Recently I have received a number of follow up emails asking about propane tanks in MH and the need for a sticker.
This is a copy of what I posted earlier, updated
Posted: 11/11/10 04:02pm
Previous posting is now closed... hopefully this will assist others facing a similar problem ...
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... we learned of a propane regulation that is not very well enforced. If your motor home is more than 10 years old, your on-board propane tank needs to be certified. This Ontario certification is good for 5 years.
Here is what happened to us.
We arrived at a gas station that sold auto-propane in addition to refilling the regular propane tanks for BBQs etc. The clerk asked how old was our MH and when she discovered that it was more than 10 years old asked where our sticker was. We did not have the necessary sticker. We have been having our propane tank refilled a number of times each year and this was the first time that we heard of needing a sticker. According to the clerk, the regulation has been in effect for a number of years.
Yes, we did know that portable tanks had to be checked every 10 years and the retail outlets do a good job of checking the date stamp on the portable tanks but not so with regard to on-board tanks in a motor home. When we have chatted with other motor home owners, many have wondered if there was a regulation similar to the portable tanks but like us, had never been questioned by the retailer.
From a safety point of view, this regulation appears to make all kinds of sense and we were happy to conform but finding a certified person to do the work was a challenge.
When I asked where do I go to get the tank certified, she did not know but she would not refill our tank until such time as I had the sticker. Full marks for her for enforcing the regulations. Zero marks for not being very helpful as to where to go for assistance.
I phone two propane suppliers and neither of them did the certification. I phoned an RV dealer but they indicated that I could book me an appointment in about 6 weeks. I email the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the regulators TSSA (who regulate the propane stuff) in an attempt to find someone who could check out our tank. Finally after a few additional phone calls, I was directed to an auto service garage and yes they could check the tank for me and issue a sticker.
(update) When I did get a reply from the Ministry, I was directed to check the TSSA website for places to have the recertification done - the last time I check which was sometime ago now, the website had not been updated.)
It turns out that the inspection for Motor Homes takes about an hour or so, tank is visually inspected and all connections are tested for leaks, (connections at the tank, lines to various appliances, and all appliance connections). The firm was the only firm other than the RV Dealer who could not accommodate us within a reasonable time frame, within two hours drive of my location at the time. We were thankful that we had the extend-a-stay system and could use an auxiliary propane tank.
We made an appointment to have the work done and if anyone is interested in additional details, please email us.
Our new sticker was placed on our MH window facing outward so that it could be read by the person needing to refill our tank.
The place that we had the work done was:
Enviran Auto Service, Flesherton, Ontario. 1-888-986-3834
We were very pleased with the friendly service that we received!
We are less than pleased with the propane industry and it network of retailers commitment to safety and service.
To our Government and its regulators, why is it so difficult to get information?
Update: Since obtaining the sticker, we have never been asked about it. Whether the sticker was noticed or not by the service person we do not know. We have noticed that everytime we have the portable tanks filled, the date on the tank is checked.
Moderator: If you wish to switch this to MH catagory, that is okay.
Frank Spence
Ontario Canada
Member: Explorer-RV Club (Canada)
We invite you to check out our website: General happenings in our lives
TSSA website: If anyone has the direct link to where RV related matters are displayed, could you please post it. If you find the recertification list of firms able to do the work, could you please post it. I was just into the website and gave up trying to find information.
Anyone wishing to see a picture of the sticker can check our blog:
The metal tag would be regarded as the same as the sticker but that is just a guess on my part. You might like to consider asking the TSSA via email or phone about your situation. You might have grounds for official complaint or you might learn something to share with everyone else.
Interesting. I was forced to have the propane system in our previous RV (2000 Triple E Regency) recertified before the dealer would perform a recall on our Dometic Fridge. This would have been in 2010 - they told me I had to get it done because the RV was more than 5 years old.
I was never asked where my sticker was when filling the tank, nor did I GET a sticker when the system was recertified. Instead, they installed a date-stamped metal tag on the tank support.
Me thinks I got hosed...
2012 Jayco Embark TB390
2009 Honda CRV TOAD with Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar
FMCA #F413428
Actually the TSSA is the regulator in Ontario, the government used to do the approvals and certifications but that was passed on to TSSA a number of years ago.
My experience with TSSA was that they were more responsive (timely) than working with the government bureaucrats, at least for approvals on the pressure vessel/piping side.
Some taxicabs and other vehicles run on propane so we always look for the stations that have a vertically-oriented propane tank and actual filling pumps that look similar to the ones for gasoline.
Nobody has ever asked to see a certificate except for a place that does gasoline-to-propane conversions, and I suspect they were trying to trick me into paying $100 for a so-called re-certification that would take 15 minutes. (I refused the "offer", but they still filled up the tank!) The law here in Ontario since the Sunrise disaster is very unclear, and leaving it up to the TSSA seems odd, IMHO.
Jerry & Susie
1996 Roadtrek 190 Versatile (Dodge 5.2 L)
FMCA F390585 Trees are being destroyed through the transportation of invasive insects and diseases in firewood. For more information, please visit www.dontmovefirewood.org
Don't mean to hi-jack this thread but it seems finding propane in Ontario for motorhomes is a real challenge. Since the Sunrise disaster TSSA over-reacted and regulated the majority of the small distributors out of business. Here I am in a city of 130000 people with no where to get propane.
J J
2001 Four Winds Chateau 31N E450 V10
2006 Saturn Vue V6 AWD, drivetrain by Honda, body by Tupperware
Aventa II, Brake Buddy
Propane pumps are becoming less popular everywhere. It seems that many places are going to those exchange-a-tank programs. Not much good for on board tanks, or rv's that run 30lb tanks. (plus the full exchange tanks aren't actually full - check the fine print)
Info on this certification seems hard to come by. What happens to out of province rv'ers?
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