| Propane Leak [message #187761] |
Sat, 20 October 2012 09:56  |
Bruce Hart
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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My wife and myself just returned from a 1500 mile trip to Montana and back in our PB. I have started to do the winterizing, emptying water tank, emptying black tank, and a few maintenance items as well. We took off to a neighboring town 40 miles away when we received a phone call from my brother.
"The fire department is at your house because you have a gas leak and they believe it is going to blow up."
Truth of the story is the fire chief lives down the street from me and someone contacted him and he came over to investigated the leak. He found what he described over the phone as a pop off valve that was leaking propane. Being 40 miles away I asked him what can be done to secure the area, and he said he had never run into this problem before and wasn't sure himself what could be done. He was concerned for someone walking by with a lit cigarette that would cause the propane to ignite and cause serious bodily damage and personnel property damage. He ask for me to get back home as soon as possible. I told him with evening traffic that it would take about 50 minutes to get back home.
An hour later we got back home and all was dark and nobody was around the GMC. I went down to the fire chiefs house and together we went back to the motor home. He raised the door to the propane compartment and showed me where it was leaking from. I pushed and pulled on the 1/4" fitting trying to see if I could seat it closed, and than I twisted the end of it and it threaded down tight and no more leak.
The neighbor hood was safe at last.
During the day I had removed my water hose from the propane storage area and possibly the hose caught on the cap and and unscrewed enough to allow gas to leak out. With bad hearing and not able to smell for the past 35 years I was unaware of the problem that I had created.
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
1977 28' Kingsley
La Grange, Wyoming
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| Re: Propane Leak [message #187786 is a reply to message #187761] |
Sat, 20 October 2012 16:47  |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I had concerns over my propane tank, and took mine to a local RV dealer this last summer. They did find some leaks and replaced a few valves on the tank.
After all these years, I feel good replacing things that can catch fire and possibly burn down the coach (or house/neighborhood)! I felt it was money well spent, and not all that expensive in hindsight.
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: Propane Leak [message #187843 is a reply to message #187761] |
Sun, 21 October 2012 08:11 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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The propane tank in my coach has a couple leaks. The fill valve sticks sometimes (leading to it "outgassing" after the fill valve is removed. I've found that just poking a non-metallic (!) object into the opening will "reset" the valve and it stops leaking. The other leak appears to be the packing on the on/off valve - that is, it leaks while turning it on or off, but not in either the full-on or full-off position.
As a result, the tank works just fine, but it's annoying to have to deal with leaking gas when filling the tank or turning the gas on or off.
Where's the best place to get replacement fill and control valves for our old tanks?
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: Propane Leak [message #187898 is a reply to message #187761] |
Sun, 21 October 2012 19:36 |
kingd
Messages: 592
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Perhaps HASBEENs last post should say "they will have to burn off the GAS from the tank to change either valve." LOL
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Re: Propane Leak [message #187911 is a reply to message #187843] |
Sun, 21 October 2012 22:06 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| habbyguy wrote on Sun, 21 October 2012 06:11 |
... The other leak appears to be the packing on the on/off valve - that is, it leaks while turning it on or off, but not in either the full-on or full-off position.
As a result, the tank works just fine, but it's annoying to have to deal with leaking gas when filling the tank or turning the gas on or off. ...
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Believe it or not, the output valves on propane tanks is NOT designed to seal the steam when not full closed or fully open.
That said, they normally do not leak THAT much during the transition from closed to open.
I had one replaced at a REAL propane supply facility. IIRC it wasn't THAT expensive.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Leak [message #187935 is a reply to message #187761] |
Mon, 22 October 2012 07:07 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I didn't even know what that was for till the last time I bought propane. It's the fill releif valve. They guy opened it and then ran the propane in, in about a tenth as long as it usually takes. Then he tightened the valve which made the smell go away. He said that's why you turn everything off and vacate the coach while filling,.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach.
From: Bruce Hart <hartsgmc@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 10:56 AM
Subject: [GMCnet] Propane Leak
My wife and myself just returned from a 1500 mile trip to Montana and back in our PB. I have started to do the winterizing, emptying water tank, emptying black tank, and a few maintenance items as well. We took off to a neighboring town 40 miles away when we received a phone call from my brother.
"The fire department is at your house because you have a gas leak and they believe it is going to blow up."
Truth of the story is the fire chief lives down the street from me and someone contacted him and he came over to investigated the leak. He found what he described over the phone as a pop off valve that was leaking propane. Being 40 miles away I asked him what can be done to secure the area, and he said he had never run into this problem before and wasn't sure himself what could be done. He was concerned for someone walking by with a lit cigarette that would cause the propane to ignite and cause serious bodily damage and personnel property damage. He ask for me to get back home as soon as possible. I told him with evening traffic that it would take about 50 minutes to get back home.
An hour later we got back home and all was dark and nobody was around the GMC. I went down to the fire chiefs house and together we went back to the motor home. He raised the door to the propane compartment and showed me where it was leaking from. I pushed and pulled on the 1/4" fitting trying to see if I could seat it closed, and than I twisted the end of it and it threaded down tight and no more leak.
The neighbor hood was safe at last.
During the day I had removed my water hose from the propane storage area and possibly the hose caught on the cap and and unscrewed enough to allow gas to leak out. With bad hearing and not able to smell for the past 35 years I was unaware of the problem that I had created.
--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Propane Leak [message #187944 is a reply to message #187843] |
Mon, 22 October 2012 07:57 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Your local propane dealer has them or can get them. I simply took mine apart and bought a set of O rings about the right size and replaced them - including the packing one. Realize, however, nearly all of them leak a bit when the valve is in transit. You don't lose enough to worry about, although smoking while opening/closing the valve is not an Indicated Activity.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: Mark <mark@habcycles.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Propane Leak
The propane tank in my coach has a couple leaks. The fill valve sticks sometimes (leading to it "outgassing" after the fill valve is removed. I've found that just poking a non-metallic (!) object into the opening will "reset" the valve and it stops leaking. The other leak appears to be the packing on the on/off valve - that is, it leaks while turning it on or off, but not in either the full-on or full-off position.
As a result, the tank works just fine, but it's annoying to have to deal with leaking gas when filling the tank or turning the gas on or off.
Where's the best place to get replacement fill and control valves for our old tanks?
--
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Propane Leak [message #187983 is a reply to message #187761] |
Mon, 22 October 2012 14:24 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Thanks, Johnny and Mike. The leak while I'm transitioning the valve from full-shut to full-open is pretty spectacular. Doesn't quite (!) blow my hair back, but there is a loud "whoosh" and enough gas released that it takes a couple minutes for the area to go back to smelling like something other than a refinery.
The overflow valve seems to work just fine - but the "fill valve" leaks enough that it's visible. It certainly precludes smoking while messing with the propane either way (fortunately that's one of the bad habits I avoided).
I'll find a "real" propane dealer out there somewhere and get the valves or o-rings to reduce the propane leaks - next time I find myself with some time AND an empty propane tank.
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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