I ran out of CO2, what now?

[Corny Keg]

I have also been testing cylinders for the last 35 years and all CO2 cylinders are tested every five years. Being made from steel or aluminum makes no difference.

 

[chazam]

Something to consider though. Do you trade your tank or refill it? If you get the same tank refilled each time you run into a problem eventually. An aluminum tank needs to be recertified every 5 years. I think steel is 10 years, but don't quote me. I just had mine done and it takes several weeks, the last one they forgot to call me and it was 2 months. ( I called them the day before it came back and they assured me they would call....)

A second tank to bridge the gap helps. I keep a 20 pound on the keezer, and a 5 pound in my work area. It is handy for purging and stuff. When the 20 empties out I put the 5 on the keezer until i can get to the store. If I take it to the one that sends it out it is about half the price of the one that fills on the spot. So the cost of the second tank slowly pays back for me.

It wasn't a refill technically. It was more like a switch of brewferm tanks. We talked about the expiration date of the tanks. They said that if it's due date, they will have to inspect it somehow. So they don't like to take old tanks, but they still do. It's just more work for them.

 

[Corny Keg]

you've never noticed that the connectors for co2 are different vs nitrogen vs oxygen, etc. etc? i'm not an authority or someone who's worked in the industry but its pretty obvious the containers are not interchangeable...

we had a bulk liquid tank we used at our old brewery and i remember that in the process of looking for supplier initially i asked them about food grade vs industrial. i was told that because we have a big old budweiser plant, crap ton of wineries, a large amount of hospitals/medical/research activity, and a major population center that food grade was the default. i've never even seen the option of selecting your grade at praxair, matheson, airgas, etc. we also have a few refineries as well which you would think would use alot of cheaper industrial grade. but i've never seen it offered. ( i also havent ever asked for it) but the story seems to match reality in our area.

CO2 is filled on its own system so cross contamination from other gases is not possible. Cleanliness of your cylinder is really what makes food grade, food grade. Most industrial grade and food grade are filled from the same tank and only medical grade and higher have any lab certification done on a batch basis. The quality of the gas is certified by the manufacturer when it is shipped out to the distributors.

Inert gases that use a CGA580 valve such as Argon and Nitrogen are often filled on a combined manifold but not CO2 with a CGA320 valve.

 

[belgabrewing]

While CO2 is CO2, you never know whether the people that don't sell it as food grade aren't using the manifolds and other equipment to fill your bottle with that they may have just used to fill other gases with.

Sure, it's probably not enough to really worry about. But as some are picky about a cubic inch of air getting in their fermenter, they may not want a cubic foot of O2 mixed in their CO2 bottle. Which if they don't flush the lines with the new gas before filling your tank might be a real possibility.

Welding supply houses deal with a lot of different gases. Acetylene in beer might be an interesting taste.

If they aren't willing to call it food grade, then they aren't taking the procedures to make certain things don't get mixed up. IMO.

I fill my Co2 tanks at a nearby paintball shop. They claim their Co2 system has to be squeaky clean to protect the expensive paintball guns. I also have a paintball tank with an adapter I bought online to connect it to a Co2 regulator as a backup.

 

[SanPancho]

CO2 is filled on its own system so cross contamination from other gases is not possible. Cleanliness of your cylinder is really what makes food grade, food grade. Most industrial grade and food grade are filled from the same tank and only medical grade and higher have any lab certification done on a batch basis. The quality of the gas is certified by the manufacturer when it is shipped out to the distributors.

Inert gases that use a CGA580 valve such as Argon and Nitrogen are often filled on a combined manifold but not CO2 with a CGA320 valve.

So with Respect to cylinders, everything starts “food grade” but if it gets dirty somehow it’s now industrial? Where/how would that happen? If you bought a. used cylinder how would you know?

 

[Dr_Jeff]

I have also been testing cylinders for the last 35 years and all CO2 cylinders are tested every five years. Being made from steel or aluminum makes no difference.

What percentage tanks fail the test?
Or how many failures a week do you typically have?

 

[Draft Master Flash]

I usually get mine filled at a welding supply store that also fills for a lot of the restaurant chains around and they claim it's all the same co2. Never had a problem. as far as getting the 5 year hydrotest, the scuba shops seem to have the quickest turn around. I keep two 20# tanks and two 5# tanks so it's not likely I will run dry. The only time I exchanged one was when the CGA320 valve on this particular tank didn't have the threads drilled to enable a "Leak Stopper" so instead of buying a new valve I just exchanged it.

DMF

 

[TheBluePhantom]

I have also been testing cylinders for the last 35 years and all CO2 cylinders are tested every five years. Being made from steel or aluminum makes no difference.

I was also taking to the guy about converting a helium to a nitrogen or argon. So details may have cross contaminated. As I said, don't quote me.

 

[TheBluePhantom]

never seen a recert fee cost less than a swap.....

Have you seen a place that swaps 20#? I haven't yet.

 

[SanPancho]

Have you seen a place that swaps 20#? I haven't yet.

LHBS swaps 20s.
hydroponic supply houses all swap 20s and 50s. (only alum tho, or at least the ones out here)

 

[day_trippr]

AirGas will swap anything one can bring in

 

[SanPancho]

AirGas will swap anything one can bring in

and they'll charge you for the recert fee if you're out of date.

even if you're not they're still highway robbery. $27 for 5# swap. and that was in 2020!!!!! CO2 Bottle Refill Costs?!

 

[day_trippr]

Though it only happened twice, my local AirGas fill station did not charge me for a hydro test for my bought-elsewhere expired cylinders. And I've read on HBT that's not uncommon...

Cheers!

 

[50calshooter]

You are willing to make that statement for every supplier of gas out there?

Yes I am.

 

[Dr_Jeff]

I've carried in old out of date ugly tanks and swapped them for tanks that looked new. The people at the gas place didn't blink twice or even give the old take a good look. It was like, brought is a bottle, get a bottle. But one time I brought in a nice aluminum bottle and got an old steel bottle with no handle, that's just how it work out. But since I've learned to look and ask when they are grabbing the bottles, and say "hey can I have that one instead?", they always comply with no grumbles.

 

[SanPancho]

Though it only happened twice, my local AirGas fill station did not charge me for a hydro test for my bought-elsewhere expired cylinders. And I've read on HBT that's not uncommon...

Cheers!

i think it really goes back to what i mentioned up above - that its really all about local conditions. bluephantom says he cant find a 20# swap, but we've got them like weeds. (hydroponics shops mainly, but also some brew shops) and virtually no one out here does fills, only swaps.

we also have all sorts of other random fees added on like hazmat, etc. that jack up our prices.

but overall, everyone seems to have differing experiences and opinions. which pretty much confirms that its really about what you personally see/hear when you go looking for a refill...

 

[KyBeer]

I ran out of CO2 once and made a mad ruch to my local HBS. They suggested I purchase a second tank to use with my Beer Gun and when one tank goes out just switch until I can get in for a refill. They also directed me to a local big box liquor store for emergency CO2 tank swaps. (about five dollars higher than the HBS.) I was told to watch the date on the tank and if it was close to needing recert, change it out to avoid the recert charge.
I place my tanks in a freezer prior to getting them refilled. Is this normal and if so why?