I have a new fiver (see signature). After owning for about two weeks and about five nights camping , both 30lb bottles were empty. I wrote this off as selling dealer short filling the tanks and I do not smell propane anywhere. After a few weeks and 4 or five nights camping, I woke up this morning to no furnace and one empty bottle. I have an electric fireplace which I keep cranked up to minimize propane use. 2-30lb bottles usually last me an entire camping season so I suspect I have a small leak somewhere. I am going to spray all connections / fittings today with soapy water. There is definitely no propane odor any where so I am not concerned about fire hazard. If there is a leak, I'm confident it is small. I have H20 heater, furnace, fridge and two valved quick connect exterior fittings, as well as regulator and changeover valve at tanks to check. Any other suggestions?

quick connects are known to leak

Are you sure the NEW tanks were 'purged' the first time they were filled so that you can get full fills?

The furnace will eat up gas.The odorant in the propane is some very strong stuff. Even a small leak can be detected. I would spray soapy water around the quick connects and around the tank fittings.

Furnace alone can eat up a lot of gas in a hurry. Your usage sounds a bit high, but depending on how much the furnace cycles it could be normal. If you had a leak your tanks would be drained very quickly. Turn the gas furnace down to about 60 degrees and put on a sweater and see what happens.

It does sound like you have a leak using that much LP but it SOMEWHAT depends on where/when you're camping. I have used a 30 lb. bottle in as little as 4 days with the furnace running a heavy duty cycle (temps in the teens and below) but don't know the situation where you're camping or anything about how well insulated your trailer is. BOTH of those things will have a big effect on LP use of course. Since you have no LP detector going off AND smell no fumes inside I'd concentrate your leak checks on the exterior of your trailer. Doesn't usually take MUCH of a leak to set off the detector but might be a good idea to do some tests to be SURE it's working also. One easy test is to simply turn on a gas appliance (unlit and watch how long it takes to set off the alarm) but do this carefully and don't allow yourself to get interrupted :E I think I'd want to KNOW my detector was working if there is any possibility of a leak.Good luck / Skip

Small propane leak? | Good Sam Community

skipnchar
Explorer
May 25, 2013
It does sound like you have a leak using that much LP but it SOMEWHAT depends on where/when you're camping. I have used a 30 lb. bottle in as little as 4 days with the furnace running a heavy duty cycle (temps in the teens and below) but don't know the situation where you're camping or anything about how well insulated your trailer is. BOTH of those things will have a big effect on LP use of course. Since you have no LP detector going off AND smell no fumes inside I'd concentrate your leak checks on the exterior of your trailer. Doesn't usually take MUCH of a leak to set off the detector but might be a good idea to do some tests to be SURE it's working also. One easy test is to simply turn on a gas appliance (unlit and watch how long it takes to set off the alarm) but do this carefully and don't allow yourself to get interrupted :E I think I'd want to KNOW my detector was working if there is any possibility of a leak.
Good luck / Skip
donn0128
Explorer II
May 25, 2013
Furnace alone can eat up a lot of gas in a hurry. Your usage sounds a bit high, but depending on how much the furnace cycles it could be normal. If you had a leak your tanks would be drained very quickly. Turn the gas furnace down to about 60 degrees and put on a sweater and see what happens.
workhardplayha1
Explorer
May 25, 2013
The furnace will eat up gas.
The odorant in the propane is some very strong stuff. Even a small leak can be detected. I would spray soapy water around the quick connects and around the tank fittings.
downtheroad
Explorer
May 25, 2013
Are you sure the NEW tanks were 'purged' the first time they were filled so that you can get full fills?
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
May 25, 2013
quick connects are known to leak

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