Low pressure propane tank

[Pool]

Has anyone had low LP pressure but still liquid in the tank? Can it build pressure by bringing inside to warm up?

[Bisker]

Pool wrote:
May be the issue that I have suspected for a while why the heater will not fire.

I have the same problem, but I don't really think it's getting that cold, upper 30's/lower 40's.

[beemerphile1]

I had trouble with my refrigerator maintaining temperature on LPG but everything else worked fine. Hooked a manometer onto the system at the stove and discovered it was at 8" with nothing running. Adjusted regulator and all is fine now.

Many stoves have a separate regulator, connect the manometer in front of the stove regulator.

[DiskDoctr]

Deleted...Forget it...

[Pool]

Suburban sf-30f suggests 10" WC . I thought might be odd because I think most other propane appliances are set to run at 11"WC

[Old-Biscuit]

Use the test port on furnace gas valve...

Test with at least 50% of other propane appliances in service (stove top burners on high)

11" WC minimum 14" WC maximum ------1/2" WC drop on Demand then should recover

[Pool]

The propane containment delivery system still has fluid in it ( liquid propane).

We did have quite a few nights under freezing last month and one at 20.

I will pick up a regulator and pigtails this weekend.

I have a manometer I use for testing gas pressure on pool heaters but I have not seen a 1/4" tap to test regulator line pressure. I have pulled the heater and plan on removing the gas line and test there first. After a few tries I have not smelled propane on the exhaust side which may indicate low or no pressure.

[beemerphile1]

What makes you believe you have low pressure? Did you check the pressure with a manometer? Maybe you meant low flow, not low pressure.

I see you have a trailer. In that case you have the portable DOT cylinders, not tanks.

Your system has a safety feature that prevents massive gas flows. A little ball will partially seal the line preventing a large gas flow in case of a ruptured line. Sometimes for various reasons it will activate when not needed. To reset;
Turn the valve at the cylinder off.
Turn all gas using appliances off.
Wait for a minute to allow pressure in lines to equalize.
Slowly open valve on cylinder and see if that solves your problem.

[DiskDoctr]

Are you in TX? The temp effects start to get significant below freezing. It's hard to imagine anywhere above freezing this winter 😉

[Steve_S1]

Pool wrote:
Has anyone had low LP pressure but still liquid in the tank? Can it build pressure by bringing inside to warm up?

When things are acting up like your furnace etc pour some warm water over your regulator. Fire everything up and if all is fine you'll know what your problem is.

[mhardin]

If you are having problems in Cypress, or thereabouts, I don't think temperature is your problem, it just doesn't get that cold in our area. I'd be inclined to replace the regulator - they are cheap and if it doesn't fix the problem you'll have a spare for when it does fail.

Oh! I forgot! Try cracking the valve on the tank very slowly and see if that fixes it. This new fangled stuff has valves that sense high flow and sometimes shut down if the valve is opened too fast.

[Pool]

May be the issue that I have suspected for a while why the heater will not fire.

[DiskDoctr]

Pool wrote:
Has anyone had low LP pressure but still liquid in the tank? Can it build pressure by bringing inside to warm up?

Yes. When the temp drops outside, the smaller tanks can't always keep up with demand. The regulator is more prone to freezing up, too.

And, of course, the regulator could be bad.

Grilling in the winter, we have brought the 20lb tank inside the garage overnight before use.

[ChooChooMan74]

If it is a cylinder and not a tank, the OPD valve may be stuck. Bang it a few times on the ground. My 5 pounder has does it when it is filled on occasion.

[Old-Biscuit]

Bad regulator or Bad pigtail hose from tank to regulator

The output of regulator is only 4/10ths of 1 lb of pressure per square inch (0.4 psi----11" Water Column)

Propane will flow at -20*F and lower