small propane leak, HOW to find where?

On a 2 stage regulator there are 2 vents.....a small pin hole vent on 1st stage and then a larger screened vent on second stage.

Neither vent should bubble up when checked.....if either does then diaphragm is leaking.

Mixture of soap and water is a good solution to check for leaks BUT.....rinse it off otherwise that soap residue can corrode


You stated the smell is around heater outside access panel....remove panel and check gas connection at furnace gas valve.

You can also check if that furnace gas valve is not fully closing off.
Use a long BBQ lighter.......with furnace off stick lighter in next to burner slot and see if you can light a small flame. If so gas valve needs replaced as it is leaking thru.

X2 on the regulator, have had 2 go bad on us and was a smell that migrated from outside to the inside.

Brush on mix of dish soap and water. Not sure if windex is good bubble maker.
Brian

I had a leak once, it was a little 1# bottle in a storage bay that I guess I filled too ful.
I had another leak once,....it was the oven pilot lite that went out, but was still on.

Most RV dealers will check it for nothing.

Most regulators are equipped with a rubber diaphragm that overtime can develop pinhole leaks and of course these grow larger until at some point you can smell propane. Since yours is a 2002 model and who knows how old it was when installed; I suspect that is where you will find the leak.

korbe... “I use my nose to get close.” My nose is also primary tester, but didn’t work this time.

smkettner... “Smell was inside or outside? Slow leak would be hard to smell outside” Outside, and absolutely no wind. Was close to where outside heater access panel is. That is sort of what convinced me to take a better look, being smell was outside and noticeable. Not unusual for our stove to take 3 or 4 flips of the pizo-matic spark thing to light a burner. And have a very slight gas smell for very short time afterwards. But that is inside.

Dick_B... “Try switching over to the full tank and see if the smell goes away.” This is in small class c so only one tank. But I’ll hook up external tank and see.

beemerphile1... “I've noticed recently that stores like Home Depot now sell LPG sniffers for maybe $20. They used to cost $$$$$$$$$$$.” I did not know they have come down that much. Think I’ll pick one up.

Thanks for all the help!

I've noticed recently that stores like Home Depot now sell LPG sniffers for maybe $20. They used to cost $$$$$$$$$$$.

X2 on the low tank giving off propane smell. Never have figured out why. Try switching over to the full tank and see if the smell goes away.

Smell was inside or outside? Slow leak would be hard to smell outside. Propane gas is heavier than air so it tends to pool on the ground or floor.

I use an electronic combustible gas detector. Or try a propane dealer.

I use my nose to get close.

BTW, recently when one of my tanks emptied and my auto switch did its thing, I smelled LPG for a bit at the stove.