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...

 

[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?

 

[Dutch445]

the higher the price, the higher the profit on their end,, like anything else.

i called my guy and said NO MORE deliveries, as i am now heating with coal
and only use LP for cooking and hot water. what i have will last me till summer,
and i'm sure they will end up taking one of my 250 lb tanks out, since my usage will
be minimal.

 

[dave1949]

I agree with everything except the ball bat

What were you thinking? 2 lb hammer? Sling blade? :laughing:

 

[Stimw]

Two thoughts, company seeking maximum profits and/or new Fed regulations.
Try to buy a decent, useable 5 gal gas can?????
It is California land of fruits and nuts and never met a regulation they didn't like!

 

[ultrarunner]

Called the office direct today because I was wondering if this could be a scam... a stranger calling and asking me to send a key so he can get in.

The longtime office manager recognized me and said they have a new General Manager and he spent the last two weeks going over every customer file and found my file deficient in that it lacked a safety check with pressure test... (For the House)

She said I was not the only out of town person to call.

Make me wonder how we every made it the first 45 years!

So right now we are at a stand off... told them I will let them know when I come up and right now it is looking like May.

I was thinking what if they found something not to their liking and here I sit in the middle of winter with no gas service!

 

[tcartwri]

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

My supplier just did the same thing. I was not amused.

 

[dave1949]

I could see your supplier refusing to put gas in your tank until a pressure test was completed. That is really in your best interest. If you haven't tested in 45 years, I'd say it's time. :laughing: Houses do blow up from gas leaks.

That's a lot different than saying they will go turn off your gas valve because you don't have a recent pressure test on record. Maybe the person that called you didn't do a good job of delivering the message? Some of these places, it's sort of obvious the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. I'd blame simple incompetence before imagining a sinister plot of some kind.

 

[kenmac]

I agree dave. they should have refused to fill the tank until they could perform a pressure test/check. It's too late now, the tank isn't owned by the gas company and the gas they put in the tank is already paid for. I see no legal grounds for them to be able to come onto the OP's property at this point and turn his gas off. Maybe call them and tell them to refund your $$ and remove the gas and you buy gas from someone else and see what they say... Other than that, it's private property and you better stay off

 

[s219]

I'd tell them you found another supplier and to buzz off. That said, another supplier may have some baloney rules as well, who knows. Or maybe there are state/local laws about this.

Either way, it seems like they are sticking their nose in your business and making you jump through hoops so that you can give them your business. I don't like the sound of that. You own the tank and the propane that's already in it, and it's on your property. Not sure what you need them for in the short term, at least until the tank runs out.

 

[ultrarunner]

Agreed...

Just don't have the time to fool with this now... plus it is winter and we always keep the heat at 40 and the water heater on pilot... have since 1964 and we are the only one's in the neighborhood that have never had freeze problems...

Water is turned off too...

Seems the entire thing revolves around Amerigas company policy to protect against liability... they as much said the driver had no business topping off the tank with an open safety check...

So, I guess they need to cover their collective butts...

Doesn't seem to be another propane supplier in this mountain community.

Don't know anything about Southwest Energy except they have a natural gas line 40' from the cabin and they supply neighbors.