Propane Smell

The main tank is empty and I do not have it open. I have the other tank hooked up to extend a stay and just have that one open and smell propane. I'm getting frustrated being I have no one to help me. I'm thinking of taking the regulator off and have it checked.

Are you totally bypassing your on-board tank? If not, you may be causing the pressure valve on your tank to open slightly and allow some gas to escape. And often times when the tank is near empty you will start to smell the mercaptan (the odor in LP and natural gas) since the appliance that uses the gas is not completely burning the gas due to lower pressure.

If you disconnected the tank and you are putting the gas in on the tank side of your on-board regulator, you may have a slight leak from your on-board tank if the main valve is not closed completely.

As far as hearing gas flowing through the regulator, you should, if anything is using gas at the time. Gas flows from the tank through the regulator and the diaphragm regulates the pressure downward according to a preset limit. If everything is off and nothing is using propane and you STILL hear a flow, then you might have a bad regulator. BUT... you should be able to isolate the smell at the regulator if that's the case.

Recheck all your connections first and check for leaks around all fittings and valves.

Hi Brian in Michigan...the main tank on rv is empty and the one I hooked up to extend a stay is half full. It is one for a bbq gas grill

How full are the tanks? I know there have been times when the propane gets low it seems you can smell it no matter what.

I've disconnect and reconnected hoses and there is still a smell...very confused!

I will disconnect and reconnect to see if it works..thank you

Had similar after filling tanks, hose wasnt seated against tank valve good. Took it loose and put it back on and it sealed.

Thank you all for your advise. I have done the soapy water test and no bubbles. There is a sound like propane going thru lines at the regulator. I'm thinking I have a bad regulator. I have no maintance records for it. I've had it a year and been living in it for the last 6 months. Everything was fine till I hooked up the extend a stay today.

When Suburban brought our a huge tank for us for the Winter, he took a spray bottle of soapy water and checked for bubbles.

DH had to add a longer hose, so we could close the LP door. So I dumped some Dawn liquid soap and added water and he rechecked for tightness.

Check the regulator it may be leaking. It is not difficult to change if it is leaking. Make sure you get gas teflon tape for the threaded fittings.