How Do You Know if your Cylinder is in Good Working Order?

Before the inaugural barbecue session of the season, there’s a few ways to know if your propane cylinder is in good working order and if it’s necessary to requalify or replace the cylinder altogether.

Check the Collar

All propane cylinder's are stamped with specific markings on the collar that indicate the month and year that they were manufactured. Other relevant information such as water capacity, tare weight, and the name of the manufacturer are also stamped.

See Propane-Cylinder-Markings_2024.pdf for more specific details and information

All Cylinders in Canada Must be Requalified Every 10 YEARS

Manufacturing Identifier: If your tank was manufactured in March of 2025, the symbol should look similar to this: 03-25 or 03 Δ 25.

Recertification Identifier: In Canada, it’s mandatory that propane cylinders are requalified every 10 years by a licensed cylinder requalification center like Budget Propane, this can happen many times over the course of a propane cylinders’ life span. With recertification, each cylinder is re-stamped on the collar with the new date it was qualified on and the qualifying centers unique TC (Transport Canada) issued number. The requalification process consists of valve replacements, a visual exterior inspection of the tank, and a 5-step purging process to ensure contaminants are not present in the cylinder. Every cylinder that is requalified is recorded and documented at the licensed cylinder requalification center for Transport Canada audit purposes.

Inspecting your Cylinder and Checking for Damage

Ensure the O-ring is still present inside the service valve before making any connections. If you hear a constant "hissing" sound when you open the service valve, this may indicate a leak or improper connection of the regulator, supply lines, hose, or the service valve itself.

Normal signs of age on a propane cylinder are normal, like flaking paint or small amounts of surface rust. If there are noticeable cracks, dents, alterations or large formations of rust spreading on the exterior of the tank, these are signs indicating an increased risk of danger and potential issues when using the cylinder.

It is mandatory for any cylinder fill center to remove the plastic covering to do a proper visual inspection of the cylinder prior to filling your cylinder.

Keeping up with regular maintenance of appliances and outdoor equipment is very important. Knowing this information will leave you better prepared for a successful and more enjoyable season of barbecuing or cozying up by your propane fire table.

Contact our expert team at Budget Propane to answer any propane questions you may have by calling 1-888-405-7777.