If you cook or heat your home using propane gas, it’s important to learn when you need to re-certify or replace the tank, as failure to do so could result in property damage, injury, or even death. Luckily, it isn’t something you’ll have to do often, but periodically re-certifying your tank is a critical part of ensuring safe operation.

Farmers Cooperative in Live Oak, FL, explains three ways to tell when propane tank re-certification or replacement is necessary:

• Date of Manufacture: Most propane cylinders need to be re-certified — or re-qualified — at least 12 years after the date of manufacture. You can find the month and year of your tank’s manufacturing date on the sticker at the top. If there is a letter “E” at the far right of the sticker, however, your tank should be re-qualified within five years of the date indicated.

• Last Re-Qualification Method: If your tank has been re-qualified previously, you can tell when your tank needs re-qualification based on the type of inspection it had last. If it was re-qualified with the volumetric expansion method, it needs to be re-qualified 12 years following that date. If it was re-qualified with the proof-pressure method, it needs to be re-qualified five to seven years following that date. You can tell the method used based on the RIN mark: “S” indicates proof-pressure and “E” indicates volumetric expansion.

• Visually Identifiable Damage: Every propane tank should be visually inspected before getting re-filled. If it exhibits certain types of damage, it requires repair and re-certification before it can safely be filled again. Surface damage includes bulges, dents, and cracks, rust, corrosion, and pitting. You may also require repair if the cylinder footring, neckring, valve, or valve cover are missing or damaged.

If you need more propane this winter, stop by Farmers Cooperative. Since 1946, they’ve supplied local families with building materials, animal feed, and other essential supplies. To have any of your questions answered, give them a call at (386) 362-1459. More information about their inventory and services is available on their website.