Which Propane tank do I get now?!

[01YZF6]

So I went to have 2 propane tanks refilled last week, as I do every year, from the same place I have always gone.....  they have a thursday $9.00 fill special for locals only ( done on a hanging scale)
 
I gave the woman my 1st tank, she filled it to 18.5 lbs....
 she took the second tank, and as she swung it around to the scale she dropped it, it landed just right on the scale corner, hit the valve and it broke off.....

she then said she can not replace the tank she broke anyway, because it was an older type valve ( circle handle top) and that she was not suppose to refill it, but in fact confiscate it.....

?
 
so now I have NO 2nd tank, which they have filled every season for me with no issue.  she is the owner of the place as well, so no fighting the issue.  then she offered to sell me a new tank fo 35.00 plus refill......
 
I have been reading about all these tank issues from Blue Rhino, and other exchange places that once you get their tanks you can only exchange them, no refilling allowed,  and that their is less Propane in them too...
 
so what tank do I get now???  I like being able to refill my own ( obviously the price is better, and you get more gas for your cash)
                
                

[coach]

Too bad she kept it.
You might go back and get it, she does not have to confiscate it, she stole it (call the cops :yikes:)

You could of taken the older cylinderk to an exchange place and traded for a newer one with new OPD valve, they are refilllable elsewhere. Otherwise, buy one at home depot, wallly world or where ever propane cylinders are sold!

[Tim5055]

she then said she can not replace the tank she broke anyway, because it was an older type valve ( circle handle top) and that she was not suppose to refill it, but in fact confiscate it.....

She was correct in that she was not allowed to fill it.  While she may have been filling it in the past, it still was not correct.  From my Pop Up FAQ Web Page "What is an OPD LP Gas Tank?":
OPD stands for Overfill Prevention Device.  As of  April 1, 2002, no LP gas cylinder can be filled unless it is equipped with an  (OPD).

You can identify an OPD tank by looking at the valve handles, all the new ones are shaped like a triangle. So, as of April 1, 2002, no new valve, no fill. I still see a lot of these old valves floating around.  Don't confuse the threads on the tank (old style vs. new style) valve with OPD. The OPD device is INSIDE the tank. It will require a complete replacement of the valve to bring it up to specs. Just my opinion, but it's cheaper to buy a new tank than to try to retrofit With a new tank only $23 - $27 at Sam's, Costco, or BJ's, valve replacement is probably not worth it.

Just remember, the old tank is considered haz-mat and must be disposed of properly.

But...
There may be some untrained employees who fill tanks that do not know about OPD and will fill an old tank.  Remember this is a life safety issue.  While you might think you are getting a "deal" in more gas, you do not want an overfilled tank next to your trailer.  If that over-full tank begins to warm up in the sun, it may begin to vent gas.  If there is a source of ignition nearby this could lead to a disaster.

I have been reading about all these tank issues from Blue Rhino, and other exchange places that once you get their tanks you can only exchange them, no refilling allowed,  and that their is less Propane in them too...

For a short period of time Blue Rhino equipped their tanks with a valve that required a special magnetic key to refill.  They got so many complaints that they quickly stopped using them.  While you could end up with one in an exchange - it is not very likely at this point.

You could of taken the older cylinderk to an exchange place and traded for a newer one with new OPD valve, they are refilllable elsewhere.

At least around Atlanta and Northern VA most exchange places have caught on to this.  They have diagrams posted near the exchange on how to spot non-OPD tanks and will refuse to exchange.

[coach]

The highly trained grocery store and walmart employees around North TX don't know the difference between a triangle or a square, especially when you pay in advance without taking the cylinder indoors. Home depot has self serve exchange! In any event, only accepting OPD equiped cylinders is not a Blue Rhino policy.

Totally empty cylinders are not haz mat, the cylinder can be re-certified (Cylinders are subject to recertification (also known as requalification) twelve years from their date of manufacture and every five years after that.). Coleman came up with the green plug for its 1 lb cylinders so they are forced open and empty and not haz mat!

New cylinders should be purged, a refiller can do that.

Getting a cylinder 80% filled for $9 is a goog deal considering Blue Rhino et al charge about $20 for 68% (17 lbs) in the past and now 60% (15 lbs). Overfilled the cylinders hold 25 lbs of propane or 47+lbs of water - it is stamped on the collar (WC). The OPD should not be used as the primary way to stop filling a cylinder, weight should be, the OPD is a backup since so many untrained/unqualified fillers overfilled.

[Dee4j]

I have 5 or 6 that I ended up with over the years and when the changed the law I took them into Home depot and did an exchange with new satey tanks already filled. I did this years ago and still get my refilled

[bill623]

My understanging if U go to Home Depot you can put a old style tank in the machine and 20 some dollars and you will get the newer valve tank back filled with 15-17 pounds of gas , Not tryed it yet ...worth looking into tho..

[AZCAMPPINAL]

Think it depends on where you live. Here in Central Arizona I had a 20 #  tank fill valve replaced ( tank had some vintage decals) and the tank hydrotested and it was $ 5 dollarrs cheaper than the exchange.