Purging a 20# Propane Tank

[hawg]

I have a 20 pounder that they keep telling me is hard to fill when I take it in. I’ve been told by a couple people it needs to be purged. What is purging? Can I just open it up tip it upside down to get all the air and moisture out of it and is that purged?

[ds]

It has to pumped down with a vacuum pump to get all the air out. Easiest fix is exchange for a full one at the mini mart

[Raquettedacker]

It has to pumped down with a vacuum pump to get all the air out. Easiest fix is exchange for a full one at the mini mart

  X2...    Exchange it.

[hawg]

Thanks, it came from Menards, I’ll give it back to them.

[Bucket Rump]

Whenever I've gotten a brand new never-before filled tank my propane source will do an air purge on it by initially pressurizing the tank with propane vapor to blend with the ambient air inside the tank.  They then open the valve to release the air mixture and then commence filling with liquid propane.

[bowski76]

Everytime I get my tanks filled, they open the valve on the side of the stem (with a screwdriver), the air inside the tank is forced out by the propane.
I never had an issue.

[ActiveTrapChecker]

It has to pumped down with a vacuum pump to get all the air out. Easiest fix is exchange for a full one at the mini mart

Yup, get a nice shiny new one from the gas station, then start taking that one to be refilled

[2MuchStuff]

Everytime I get my tanks filled, they open the valve on the side of the stem (with a screwdriver), the air inside the tank is forced out by the propane.
I never had an issue.
x2     

[RStock521]

Yup, get a nice shiny new one from the gas station, then start taking that one to be refilled

Only problem I've run in to with this method is that a lot of times the exchange tanks are expired, so my local place won't fill them.

[Rebelss]

Everytime I get my tanks filled, they open the valve on the side of the stem (with a screwdriver), the air inside the tank is forced out by the propane.
I never had an issue.
x2   

X3. My propane company guy told me that's how to do it, does it yearly to mine.

[FG Steve]

Only problem I've run in to with this method is that a lot of times the exchange tanks are expired, so my local place won't fill them.

That's when you exchange again.  The exchange folks will swap you out of the expired one.  In some locales this can be cheaper than paying for an inspection.