The federal Department of Transportation law pertaining to recreational vehicle propane tanks specifies that a tank must be recertified 12 years after the date the tank was manufactured. DOT initially requires that tanks be stamped with the date they were manufactured. This law was adopted by most states from a standard created by the National Fire Protection Association. If a tank 12 years or older has not been recertified, it is against the law for a propane dealer to fill the DOT propane tank.
The facility that recertifies the tank has to be a DOT recertification facility. This is important to note because not all RV repair facilities are certified to do this kind of work. Make sure you establish this before having your tank inspected to avoid unnecessary costs and delays.
The DOT tank recertification is only good for five years. Your RV propane tank must be recertified every five years thereafter. An approved DOT recertification label is affixed to the tank upon each recertification as proof of inspection and certification.
In addition to your motor home's propane tank recertification, it may be that your propane tank valve needs to be replaced as well. Many older DOT tanks are outfitted with the older POL (Prest-O-Lite) valve. If your RV has a tank with this type of valve, it needs to be changed to the new QCC (Quick Closing Coupling) valve during recertification. If this valve is not replaced, it is unlawful for a propane tank dealer to refill your tank.
It is recommended that you check you RV's entire propane system for leaks once a year. You can do this yourself using a spray bottle filled with soap and water. You should also have your motor home propane system checked for proper pressure once a year by a certified RV technician.
