Did you know it's against the law for an expired or damaged cylinder to be filled?Propane cylinders have a range of identifying marks that tell consumers and handlers if the cylinder is approved and when it was tested.

Here's some information that identifies codes and dates stamped onto the collar.  

A - TC - Transport Canada Design Specification: Shows that the cylinder has been designed to Transport Canada specifications and can be used and filled in Canada. Letters TC

B - Reference TC specification number

C - Working pressure of the cylinder (17 bars=1.7 MPa)

D - Water capacity in litres (volume)

E - Letter T followed by the tare weight (the weight of the empty cylinder including the valve)

F - Manufacture's serial number

G - Manufacturer's name or symbol

H - Test month Manufacture's Serial Stamp - month (2 digits), separator, year (last 2 digits)

I - Space to indicate a retest date. Propane cylinders need to be re-qualified or replaced every 10 years. This date will show when the re-qualification took place.

Download a copy of this propane factsheet from the Canadian Propane Association.

Budget Propane is a family owned and operated bulk propane supplier in Central Ontario. Visit our website to learn more about propane!

As often is the case in the winter, the news has carried some tragic stories about carbon monoxide poisoning.  According to a recent GlobalNews article, "the OPP and Office of the Chief Coroner have issued a warning about “the  dangers of sitting inside a running vehicle for extended periods of time.”  Police say that in older vehicles, small leaks can develop in the exhaust system and potentially lead to a deadly build-up of carbon monoxide inside the vehicle."

Along with carbon monoxide from car exhaust, homeowners need to protect themselves from carbon monoxide leaks from fuel burning furnaces and other heating sources.

In the first part of this blog, we looked at important reasons why propane energy is considered a green fuel: specifically how propane contributes to reduced greenhouse gas, lower air pollution, and has a lower impact on the environment in the case of a spill.

Many home and business owners are working diligently to reduce their carbon footprint and implement better choices for the environment. Fuel efficiency and clean energy is at the top of the list. So, how does propane gas fit into a green solution?

One of the most important renovations you can make to your home is to upgrade the furnace and ensure your house is as energy efficient as possible. This is especially true if your home is on an oil furnace system.

Many homeowners who are using home heating oil, worry about the implications, extra operating costs, maintenance, negative impact on property value, problems re-selling, etc.

Upgrading to propane will eliminate those concerns and give homeowners the opportunity to also install updated propane appliances such as a water heater, clothes dryer, and kitchen range / oven.

It's often the case that older rural homes were heated using oil furnaces. In Canada, oil for residential heating peaked in 1965 when it accounted for almost 65% of all domestic heating costs. Since then it has dropped to around 10-15%. Many homes with oil furnaces have since converted to natural gas, electricity or propane. For rural properties, estate homes, cottages, and farms - the choice has been between electricity and propane.