I have a leased tank. I smelled propane. I did the soap test. There is a leak on the level indicator, enough to make bubbles. the gage is secured by 4 screws. I could try to tighten them. If one would break off, then there would be a bigger leak. I think I will just call them in Monday. The tank is out in the open away from anything. I wonder how muck gas I have lost? Stan
- Thread starter 37 chief
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fixerupper
Well-known Member
If it just makes bubbles you have lost almost nothing like David said. The stink they add to the LP shows up from an almost undetectable leak. You are wise to not try to tighten the screws because they twist off very easy if the screw is made of plain steel instead of stainless or brass.
Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
We buried a plastic gas line from my 1000 gal tank to my shop. Sometime later I noticed the regulator buzzing. I had lost a fair amount. So this time when we buried a new line I shielded it with black plastic water line.
One time my grain dryer quit. I had assumed an issue with the dryer, but when it started up OK, I began to question the safety flow [liquid] valve on the bottom of the tank. Gas company said "that's an old tank, let's replace the whole thing". Darn. I thought replacing the valve would be easier. Gauge worked good. So, in comes the new tank. The liquid tap is on top now. That's handier, but the blasted gauge didn't work. So, we switch it out for another new tank! I get the impression these guys don't mess with any part of the tanks!
One time my grain dryer quit. I had assumed an issue with the dryer, but when it started up OK, I began to question the safety flow [liquid] valve on the bottom of the tank. Gas company said "that's an old tank, let's replace the whole thing". Darn. I thought replacing the valve would be easier. Gauge worked good. So, in comes the new tank. The liquid tap is on top now. That's handier, but the blasted gauge didn't work. So, we switch it out for another new tank! I get the impression these guys don't mess with any part of the tanks!
Our FD responded to just that problem a few weeks ago. LP delivery man tried to tighten the screws and one twisted off, and a second failed when the pressure twisted the body of the gauge in the hole. Pretty good leak. Of course it was full. LP guy attached his line to the valve and tried to pump it off, but went too fast and the high flow valve snapped shut. Then wouldn't release so could not disconnect the truck. So now leaking tank with 800 gallons in it tied to a loaded truck sitting 20' away. Thankfully no sparks nearby.
We put a wood block on the gauge and wrapped a 2" ratchet strap around the tank and tightened to force it against the seal, until we bent the ratchet handle. Barely slowed it down. Gave up on that idea and put a couple fog nozzles on it to keep the gas dispersed until a second LP truck and spark proof tools arrived. They got the first truck line removed and allowed them to pump it off with second truck. About a 3 hour process by the time we were released.
We put a wood block on the gauge and wrapped a 2" ratchet strap around the tank and tightened to force it against the seal, until we bent the ratchet handle. Barely slowed it down. Gave up on that idea and put a couple fog nozzles on it to keep the gas dispersed until a second LP truck and spark proof tools arrived. They got the first truck line removed and allowed them to pump it off with second truck. About a 3 hour process by the time we were released.
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
I had one like that that leaked for years every time they came out they pulled out a long cheater bar and tighten the ell out of it. It would go back to leaking soon after I fixed it by going to NG
: )
wilson ind
Well-known Member
Service call on farm dryer years ago, flam out after 5 to 10 min of run time. Everything checked out. Time to do a flow test.Checked for any pilot lights in area, let line flow loose at dryer. After about 30 seconds flow dropped very low. Large brown length of frozen oil finally came out, then a second chunk flew out. Raised one end of tank to ensure oil would stay away from outlet. Farmer called LP supplier who instead that no such thing exited. Farmer had saved chunks of now melted oil, now like grease. LP guy installed new tank, which was not needed as tank was now not level. Farmer and LP fellow jointly called LP terminal who indeed said it was compressor oil from 50 year old tank.
john in la
Well-known Member
Do not touch it; just report the leak.
Back when I was renting a tank I had a similar leak.
Reported it.
They fixed the tank and replaced the gas I lost.
In the rental contract it had a clause that they would replace any gas I lost due to a tank defect.
If the leak had been in my line that would have been on me.
Back when I was renting a tank I had a similar leak.
Reported it.
They fixed the tank and replaced the gas I lost.
In the rental contract it had a clause that they would replace any gas I lost due to a tank defect.
If the leak had been in my line that would have been on me.
fastfarmall
Well-known Member
When i had a grain dryer, the dryer had a drip leg, that was a area where the grease or oil in the LP gas settled out and just drain it once a year, it would come out of there like gun grease or dirty transmission grease, The dryer guy said all L.P.gas has impurity's in it.
Goose
Well-known Member
All of the insurance companies I was involved with required a copper line for propane, buried, with the tank at least 50' from any structure.
Maybe natural gas is different. However, all of the natural gas lines I saw, mostly in basements, were black pipe. There was a yellow flexible metal line that I had to photograph and report whenever I ran into one. I forget what they were called, it's been a few years.
Maybe natural gas is different. However, all of the natural gas lines I saw, mostly in basements, were black pipe. There was a yellow flexible metal line that I had to photograph and report whenever I ran into one. I forget what they were called, it's been a few years.
Mine leaked and did not stop by tightening the bolts, (5/16) I got a couple of O rings from a supplier,one round and one square sided Oring. L waited till the tank was down to 10% and changed it,I lost the same as nothing. LP is liquid in the tank and has to boil to make gas,I had the gasket changed before it boiled enough to gas. Just a cation to those on Volunteer Fire Departments. It's been several years ago the bulk tank in Lewistown MO broke a pipe because of the ground heaving.I was cold and the guys at the FD decided to fog the tank with water. THe problem was the emergency shut off valve was on the bottom of the tank under about your feet of ice. They evacuated the entire town of 400 to 500 people,closed the second busiest hwy in the county. THe town was closed for over two weeks. After that the LP company put gas operated remote shut off valves of all of their bulk tanks. Just something that should be looked at for emergency training.
"I have a leased tank."
You've answered your own question, in my opinion. Call them and let them deal with it. I would think that the words "leaking propane" would trigger an appropriate response.
I own our tank. Our percent gauge has registered 80% since the summer of 2018. Our propane driver is faithful to check our tank every summer, and he always tops it off, but he didn't add any in the summers of 2019 or 2020. I called the company and told them I thought the gauge might be busted. They came right out with a new gauge in hand. I helped him change it. He said to not mess with the four screws. That can turn into a serious issue if you screw something up and aren't ready to deal with it properly. The actual gauge is held in place by two small screws at top and bottom. You can remove those screws and the gauge without causing any leakage. I'm talking like an expert, but I actually know exactly nothing about propane except for what the driver told me.
You've answered your own question, in my opinion. Call them and let them deal with it. I would think that the words "leaking propane" would trigger an appropriate response.
I own our tank. Our percent gauge has registered 80% since the summer of 2018. Our propane driver is faithful to check our tank every summer, and he always tops it off, but he didn't add any in the summers of 2019 or 2020. I called the company and told them I thought the gauge might be busted. They came right out with a new gauge in hand. I helped him change it. He said to not mess with the four screws. That can turn into a serious issue if you screw something up and aren't ready to deal with it properly. The actual gauge is held in place by two small screws at top and bottom. You can remove those screws and the gauge without causing any leakage. I'm talking like an expert, but I actually know exactly nothing about propane except for what the driver told me.
CALL YPUR GAS COMPANY! sorry about yelling a former friend died because he tried to move his propane tank I don't remember details somehow tank blew up he was in burn unit at UW Madison for a long time.
His wife said afterward she wondered about him living thru all of it he suffered a lot the last few years of his life.
His wife said afterward she wondered about him living thru all of it he suffered a lot the last few years of his life.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
My neighbor works for Amerigas (MI). They have someone on call 24/7/365 for those issues. I wouldn't have waited.
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