Bleeding propane system?

[rjsurfer]

I refilled one of my 30lb propane tanks last week and now the regulator makes a high pitched squeal when running either my oven or propane heater. No problem with stove top burners.

I'm thinking air in the line???

Is there ever a need to "bleed" the gas lines and how would I do it?

I have a typical 2 tank system.

Thanks

Ron W.

[wa8yxm]

Icing of the regulator happens when the tank is overfilled. Tank is suppoised to be filled to 80% no more the gas pickup is in the top of the tank so only gas is put out but if you over fill it or if the tank is other than the proper position (NOTE I did not say upright) LIQUID propane can exit the tank and when it evaporates at around -40 Degrees (About not exactly) things WILL ice up

[BarabooBob]

I also had a regulator that froze up after refilling a tank. I ran my grill on high for a few minutes until the regulator iced up and turned it off. After doing this a few times, all was good.

[smthbros]

NormC56 wrote:
His problem is solved, good for him. But a tip my father gave me concerning valves is to always open them completely, but then turn them slightly back towards closed. This is especially important for you main "gate valve" supply shut off to your fixed foundation home so that hard water deposits don't freeze the valve in the open position. But it is a good practice for any type of valve.

Unless you are dealing with a back seating valve as is commonly found on rv propane bottles. Backing seating these valves relieves pressure on the stem packing.

[NormC56]

His problem is solved, good for him. But a tip my father gave me concerning valves is to always open them completely, but then turn them slightly back towards closed. This is especially important for you main "gate valve" supply shut off to your fixed foundation home so that hard water deposits don't freeze the valve in the open position. But it is a good practice for any type of valve.

[Dutch_12078]

Thanks for letting us know how it worked for you, Ron!

[rjsurfer]

OP back,

Keeping the burners going on the stove top while closing off the tanks, then closing everything back up and slowly opening the the two tanks did the trick.

Thanks


Ron W.

[wa8yxm]

I keep hearing "AIR IN THE LINE AIR IN THE LINE, AIR IN THE LINE".. No there is no air in the line.. Actually that is normal for the regulator to "Sound off" .. What you are hearing is the valve in the regulator opening and closing rapidly to maintain an near constant 11" of pressure.

Same thing happens on RVs with the water supply if you have a regulator or at very slow flow with the city water inlet. And for the same reason.

[rjsurfer]

Good to know.

Ron

[dward51]

Let me throw something else into the mix....

A while back I refilled a LP tank for my grill at the local LP company (refilled by weight, not a tank swap). When I hooked it back up, not only did the regulator make a noise, but it frosted over and the gas stopped flowing. Apparently it was slightly overfilled and liquid LP instead of the gas form was actually getting into the regulator via the hose. As it flashed to a gas, it froze the regulator. I ended up having to heat it with a blow dryer while keeping a burner lit until I used enough LP to get it to a normal level. After the fact, I remembered there is a bleed valve on the tank on the back of the turn knob where you turn the LP on/off at the tank.

If your regulator is very cold or even frosty looking, try bleeding off some LP at the valve.

[rjsurfer]

Will know tonight, temps going low and will be using heater. The oven doesn't seem to create the problem and even with the heater it may take an hour or two to start squealing.

Thanks for the tips.


Ron W.

[MitchF150]

Also make sure you open the propane cylinder valve all the way.. But open it slowly.

I had a BBQ that would trip the regulator 'safety' feature if I opened the valve too fast.. I actually had to un-screw the hose from the cylinder and put it back on and then open really SLOOOOW... Don't have that BBQ anymore. 🙂

Good luck!

Mitch

[maillemaker]

Turn off the regulator. Light the stove, after it goes out shut the stove off. Open the regulator very slowly. This helps reposition the diaphragm in the regulator.
Mine made the "squealing" noise also. That took care of it.

Genius!

[ScottG]

Deleted - entered in error.

[starcraft69]

John Burke wrote:
Turn off the regulator. Light the stove, after it goes out shut the stove off. Open the regulator very slowly. This helps reposition the diaphragm in the regulator.
Mine made the "squealing" noise also. That took care of it.

+1 this should do it