Located some propane leaks
Decided to make a manometer for fun and wanted to check my propane system pressure and also test for leaks. Did a bunch of research first to do the checks correctly.
I did tap the port on the fridge for the pressure check and did adjust the regulator up a bit.
But then I did a leak down test at the stove burner orifice and it did indicate some leakage. ( Slight but it bugged me).
So then I bought a gas sniffer and discovered a leak at a coupler in the middle of the 1/2” black pipe manifold that runs the length underneath the trailer.
In order to fix it I had to completely remove the 20’ of pipe anyway so I just replaced all the pipe and a coupler and a tee.
Got that all reassembled and with another leak test it still showed a very slight leak down.
Since I had the stovetop disassembled, I ran the gas sniffer around the gas connections and sure enough the sniffer indicated a leak at the stove regulator connection.
Had to completely pull that whole stovetop gas manifold out to get at the regulator.
Put everything back together and the leak down test showed no leaks at all even after a half hour.
Now I’m not sure what the definitive test is for this but from what I could find online people would say that a fifteen minute test suffices.
Anyway, I’m posting this to make you all aware that small propane leaks are very possible in an rv. Is a very small leak a big deal? I guess that’s subjective. My rig is a 13 year old fifth wheel and I’m just trying to stay on top of things...
I did tap the port on the fridge for the pressure check and did adjust the regulator up a bit.
But then I did a leak down test at the stove burner orifice and it did indicate some leakage. ( Slight but it bugged me).
So then I bought a gas sniffer and discovered a leak at a coupler in the middle of the 1/2” black pipe manifold that runs the length underneath the trailer.
In order to fix it I had to completely remove the 20’ of pipe anyway so I just replaced all the pipe and a coupler and a tee.
Got that all reassembled and with another leak test it still showed a very slight leak down.
Since I had the stovetop disassembled, I ran the gas sniffer around the gas connections and sure enough the sniffer indicated a leak at the stove regulator connection.
Had to completely pull that whole stovetop gas manifold out to get at the regulator.
Put everything back together and the leak down test showed no leaks at all even after a half hour.
Now I’m not sure what the definitive test is for this but from what I could find online people would say that a fifteen minute test suffices.
Anyway, I’m posting this to make you all aware that small propane leaks are very possible in an rv. Is a very small leak a big deal? I guess that’s subjective. My rig is a 13 year old fifth wheel and I’m just trying to stay on top of things...
