SOLVED: Serious propane problem

Ladiver

Well-known member
I am still going through the Cyclone and testing systems out. I finally got the propane tanks filled yesterday ($66). I put them back in, hooked them up and smelled for leaks. No leaks. Good to go. This morning, i turned the fridge to cool on propane and lit the stove burners. All appeared great.

Just got back 2.5 hours later and saw the flashing light on the fridge to check propane. Well, to my disappointment, both propane tanks are completely empty. Where did the propane go?????

Where do I even start looking for the leak? I did not smell anything after the propane was installed. I know there was propane in the bottles because I watched them fill them, and they were much heavier when I put them back!

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff
 

danemayer

Well-known member
Re: Serious propane problem

Jeff,

First, I'm wondering how you determined the tanks were empty. The refrigerator error doesn't mean the tanks are empty.

Btw, a 40# tank weighs about 33# empty, and 73# full.

If you open the tank valve too fast, the overflow protection device shuts off the flow. Could that be what happened? There might have been enough LP in the lines for the refrigerator to successfully switch over, but then run out of propane after a minute or two.

If that's not it, it should be easy to run down a leak that let out all the propane in a short time. The refrigerator, furnace, water heater, oven, and range are all plumbed for propane. If you have a generator, on a Cyclone it's probably not propane fired.

With at least one tank full and on, I would start sniffing each of the appliances, starting with the ones outside since you didn't hear an alarm inside.
 

Ladiver

Well-known member
Re: Serious propane problem

OK, I figured it out. 2 potential problems. First, I probably opened the tanks too fast. Second would possibly be air in the lines, since there had never been propane hooked up. After removing the tanks, they are still heavy and DO have propane in them. A disconnect, reconnect and let the burners burn for a little bit seems to have solved the problem.

Thanks for the quick response Dan. I was hoping to edit/delete my post before anyone replied.

Jeff
 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member
Re: Serious propane problem

OK, I figured it out. 2 potential problems. First, I probably opened the tanks too fast. Second would possibly be air in the lines, since there had never been propane hooked up. After removing the tanks, they are still heavy and DO have propane in them. A disconnect, reconnect and let the burners burn for a little bit seems to have solved the problem.

Thanks for the quick response Dan. I was hoping to edit/delete my post before anyone replied.



Jeff

No need to delete a post like this. Someone else later on may experience the same thing and you'll have saved them a lot of angst. But, for future reference, I'd recommend getting a portable gas detector so you can periodically check your propane system outside the coach. I have this inexpensive one and it does work.

http://www.lorest.com/products/portablegasdetector
 

Lynn1130

Well-known member
Re: Serious propane problem

Just an FYI but as I was getting ready for a trip I could smell propane on the door side of the trailer. Further inspection revealed a leak at one of the tank connections. I took it in to have other work done and asked that the leak be repaired. They found the regulator was bad and leaking and there were two connection leaks on the other side of the trailer at the tank. It does not hurt to check them often.
 

TravisJen

Active Member
Re: Serious propane problem

I'm also having an issue with my fridge not relighting. It will light initially and cool but the next time it tries to light, the LEDs just flash. If I cycle it OFF/ON 4 or 5 times, it will light. It did this for 5 days so I assume there's no more air in the lines. Any ideas?
 

ICamel

Active Member
Re: Serious propane problem

Have you checked for spider webs in the venturi tube of the LP to burner on the fridge?
 

wdk450

Well-known member
Re: Serious propane problem

A sure test to see if your propane is leaking (but does not find the exact location of the leak) is to use a propane tank pressure gauge like I have pictured below. To test the system, attach the gauge between your tank and the regulator hose that normally attaches to the tank. Turn on the tank valve to pressurize the system, and note the gauge needle reading. Turn off the tank valve and watch the needle reading for about 5 minutes. If the needle does not go down, you do not have a leak in the system.

//heartlandowners.org/image/jpeg;base64,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 2XDfiYvsUn8ER9f0pbLj 8nLsg/nY e/ZqnJ9 nxHsc rxj9Rgd3/AOL zsyWWtbnljp1/iN/w9aNSEZxd4ySknzTV0/A S1g3xa8fojoWyumuLo4enR9a7U4qC0j GKsle2ulhhGXdgap6PekM8dQm6jTqU55W0rXi1eLdtOfgbWQsAAAAAAAAAAAAeNgegAAALgAUzmkrt2RE4vbsY/hWbrei pW1615TETPCYBrL23XluUe6LYW2q8fxKPfGS8ynWqt05bMCJwm2oy0knHrWqJSMk1daovW8W4VmJjlUAcl9JXSKrSxc6SnJRioWSbVrxUnu7Syszhr/pg2s6e0Z0/e0jB6O2jgv8AJz6ptd/p8W/oTO2q3tGWo9Zapvjo9E397yKnhloWQxntOT3RXmU 3VXwXh9TM9nKvZwlgLFVXx8LL4GdQrza97eVqgXPVJAdR9CGKfrK9N/mgpfySt/cddOG iGtkx8V/uRnD nP/YdyKpAAAAAAAAC366N7X1LW0amSlOXFRfjbQ1KtiKmkk3xMNXV2L1rlNLaV8Tlusquvk/gW8TtX/mFG/up2 F38TXMWpxqQkt8lJ/B/M9rU5OMZcW/qcfXt/rfpQ3FbXp3kr6LzLU9qJ7nZffUa3hqUnHrZk08PKxede0qdOITM9pPcn38fIVMVKSWWTv4du4ifZ5FWNr zUr/vJ6LqXMp1Lz2ynbEKNtbWt7l8zXgn9TU8RtZxndXnJO9r 7pwbtbwRRj6z3XeZ8eV PazFVKx0RG38ue p6b7sqrLE01Ug0k9GuMZLfCXWv8APEkFh6seTNF6P7VlhKubV0paVIrXThOK/UvNXXK3RMRjacKTrXzU1HPminK8bXzLLe6txOqk7kRbtlh zQlwyy5r5riX8LWdN5ZaN7v0y61y7DDq7QdfBvEYeGabjmgpJxu1vVre9ua038HxLmGjUnSjGvFRqNapWajP Gzd19srfSx3jtK1dTPZOQmmcG9L0Wtp1OuFN/0JfI6ntLHVqdBzg/fpSjnX6qae/wC Bxz0hYydTFupPfKnFrsu0vgRTViZx5LVnGUDg/ep25N28vqVypX/AMGBhW5Kyll17eBeqYFuN3Ulw5aaq nYzWFWTKlbfJeSKZZF bz hZ/Zcbazk 8rhs2imrq/O7fDqLCmWJorfK/eV068ajShfTeXFQpR3Qj4Jl2NVLTQIT/QquqOOw8uHrYx1/jeRv8AqPoJHzBRxbjJNb1qu1ar4H07TldJ81fxKymFQAISAAAAAMfaFPNTcedl5ojZbLul99hK4qpli5crPzI39oqL1el XWcuvt3fua6e7HZiY7ZTfqrLVXT8F9C/PZn mo8c3zf1MPbG2XBU5RdrtrxWnwMfH7Zc6OZOzUk9OxX JxTOnmW8ReYhNQwVOCUZb ZetBbuBr2B2tKrZ3v7tnfqvqZlTGN8rci PCvTnykK048tTTulGLzV8vCCS8d7 BNUq7c48rpeaNW6Rp vqdd34JfQtpTmymrG2qGrJ1G3ezv9orw8aibztNW4cW232rSysUUZF 5vMuLLydSyOh9FtmVKOFyVtc7cvVuzVOM99Pr4t8Ltpab9H2JRjUxdCErWdRN/wDbjKol4wR1D1sXHMmpRaummmmupo20Y8rUjyi9syxMPVrDRhrNesvZLK5q7Vtbu7vo9G3vsSGIjdX4/fzOPYvbWLrQq4p4udGpCbUKEXaKS3LLez4rVPVa9XTNgbRnWwMa9Re86am0tLu19L7rm02i0YjwvFcSrxiV9fw1IOEu9Wf9vgcG6a4ipKrB1I2spQXXlld bO7Y V6UXbg vjHicn9I0Y1IU2t8Zyj3O/8A6nHEY1nR/G59hKlpP701 pmzq6NvimY0aNpFxUI835I7IYLksZyKXivqUxox4J97 hVk/hXn8ycoUSxD /MKu2V5Hyiu5FSi7NN6PQCrDTvNdp9QdHq3rMHh5vfKjTk 1wi2fMFOFmj6S6EVc2zsM VNR/kvH5ESlOgAgAAAAAFjHwzUprnF/A1qrhdLNtrn8zaam4gL2ut7i7fI4/lRxLfRnlF7Z2cnT0ekLPuv/wDT2ezIOi4x4xzd6 0ZHrM8JR5qUH26oxtlYq8FferxZwTjd XX4eYXDRjThKPHf9 JnKhF2 ZFYXEWUoP8kvL7uZ6xcL9wiVbMmOGSZF7b2YqlTNdpb9LXas9Ne1/yl rjrdRcw KVRWv70dV1x4 HwL1tjhSYzy1GphsNTt7lWrJ3svWOF3G/BWdrK97brczJxOGhCMZeppwhKMJXqy3Xtng3UbvLVpK35VvvpnbWw1WnFyoRULfmVpSlf8t5aRfBN34bjTaOCxeLlKSjOTjpJtSla mVt633WS53srXUfp9WZ57fnLo09PTmMzMQnKW3aFCFO1KLlTknKooxppxUrSsmlJuULrVJe8TmDnVx0VRwsHhNnx0UorJOrHiqa/dwfPfr2pYWxOgjdqmIkpzWqg9Yw/6kvxy8u036jHKradx6XxdGdKsxLj VfStaOnx9/LWpej/Z8pKTpvS2maVnbmr6/PiTuLjGEFSirZtFaySSa8FuWhdxWLjTWu97ore3w0 b0MakrN16lsz/AAx4WW5 b8zeZxGXNHda2hSu4Ul1LxevyIb0s7OhPZkpqKzUZQknbVJyUJa8rPyJjDVLzzvu7 J5t j7Tha1H/chKK7Wvd87GOlGc29r39PnCSs12lzK ZJS6NY1yt7PVunr7j4de4g8VimpNWtZ2133W9GyjIhbi9bnrkkRcpybe/XgeqjN8GShIurHmjxYiPMw44OXIvU8A7rcBmRR370X182zaa/RKcfGWb 44RGjbTkdr9ESfsU77vWu38sLkSlvIAAAAAAAKZrQg8VRcZuS471zJ4s1aKkVvSLRiU1tNZzDmtXaFaliXTUc0Zyula7s3wLGJdaGJSpaxqu8V1/mT5W1Oj/s6N72V dlfxKVs2Kd0km97srvvOOPh/d0z8n1DRNo0ZurHKmpVLK3Xu8Os2HDbDhG29tcW2T8MGkZEaKRtp/HpXPllbVmyBWx4PXKn26l2OzUtVFLrSSJzKMqNtlfTPdKAknDetHpfg prh99hapYqnDS2S3Ld2/epsFSgmYFbZyf3f8AyU22p9PHpfdE8vKGIjLc4vvsWMVKeZ/6sIQ0tqr9avvLU9jR5W7D2Gx4odS/9Uba 1l4inHKouVWSv70lo07uz4vVleSpU957zNpYGMeBlwpkbLX 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
 
Top