Chicago Suburbs CO2 Tank Recertification

[bg9929]

I have a couple co2 tanks that certifications have expired. Normally get tanks refilled at Illinois Fire & safety in Addison. They told me it would be $90 per tank to recertify. That sounded too high and found range of $10-20 seems to be common on here. Anyone know a better place to get recertified and other filling options. Thanks

 

[day_trippr]

Take one of them to the closest AirGas filling center (not one of the non-filling satellite outlets) for a swap.
The odds are very good you will not be charged for a hydro test.
If it works, wait a couple of weeks before taking the other tank...

Cheers!

 

[stan1007]

Take one of them to the closest AirGas filling center (not one of the non-filling satellite outlets) for a swap.
The odds are very good you will not be charged for a hydro test.
If it works, wait a couple of weeks before taking the other tank...

Cheers!

Air Gas no longer does in house testing. Their fee is now in the $70 range. The test doesn't cost nearly that much but it is their way of "encouraging" you to lease tanks vs. purchasing them.

 

[day_trippr]

Funny - there are a lot of job openings at Airgas for hydrotest techs...

Cheers!

 

[stan1007]

Funny - there are a lot of job openings at Airgas for hydrotest techs...

Cheers!

I took a personally owned tank in to AirGas a couple of months ago and was quoted $70+ before tax for testing. The franchise manager told me that that is their standard fee for hydrostatic testing for all non-Air Gas owned tanks and also stated that that Air Gas (in this area) has a third party conduct their tests.

It may be a regional issue as I live in the TN/KY area. It is cheaper for me to buy a new tank, at this point, than have one retested.

 

[TallDan]

Welding supply place near me doesn't seem to pay attention to dates when they swap tanks. Might be because the one guy I tend to talk to there homebrews and we chat about beer for a little while. I'm sure if I specifically asked, they have a price. Also, since I'm always swapping for one of their tanks, if it's due for testing it's because they gave me one that was close to the test date. Gurnee is a bit of a drive for you though.

 

[IslandLizard]

Call around. In this area hydro tests are around $25-30. $70 is gouging it.

After calling around I ended up swapping my expired 20# tank at Praxair, no charge for hydro testing. New tank is good looking and shiny, but "Praxair" is hard stamped (engraved) into the shoulder. I guess I don't "own" my tank anymore. But as long as I keep swapping them there I'm fine.

At $27 for 20# I can live with that at the moment.

I can get them filled for around the same price or a tad less, but the one place that fills doesn't fill 20# while you wait anymore, you got to leave it there and come back. That's another hour+ round trip.

 

[mirthfuldragon]

Welding supply place near me doesn't seem to pay attention to dates when they swap tanks. [...] sure if I specifically asked, they have a price. Also, since I'm always swapping for one of their tanks, if it's due for testing it's because they gave me one that was close to the test date. Gurnee is a bit of a drive for you though.

I went by American Gasses in Gurnee with two tanks - a 20# last tested in 2004 and an aluminum 5# manufactured in 2008. They charged me just one $12.50 re-certification fee on the exchange, ~$20 for the 20# fil and $15? (or there abouts) for the 5# fill. Out the door with two tanks certified in the last 12 months for less than $60. The trip was a half our out of my way, but worth it for me. No hassles, reasonable fees.

 

[TallDan]

I went by American Gasses in Gurnee with two tanks - a 20# last tested in 2004 and an aluminum 5# manufactured in 2008. They charged me just one $12.50 re-certification fee on the exchange, ~$20 for the 20# fil and $15? (or there abouts) for the 5# fill. Out the door with two tanks certified in the last 12 months for less than $60. The trip was a half our out of my way, but worth it for me. No hassles, reasonable fees.

Might be less than a half hour out of your way if you do it sometime when we're not having record flooding.

Glad it worked out! They've always been good to work with for me.

$12.50 is pretty reasonable for a recert fee too.