Enclosed Gas Bottles

[Padlin]

My FW has 2 20 gallon propane tanks in an enclosed area, there are 2 3" vents down low on the door. With the valves open I can smell gas whenever I open the door. Never having had enclosed tanks before, is this normal or should I have the area tested for leaks. This is not a new thing, it's been like this, probably since I got the trailer in 2014.

[rhagfo]

Padlin wrote:
Soaked everything down with soapy water, no bubbles as far as I can see. Shutoff one of the bottles, will see if it clears up. Can't see the back side of the valve.

I have used Windex in the past, it will bubble nicely and comes in a convenient spray bottle

[Padlin]

Soaked everything down with soapy water, no bubbles as far as I can see. Shutoff one of the bottles, will see if it clears up. Can't see the back side of the valve.

[Old-Biscuit]

RustyJC wrote:
Check at the vent port of your regulator if all else fails. Although these regulators will normally vent a TINY amount of gas, if it's that strong and smells strongest around the vent port, chances are the diaphragm in the regulator has split. They're relatively inexpensive to replace. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it. 😞

Rusty

LP Regulators do NOT vent ANY propane. If ANY propane is detected at either vent then diaphragm is leaking.
Vents (small pin hole on 1st stage and larger screened one on 2nd stage) are on atmospheric side of diaphragms to vent air in/out as diaphragm moves to control propane pressure.

Two completely separate sides unless leaking.

[Padlin]

BB_TX wrote:
Do you have one of the little red regulator valves just off one of the propane tanks? Those are notorious for developing leaks.

Other then the green/red indicator on the auto switcher, no.

Will try the soapy water test. thanks all.

[laknox]

Padlin wrote:
My FW has 2 20 gallon propane tanks in an enclosed area, there are 2 3" vents down low on the door. With the valves open I can smell gas whenever I open the door. Never having had enclosed tanks before, is this normal or should I have the area tested for leaks. This is not a new thing, it's been like this, probably since I got the trailer in 2014.

I'm surprised that your FW even has a =floor= in the propane compartment. Mine does not and most of the newer ones I'm looking at do not either.

Lyle

[ramgunner]

We had one bottle that I thought was leaking but could never find a leak. It kept smelling like there was one. Finally I noted that my glove smelled like propane.

When the bleeder valve is open, you will get spray when full. The spray hit the handle, and apparently left enough of the odorant on it that the handle itself smelled like propane. It took a LONG time to wear off.

[rhagfo]

filrupmark wrote:
If you have a small leak at a pipe thread connection don't use regular white Teflon tape. It will leak. They sell yellow Teflon tape made for LPG . We had issues with forklifts leaking LPG at work . Finally we learned about the special tape for LPG . No more smell or leaks.

X2
Carry a roll of the Yellow Teflon tape in my RV tool box, bought when I installed my shocks and needed to move the gas line over about 6".

You can clearly see the tape in this picture.

[dedmiston]

I would disconnect and reconnect everything just to try to re-seat the connections and see if that fixes it.

Also try shutting off one bottle at a time to see if you can isolate which one is the culprit.

[filrupmark]

If you have a small leak at a pipe thread connection don't use regular white Teflon tape. It will leak. They sell yellow Teflon tape made for LPG . We had issues with forklifts leaking LPG at work . Finally we learned about the special tape for LPG . No more smell or leaks.

[kampinguru]

Yep. Had the same issue with mine last summer. Replaced the original pigtails (10 years old) and the regulator (also 10 years old) and no more smell.

[RustyJC]

Check at the vent port of your regulator if all else fails. Although these regulators will normally vent a TINY amount of gas, if it's that strong and smells strongest around the vent port, chances are the diaphragm in the regulator has split. They're relatively inexpensive to replace. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it. 😞

Rusty

[BB_TX]

Do you have one of the little red regulator valves just off one of the propane tanks? Those are notorious for developing leaks.

[rhagfo]

GASMAN6674 wrote:
You have a leak.
Mix up some soapy water and paint/spray all the connections and look for the bubbles to grow. Then repair as required.
If you don't feel comfortable with that take to your local LP gas supplier and ask them to check it. But i would call first to make sure they can and are willing to do it.
Good Luck

X2

Could be as simple loose connection of a leaking fitting.

[fj12ryder]

Gasman has it right. No way should you be smelling any gas unless you've just changed the bottles.