Propane Regulators Freeze?

[VTLee]

It is 15 degrees and I tried to turn on my propane as I wanted to do some work on the inside of the camper and the propane will not work on either tank. Could the regulator be frozen?

[VTLee]

The light bulb worked. It is functioning fine now.

[VTLee]

ScottG wrote:
Yes, they do freeze. The forum gets several posts like this every winter.
You can put a small light bulb next to it in order to thaw it or you might just replace it and hope that perhaps a build up of excess moisture was in it.

Thanks, I will try the light bulb.

[shellbackcva59]

Moisture in the propane, freezing in the regulator is the correct answer. I had a new home built with propane heat. First winter when temps dropped below 10 degrees my heater would quit about 4:00 AM. Once the sun would come up and shortly before the repairman came, the heat would come back on. After about 3 trips for the repairman, he put some type of antifreeze or drygas in the tank, and that was the end of the problem. If your tank is portable, your propane supplier should be able to help you.

[towpro]

I think the real problem is when a bottle is ran empty, it needs to be evacuated again before it is refilled. Any moisture in the mixture can freeze in the regulator. I had it happen once with my Daughter was 1 year old, in a pop up camper one night when the temps unexpectedly dropped into the lower 30's.

It was not a defective regulator, after it thawed in sun next day it never did it again.

[AidenJ]

I'm not sure at what temp propane freezes,but in 6o+ years I've never had one freeze up even with temps as low as -20F.

[time2roll]

Actual propane does not freeze at 15 degrees. As you get below -30 you may have trouble with propane staying a liquid and no vapor to burn. Sometimes if the main valve on the bottle is opened too fast it will trigger the safety valve to shut. Close for a minute and open s l o w l y.

Water or moisture in the tank will freeze. Or if it gets into the regulator it can freeze. A mix of butane will not vaporize well below 40 but that would be odd up in VT to get any butane mix.

If the regulator is close to ten years or older I would replace it. If you have a choice I recommend Cavagna brand (amazon) Get new pigtails while you are at it.

+1 to test the system with lighting a range burner before you try the furnace.

[Buzzcut1]

they shouldn't freeze at 15. but there can be air in the lines. turn on the range fan open up a burner and keep turning the igniter. it may take a minute or two to purge the lines of air. do not stop hitting the ignitor if the burner is open yet not lit.

[ScottG]

Yes, they do freeze. The forum gets several posts like this every winter.
You can put a small light bulb next to it in order to thaw it or you might just replace it and hope that perhaps a build up of excess moisture was in it.

[jimh406]

How are you determining the propane won't work? Are you sure you didn't leak out? Are you trying a burner or something else?

BTW, you should be fine at 15.

[jimh406]

How are you determining the propane won't work? Are you sure you didn't leak out? Are you trying a burner or something else?

[covered_wagon]

They should be changed every ten years as a rule