Possible Gas Leak

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:18
ThreadID: 87077 Views:3785 Replies:8 FollowUps:12
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I have a feeling that we may have a gas leak.
Our gas bottles are in the boot of the van and I think I can smell gas when I have the bottles on. Or I may just be paranoid.
With the exception of lighting a match what is the best way to test for a leak.
Cheers
Clint
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Reply By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:22

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:22
Hi Clint,

Try some soapy water. If there is a leak, you should see bubbles.

Leanne
AnswerID: 457883

Follow Up By: Clint & Chell - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:35

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:35
cheers leanne.
if that doesn't work i'll try the match theory. lol
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FollowupID: 731160

Reply By: OREJAP - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:36

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:36
Get a sponge like a washing up variety. Wet it but not saturated. Put washing up liquid or other form of soap & work sponge until you have soapy foam. Put the sponge on gas bottle pipes & outlet after turning bottle on , working the sponge all the time making foam. If soapy bubbles start to blow out from joins then you have a gas leak. After checking other pipes/outlets turn bottle off & see if you can tighten pipe/nut. If it needed a tighten repeat first procedure. If it still leaks you may need some gas bottle thin tape or I think it might be called plumbers/gas fitters tape. You wrap this around the male connection & then put male into female connection on gas bottle and tighten.Check for leaks again with soapy sponge after turning bottle on. If all correct turn that bottle off. If you have a left & right selector switch turn same to the other side & turn on the second bottle. Repeat procedure for the second bottle. If all is correct but after awhile you still smell gas. turn everything off & take van to a Caravan place to have it fully checked. Best to be safe than sorry.
AnswerID: 457885

Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 13:24

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 13:24
Hi
Re:" If it still leaks you may need some gas bottle thin tape or I think it might be called plumbers/gas fitters tape. You wrap this around the male connection & then put male into female connection on gas bottle and "


That should only be considered in an absolute emergency!!

If the leak is coming from the bottle connection ensure both seat & connector are free of dirt , the "o"ring if fitted is in good condition, no cracks ,squashed etc
If it does not have an "o" ring seal, it relies on good metal to metal contact ,If faulty do not attempt to repair, one or both need replacing.
AS posted the valve stem can leak if the valve is not fully turned on, if the leak @ the valve persists you have a faulty valve seal [bottle needs repair/]

DO NOT TAKE RISKS with bodgy repairs, gas like electricity can be very dangerous /deadly

Peter
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FollowupID: 731176

Follow Up By: snoopyone - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 15:49

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 15:49
Hmmm Oldtrack I usually agree with you BUT.

When I got back to QLD with my new van I had to get a gas certificate.

The guy who came to do it said " Who installed these" I said why whats wrong.

He said you should never use tape on fittings on vans.

We had put a changeover tap and copper pigtails where there had been 1 flexible connector.

He wouldnt give me a cert till he removed all the tape as he said they use tapered threads which dont need and shouldnt have tape.

His words Hes the qualified man.

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FollowupID: 731194

Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 16:46

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 16:46
Hi Snoopy

Definately agree .

THAT's why I said in answer to Orejap's post:.
{quote] If it still leaks you may need some gas bottle thin tape or I think it might be called plumbers/gas fitters tape. You wrap this around the male connection & then put male into female connection on gas bottle [end quote]"

"Should only be considered in an absolute emergency"

I suppose I should have added , " then get it repaired AbSOLUTELY ASAP"

Peter
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FollowupID: 731197

Follow Up By: tg123 - Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 14:30

Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 14:30
Absolute rubbish re no tape on tapered threads!! All tapered threads need some sort of lubricant (eg teflon tape) and something to 'fill in' the gaps between the two metal surfaces (eg teflon tape). A number of brands of tape have AGA approval and without lubricant and sealant you will get leakage!! If you put two stainless steel fittings with tapered threads together with no lubricant you will more than likely never get them apart again except in a totally stuffed state. Be aware though that tape should only ever be used on tapered threads, never on parallel as they rely on an 'o'ring or similar to effect the seal.
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Follow Up By: snoopyone - Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 14:49

Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 14:49
Only repeating what the man with the ticket said and as he wouldnt give me a cert with it I didnt argue.

Hasnt leaked since so must be some truth in it
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FollowupID: 731295

Reply By: Member - Niss42 - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:41

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:41
G'day Clint, make sure that the valve is turned fully on as some valves do leak around the valve spindle if not fully opened. DO NOT test with a match, use soapy water, it will blow bubbles if there is a leak.

Cheers,
Barry
AnswerID: 457886

Follow Up By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 15:54

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 15:54
Hi Niss 42 and Clint and Chell,

As an old plumber I recall being told by my boss as a first year apprentice back in 62,
"Son never open a valve all the way, take it all the way then bring it back at least 3/4 of a turn, Then if you have to close it and it has become tight you can move it either way to get it going."

This, I have found, is very good advice because sometimes a valve is fully open and if you are not aware then one might be tempted to get the stillsons on it and shear the spindle. Has happened more than you might think.

Just a bit of cautionary advice.

If a valve leaks around the spindle it is time to get it checked for the families sake.
Inspection update and valve replacement is cheap compared to injury or going through life without a dad.

Don't mean to preach guys but it is dam dangerous stuff if it gets out of your control.
We use a $1.00 spray bottle filled with a detergent water mix and spray around the offending area and it will blow bubbles straight away.

Cheers, Bruce.
At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

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Follow Up By: Ray - Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 08:17

Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 08:17
Must agree with Bruce. I always fully open a valve, any valve and then close it half a turn. This insures that you can close it again when required. Valves have been known to jam if left fully open for any length of time.
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FollowupID: 731252

Reply By: Fred G NSW - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:46

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:46
Clint, if you have any doubt and the soapy water doesn't reveal a leak, get in touch with a plumber/gas-fitter. Leave the gas bottles turned off until you get the all clear.

Could be as simple as a loose connection, or a perished O ring, or even a faulty regulator, but don't take any chances with this stuff.

LPG doesn't take apologies, as we all know, when it goes up.

Be careful.

Fred.
AnswerID: 457887

Reply By: Shaker - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:48

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 10:48
Make sure that you have a gas drain in the bottom of your caravan boot!
Also you can buy gas leak detector in a spray bottle from Bunnings, I assume it only works the same as soapy water in a spray bottle.
AnswerID: 457889

Follow Up By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 11:05

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 11:05
Son in law brought some fancy stuff home from work once, in an aerosol can. It was called Snoop, and they used it for detecting gas leaks. What was it really? Soapy water :))

Cheers, Dave

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FollowupID: 731167

Follow Up By: tg123 - Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 14:35

Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 14:35
Snoop is the rolls royce of leak detectors - will bubble in response to a flea's fart so indicates even the tiniest leak. Much superior to soapy water. Never seen it in an aerosol can, only a squeeze bottle. Available from any Swagelok distributor.
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FollowupID: 731294

Reply By: Member - Len M(lizard) - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 16:47

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 16:47
Hi Clint & Chell,
I once though I had a gas leak. Purchased a in-line gas fuse (safety gauge) connected it up as per instructions and indicated there was a leak!. Gauge cost around $20 available from many different outlets, also gives indication when cylinder is near empty. Have a lot of useless gear this is still one of the better purchases for me

Regards
Lizard (the lizard likes it hot but not that hot)
AnswerID: 457916

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 17:12

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 17:12
Hi Clint,

Maybe I'm a little lazy 'cause I use the soap without the water.
A little dish washing liquid straight out of the bottle, applied to joints will "bubble big time" if there is a leak.
Just wipe the joint afterwards with a paper towel to clean up any excess.
Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

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AnswerID: 457919

Reply By: get outmore - Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 22:15

Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 at 22:15
everyones covered the soapy water thing so i might as well give a different answer (works better in summer)

stand next to the as bottles and ifthe flys are more interested in the bottles than your face - you ave a leak

the aromatics added to gas are irrisistable to flys and I have found a gas leak on an outside bottle by flys hanging around the join
AnswerID: 457941

Follow Up By: landseka - Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 09:53

Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 09:53
Eureka!!!! I have just found a new fly deterrent! Leave a gas bottle leaking away from the wine chair. :-)
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FollowupID: 731268

Follow Up By: Clint & Chell - Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 21:20

Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 21:20
hahaha :)
thanks for the feedback everyone
i will get it looked at before we head off again
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FollowupID: 731342

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