Purging Propane Lines

[eddd]

The camper in question has sat unused for possibly 10 years with no tanks attached, just the quick connect lines to the bottles dangling.

The first issue was the regulator. I guess it got fried just baking uncovered for all those years. That has been replaced.

Now I'm having great difficulty getting the stove top burners to light. One will kind of light with a very weak flame. The furnace will not light, and I haven't tried the water heater or refrigerator.

The order of the appliances from the tank back is: refig, heater, stove, water heater.

I've had all the burners wide open trying to get some propane to flow, but all get is the very weak flame that kind of sputters.

I realize there is likely air in the lines and that the heavier than air propane is only coming out of the regulator at 10-12 inches of water, but what am I doing wrong? What should I do differently?

[Almot]

CJW8 wrote:
I understand that manufacturers take shortcuts but usually not on propane systems due to the liability. If they used hose, it is probably because it is in an area where vibration or flexing could occur. I would not replace with copper tubing. Soft copper will fail under vibration or flexing.

I thought about this, and I think this is one of gray areas. There isn't much flexing between the A-frame of hitch and the rest of the frame. Not sure that soft copper could fail under vibration either, haven't heard of this. Stress is a different matter, but where there is no flex, there is no stress.

There "could" be flexing on the regulator end, if it's not mounted properly on the A-frame - they often put it on a flimsy 1/4" thin metal rod. This is the spot that I would have a good look at, if copper tubing is to be used. Make a stress-absorbing loop on that copper tubing - they do this on appliances copper tubes under the frame where stress is a concern.

There also "could" be damage from flying rocks on the road, where rubber hose would flex but copper would be damaged - but then, you already have half a dozen of copper tubes under the frame where it connects to appliances. They don't use rubber hose on those - but they sometimes put plastic cover on copper tubing, to protect it. Btw, I put plastic cover on my rubber hose from regulator to trailer, to protect both from UV and abrasions.

[CJW8]

I understand that manufacturers take shortcuts but usually not on propane systems due to the liability. If they used hose, it is probably because it is in an area where vibration or flexing could occur. I would not replace with copper tubing. Soft copper will fail under vibration or flexing.

[Old-Biscuit]

I would replace bad hose with a good propane hose with proper connections/fittings on each end to connect to trailer hard piping and regulator output

[JWRoberts]

Duck wrote:

eddd wrote:
Found the leak, and it was the rubber hose. I'll replace it with copper tomorrow, and I even remember where I stored my flaring tools.

Thanks.

Just my opinion but I would stick with a quality rubber hose.
Don

Agree

[JWRoberts]

RJsfishin wrote:
I would screw a barbed fitting in each end and clamp a pc of automotive fuel injection in there. It is much better quality hose than any crappy propane hose.

????

[Almot]

RJsfishin wrote:
I would screw a barbed fitting in each end and clamp a pc of automotive fuel injection in there. It is much better quality hose than any crappy propane hose.

Maybe it's just me who needs coffee in the morning ;)...
Why would one need a barbed fitting on a copper tubing (not on propane hose), and what is "automotive fuel injection"?

[RJsfishin]

I would screw a barbed fitting in each end and clamp a pc of automotive fuel injection in there. It is much better quality hose than any crappy propane hose.

[Duck]

eddd wrote:
Found the leak, and it was the rubber hose. I'll replace it with copper tomorrow, and I even remember where I stored my flaring tools.

Thanks.

Just my opinion but I would stick with a quality rubber hose.
Don

[eddd]

Not surprisingly I couldn't smell the leak since it was down by the frame, and the propane traveled to the ground, five feet below my nose.

[eddd]

Found the leak, and it was the rubber hose. I'll replace it with copper tomorrow, and I even remember where I stored my flaring tools.

Thanks.

[Almot]

eddd wrote:
Would it be OK to just replace it with a copper line?

Yep. Soft copper tubing 3/8 OD.

[Almot]

You have a leak somewhere.

Rubber hoses don't last long when outside. I covered them with split-loom cable cover, this should help against UV but don't expect it to last forever.

Black iron pipes and Tees corrode too, check them from time to time.

[eddd]

Would it be OK to just replace it with a copper line?

[eddd]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Replace hose from regulator output to trailer hard pipe.......it is junk

Can you give me a little more info?