Gas leak??

Vara

Vara

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When shutting off gas on Sunday, noticed smell of gas from locker.

Short of time so did quick bubble test, negative.

So if there is a leak it's between gas bottle and bubbler.

So looking for leak, any real problems using washing up liquid solution as leak tester or will its alleged corrosive property's destroy system, as all suspect piping is in draining locker I can rinse it off.
 
Vara said:
When shutting off gas on Sunday, noticed smell of gas from locker.

Short of time so did quick bubble test, negative.

So if there is a leak it's between gas bottle and bubbler.

So looking for leak, any real problems using washing up liquid solution as leak tester or will its alleged corrosive property's destroy system, as all suspect piping is in draining locker I can rinse it off.
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Use well diluted washing up liquid and wash it off once you've located the leak.

As suggested inspect the hose check on the date of manufacture. Its always been the "official" recommendation that it should be replaced when 5 years old. Most people's experience is that it will last (much) longer but I have seen something recently about the recommended life having been reduced and Insurance Cos insisting on ludicrously frequent replacement.

re the suggested bending test. I have here a piece of lp hose that bends ok without cracking but when I tried to use it it split lengthwise as I pushed it on to the fitting
 
Thanks all.
regulator and flexible hose were replaced three years ago.

Will conduct fairy liquid test tomorrow.

As a supplementary, can I take the result from the Alde bubble tester as gospel.
 
Vara said:
, can I take the result from the Alde bubble tester as gospel.
Click to expand...

The test procedure is described in the instruction leaflet:

4. Checking the function of the leak detector
A. Start up a unit that uses a small amount of L.P.G. eg. a refrigerator.
B. Depress the red testing button as far as it will go. If bubbles appear in the sight glass
the detector is working. If no bubbles appear the detector is out of order. It may be
blocked with dirt from the connection pipe work. In event of failure contact your dealer
and have the system checked.
 
VicMallows said:
I thought I was the only one who dared to use a GAS fridge on a boat. :D:D
Click to expand...

You are! Alde are big in the caravan & motorhome market, so write their instructions accordingly.

Edit: Alde have some intriguing combined hot air & hot water units, which run on LPG or mains electricity. And I bet they're a fraction of the price of boat heaters!
 
Last edited:
Gas valve on bottle should be hard open or hard closed.Valves have a "back seal" to prevent leakage when fully out.
It's possible to get a whiff of gas from a partially open valve,or during opening/closing,due to leaky stem packing.
Check for this with soapy water mix.Replace tank valve next filling if stem leaks
I find adding soap to a wet sponge,squeezing it several times to get foam,works well.
Gas folks say not to use ammonia based soap,etc around brass fittings.

You will get odor when tank is low,also. Cheers/Len
 
Thanks all, gas leak found very quickly with the soapy water, leak between regulator and cylinder valve, not done up tight enough!! Bit of welly on spanner soon sorted that.

Will purchase some proper leak test aerosol to use when changing cylinders in future. Fortuneately leak occurred within confines of drained gas lockers, so any risk probably minimal.

Test of bubble tester not good, even on lowest hob setting it blew the liquid straight into the piping, so will have to sort that now. :-(
 
cooperwood said:
Hi.. I have my multiRae pro to detect gas leak.It is better than soapy water test.
Click to expand...

Soapywater is several thousand beer tokens cheaper though! and very few people require an instrument able to monitor 5 different gases.

Everybody has some washing up liquid handy.
 
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