Need Help.... Propane Supplier Problem.

[ultrarunner]

The family cabin in snow country has been on Propane since 1964 and zero issues untill 2009. We own the tank.

When Amerigas took over the company started to require upgrades and inspections that we were charged for.

The most recent was last November when we were "Reguired" to have a valve upgrade that cost $299

I made a quick 4 hour trip up to make sure the furnace and water heater were on and found them off. Roads were open and no chain requirements.

Lit the pilots and turned around and drove 4 hours home.

Three months later the Propane company informed us service will be disconnected becase no safety check was performed.

Can the gas company turn off heat in the dead of winter on a tank and home I own???

The only option is to make a trip up through the snow or send them a key to the house???

I've offered to sign a waiver and was told they cannot accept one.

Natural Gas through Southwest Gas is available and no charge to set a meter... there would be a charge to convert the stove, water heater and central forced air furnace... stove and furnace are from 1964... water heater has a Natural Gas Jet taped to heater.

The 1000 gallon tank is 80% full...

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would call them and tell them that if they mess with my tank again as in shut off the gas, I will be up with my baseball bat and work on their head a while and then sue them for any cost associated with frozen water lines. (you really should shut off your water and drain the lines if you are not using the cabin in winter to avoid just the possibility of freezing)
If you have access to natural gas, pay the cost of replacing the jets in all the appliances, you will save that in one month of use just in lower fuel cost. The propane company should not be messing with your tank and I would threaten them with a lawsuit if water lines froze because they cut off your propane. At most they can do is refuse to sell you any more gas, but coming on your property and shutting off your gas on a tank that you own is a good way to get shot if it were my property and I caught them trespassing AND lets call it what it is "willful destruction of property" which could happen if your heat was turned off and the water lines froze up.
I can understand them requiring testing of old tanks but only if the current test was expired and all the old fill valves are required buy law to be changed out to the ones with the safety shut off check valve. I don't know if this could be changed safely without the tank being empty unless one bled off all the pressure which would waste a lot of gas and the liquid would continue to boil off till the new valve is installed and blocked in.

 

[coobie]

The family cabin in snow country has been on Propane since 1964 and zero issues untill 2009. We own the tank.

When Amerigas took over the company started to require upgrades and inspections that we were charged for.

The most recent was last November when we were "Reguired" to have a valve upgrade that cost $299

I made a quick 4 hour trip up to make sure the furnace and water heater were on and found them off. Roads were open and no chain requirements.

Lit the pilots and turned around and drove 4 hours home.

Three months later the Propane company informed us service will be disconnected becase no safety check was performed.

Can the gas company turn off heat in the dead of winter on a tank and home I own???

The only option is to make a trip up through the snow or send them a key to the house???

I've offered to sign a waiver and was told they cannot accept one.

Natural Gas through Southwest Gas is available and no charge to set a meter... there would be a charge to convert the stove, water heater and central forced air furnace... stove and furnace are from 1964... water heater has a Natural Gas Jet taped to heater.

The 1000 gallon tank is 80% full...

I would pad lock your tank.Tell them you have contacted a laywer about this issue.See what they say then.LOL

 

[Dutch445]

i'd tell Amerigas to come get their gas, as you are converting to Nat Gas, and they can
credit you the going rate for the propane. esp since you own the tank, how can they
disconnect you? It sounds like they are fishing for more ways to profit from you since they
can't charge you tank lease fees, or the higher propane prices since you own your tank.

 

[coobie]

i'd tell Amerigas to come get their gas, as you are converting to Nat Gas, and they can
credit you the going rate for the propane. esp since you own the tank, how can they
disconnect you? It sounds like they are fishing for more ways to profit from you since they
can't charge you tank lease fees, or the higher propane prices since you own your tank.

When I bought my own tank my old propane company tried to charge me a extra $100 bucks because there was still 5% in there tank.They stated that was there fee to get the 5% out the tank.I told them to stick you know where.Never got charged.

 

[kenmac]

There is a real good chance the 1964 mod. FAF has a cracked in the combustion chamber. That is probably what they are concerned about...That being said. I doubt they have a legal right to turn your gas off since you own the tank. In my area, the Nat. gas company will turn the gas on at the gas meter and, let you light your own appliances if, your gas lines hold a pressure test when they turn the meter on. They will only safety check your appliances if you request. If you convert to NG. there's a good chance you'll have to replace the 1964 FAF. Some Older style water heaters and gas ranges are convertible from 1 gas to the other. Newer water heaters aren't convertible. some newer ranges aren't convertible. My opinion. It would be worth converting to NG no matter what you have to do

 

[GPintheMitten]

Sounds like conversion to NG is in your future especially with the high price of propane now. But I would want to get the use of the propane you own (assuming you have a safe functioning furnace). I would check the furnace or have it checked by someone and if good, then I would use up the propane first or maybe you can sell the propane to someone.

Then convert the water heater and install new NG furnace and stove or go electric stove.

 

[hawkeye08]

We put in propane about 15 years ago. We went back and forth on whether to buy or lease the tank. After the scare tactics by the local propane company we contacted, we decided to lease. We were told things like, the tanks have to be re-certified every 10 years, etc. They own the tank and it has never been recert'd, but I think we are actually making out better with the leased tank. We get propane cheaper than neighbors that own their own tank and I think the savings offsets the lease, and I don't have to mess with their tank.

We were told to never let go empty or they are required to do a full safety inspection (at our cost). I expect this would be testing for leaks, etc. If you let your tank get empty, that may be why they are wanting safety inspection.

I would have asked them, if a safety inspection is required, why wasn't it done when the valve upgrade was done? I would make sure I had no trespassing signs and not let them on property. Of course, you need to make sure you don't have leaks or problems. It would be bad to have a problem that could have been prevented.

 

[PastTense]

It seems all the big national propane companies have bad reputations. If you wish to continue with propane switch to a coop or small local company.

 

[ultrarunner]

They sent out a notice to all their customers citing a law that valves must be updated or they can not make any more deliveries.

In our case... they offered to waive the $299 fee if we gave them the tank and they would also let us lease it for free the first year.

I paid the 299 and they filled the tank... they did not turn on the valve and we did not know the valve was off... My local gas company in the Bay Area changes meters all the time without interrupting service... Amerigas does not do that.

Anyway, I drove up, turned on the gas and lit the pilots last November and put their lock back on my tank so they could get it later...

They were in panic mode because they found the gas on at my tank... yet they added 140 gallons???

Now the manager said they will have to turn it off...

I sure did like our old local gas supplier... almost like extended family... nothing like Amerigas...

Also wonder why they would top off a 1000 gallon tank when gas was at an all time high?