I would probably want 2 onhand in case I run out in mid-brew. they cant be stored indoors. so how do you store them SAFELY?

I live in florida. my back patio has a southern exposure and gets full sun from noon til sundown. I don't have a shed. I have about a 10x6 section of paved patio and the rest is radically sloping grass. would I need to get a storage locker for the tanks to keep them out of the sun / elements?

If I go the natural gas route and use quick connect flex line like you have for ng bbq grills... when done brewing and I want to take my cooker in... how do you store the gas line? is it ok to shut off the gas, disconnect and coil it? I assume you can store the disconnected line indoors if you blow any gas out of it?

thanks for any help... I want to make sure I have all possible info before I commit one way or the other. it's the whole measure fifty times cut once thing.

I am leaning toward a blichmann cooker with a ng conversion. it will be a big upfront cost but I'll probably make up for it in saved propane tank costs as ng is relatively cheap. going propane would be cheaper up front but....

Store tank outdoors, in the sun is fine. Cap on threads. Gas line should be emptied by turning tank/supply off and let burner run until flame goes out. Cap that end or bag it. Store line outside or in garage.

I found some on ebay after a quick search. "Propane tank cover" There are cloth ones and plastic RV.

I was talking with my Local Propane Supplier and he said it's the sun that causes age damage to tanks.

I would think that it takes a long time for the sun to damage tanks. All the refill stations I've ever seen have their large storage tanks out in the open, fully exposed to the sun. I'm sure the larger tanks are built a little different than a 20lb tanks, but I can't imaging your tank is going to degrade real quick.

In CT, there is an inspection date stamped on tank. They need to be inspected every 5 years.
I was told, basically, the 20#tanks are mass produced, not built for longevity. Consumers are driven by price, so to keep prices down, they don't use the highest quality parts etc. blue Rhino nad the like make up for the price of inspection and/or replacement with the price they charge. Around here, they charge $5+ more, fill to 15# vs. bringing the tank to a propane dealer for a 20#fill.
Now the storage tanks, that are owned by a propane/natural gas company pay for longevity, as it is their investment, which includes liability.

hmmm.. didn't know the tank should be kept with the cap on the outlet. glad i came across this thread.

Federal law puts dates on the tanks - new tanks should have a date 12 years from date of manufacture. After that point, tanks must be recertified every 5 years and get a new stamp. Current tanks also have an overfill protection valve and dealers won't fill old tanks.

Portable tanks are governed by the DOT, whereas permanent tanks in your yard are not.

In general, recertifying a portable tank can be close to buying a new one. Often stores include a fill with the tank purchase. If you exchange tanks, in addition to verifying how much gas you are getting, you can turn in an old tank and get a newer one in return at many locations.

And yes, they can be stored in the sun. Paint will oxidize over time. Tank will be fine. A cover won't hurt though.

Keeping caps on them keeps bugs out of them, and dirt.

RickBeer wrote:If you exchange tanks, in addition to verifying how much gas you are getting, you can turn in an old tank and get a newer one in return at many locations.

Once again Rick beat me to the punch line. When it starts getting nasty or old just swap it for a new one even if you would normally have it refilled. Also, refill places charge by actual fill weight and usually will not assume a full fill. So, in reality and if one is convenient, you can spare the expense of multiple tanks and just get it filled every "x" batches.

Where I get mine filled. The will fill more than the 75% that the exchange fills to. It was explained that the safety valve lets go if filled over 75% and exposed to direct sunlight. I store my tanks in the garage at home and work.

that would be nice to be charged what they fill. Around here, it's a set price, no matter how much is in it.

So someone is telling you they only fill a 20# to 15# because of a relief valve? The only ones who fill to 15# around here are the exchange places, and an article in the paper reported it was for not raising prices... The Mom & Pop places make sure everyone knows they (exchange places) are only filling to 15# AND they charge more.

My wife used to do the exchange because it was convenient. When I went to get a refill, they pointed out it was out of date by over a year...

Yep!!! $25 for an exchange $14.50 for a refill. You pay for the convenience of it. The reason is that when exposed to sunlight, a fully filled tank will pop the valve. When I started going to the fuel depot. They asked where I stored my tanks and explained why. I listen to them since they supply the other refill stations in the area. They also recommend going to an exchange when the tank needs replacing.

I am going to convert my Bilchmann to natural gas. Unfortunately, the LP gas line can freeze. I have the leg extensions, which I highly recommend. Makes draining the kettle a breeze.

wow really??? exchange here is $19

Exchanges here are $22 - $24 (15#)depending on who... refill 1/2 mile from home $18 for 20#. Driving for a couple $ less is negated by fuel costs...

Remember, that the exchanges only fill the tanks to 75%