Small propane leak?

[therink]

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?

[old_guy]

a tip to do is when you use soap to locate a leak, move the hoses up and down and test for leaks. I went crazy trying to find a leak once and when I move the hose just wee bit it hissed at me.

[therink]

Thanks for the replies. I soap tested every pipe and flare fitting and regulator & hoses. No leaks I could find. Will monitor closely. Not concerned about hazards but will pressure test the system.
Steve

[GMT830]

You can also make a manometer and connect it to a stove burner tube. I did that on a previous RV, reminds me I should do the same to this one. Will confirm your regulator is working properly, and will be far more sensitive to a leak than the tank pressure gauge.

[wa8yxm]

You will need: Somethign like this (link to Amazon.com)

Put it in the propane line on the active tank (Turn off tank before removing line) and then turn on tank, with EVERYTHING OFF (stove, furnace, oven, water heater) turn on the tank, wait one minute and turn it off, note gauge reading.

Come back in an hour and note reading

Come back tomorrow and note reading

If the gauge varies a bit.. That is differences in the ambient temp.

if it drops a lot, that is a leak.

If it remains in the green overnight.. No leak.

Instructions provided with gauge

NOTE: some RV's have said gauge already installed.

100 PSI is in the green, 50 is not.

[ksg5000]

Commercial propane dealer (not gas station etc) will fill your tanks correctly and if asked will likely check your propane system for leaks for free. I find there gas is cheaper as well.

[beemerphile1]

Small leaks blow up large buildings!

It is new, take it back to dealer and insist on an LPG leak down test.

[xaugievike]

check the crimps on your hoses (where they connect to the bottles).

[Ozlander]

skipnchar wrote:
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

I think I would use an unlit propane torch instead of turning the stove on and waiting for the propane to fill the TT.

[therink]

There have been no nighttime temps in past 5 nights of camping below 40f. I keep digital furnace therm set at 67 and run the 1500 watt electronic fireplace/heater all the time when furnace is needed. My last fiver was same size and never went through this much propane and didn't have electricity fireplace. My new rig is also better R-value than old one. I will check for leaks today and report findings. At campground now.
Thanks Steve

[mlts22]

That's about right. I've run completely through one 20# bottle and was well into my second one during a weekend where it was 20-25 degrees and where I had the thermostat fairly high. Since I exchange both bottles weekly before I head off on a camping trip (as well as keep a second pair handy), I'm not really that worried about propane use.

[skipnchar]

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]

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]

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]

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