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04-18-2016, 08:08 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: La Crescenta
Posts: 239
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Where does the propane in my pipes go?
I'm so curious to see what everyone's take is on this.
Over the years, I've had travel trailers, fifth wheels, class A and class C motorhomes.
I use the same trick on all of them; after I turn the propane tank valve on, and before I turn on the fridge, I run the stove until I smell propane (if its been a couple months, it takes a while). The fridge starts much faster and all is good.
My question is, why aren't the lines still full of propane? Where does it go?
Is it:
a) Propane lines always leak a little in RVs?
b) Propane valves always leak a little?
c) The pressure is so low, the propane turns to crap?
d) Your solution here...
Thanks!
James
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04-18-2016, 08:16 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PNW
Posts: 5,195
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__________________
Bill
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI Quad Cab
2011 Jay Flight 26BH
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04-18-2016, 08:19 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: La Crescenta
Posts: 239
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That's bizarre! I'm never smelling the pre-gas air again from my stove. Who knows what microbes I'm breathing in!
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04-21-2016, 11:05 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,073
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I've wondered the same thing. If valves are closed at both ends of the line, where does it go?
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2011 Skylark 21FKV
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04-21-2016, 11:08 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Abingdon
Posts: 6,177
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokerBill
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SmokerBill the science guy!
__________________
2013 Jayco Eagle 328 RLTS
2021 Keystone Montana 3121RL
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04-21-2016, 01:34 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,217
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Very interesting read!
I wonder though: The article says the microbes need a very specific environment to thrive and survive including the presence of sulfate for respiration (instead of the more common oxygen). I wonder if inside our propane lines and tanks would be that kind of environment? Most notably the absence of oxygen? Seems unlikely.
It also said that the process is very slow. From anecdotal experience, it seems like it doesn't take long for the need to purge the lines to develop.
Of course, it seems there is a lot of research to be done with those things. Would the microbes also eat the odor additive? But what is it they say about the simplest explanation often being the right one? I'm thinking there are micro-leaks in fittings that are allowing the propane to slowly bleed out of the system. But it could be microbes, or some combination of both?
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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04-21-2016, 02:06 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PNW
Posts: 5,195
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Actually, I was kind of joking about the microbes, LOL. I don't really have any idea of where the propane goes. Seems like the pigtails going into the tanks always seem to smell a little propaney. Maybe that's where it goes.
If not, it MUST be the microbes that have mutated into an RV-specific type.
__________________
Bill
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI Quad Cab
2011 Jay Flight 26BH
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04-21-2016, 02:21 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Abingdon
Posts: 6,177
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokerBill
Actually, I was kind of joking about the microbes, LOL. I don't really have any idea of where the propane goes. Seems like the pigtails going into the tanks always seem to smell a little propaney. Maybe that's where it goes.
If not, it MUST be the microbes that have mutated into an RV-specific type.
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2013 Jayco Eagle 328 RLTS
2021 Keystone Montana 3121RL
2013 F350 6.7L 4x4 CCLB
W/Air Lift air bags (front & rear)
Equal-I-Zer™ WDH & B&W Companion
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04-21-2016, 08:00 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 942
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I always just put it down to many microscopic leaks in the multitude of couplers and joints that make up the system, causing it to lose pressure over time. Individually, these tiny leaks don't amount to anything, but all together, it might be enough for the system to lose all its pressure. Our 24FBS, which has never had any work done on its propane system, loses pressure about as fast as our old hybrid, which has had every single propane appliance in it removed and reinstalled at least once over the years we've owned it.
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Geoff & Jill
& Sierra, the little white monster
2013 Ford F-150 XTR SC Ecoboost
2015 Jayco Jay Flight 24FBS
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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04-22-2016, 06:08 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Mexico Beach
Posts: 2,196
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Glad u brought this up since I forgot to do a leak check. Checking my systems out I fired off the Water heater and heater. After shut down I secured the propane tank valve and very soon after the guage turned From green to red. That to me seemed like a pretty quick lose of pressure in the lines.
Rock
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2024 Greyhawk 30Z
2023 Jeep Gladiator High Altitude Toad
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04-22-2016, 06:27 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: King George
Posts: 2,761
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Of coure my propane is feeding the stove top, water heater, and furnace. If I turn OFF the valves at the tanks I suspect these lines just slowly leak down until it is all gone...
When I turn ON a propane VALVE I always go to the stove top and fire it up hoping to see a BLUE FLAME eventuallly untill all of the air gets out of the line... In my case the stove top is the farthest away from the propane tanks... This helps the heater and furnace burners work better I guess...
When I have my tanks turned off and try to light the stove top I most often get one flash of fire so I guess some propane is still in the lines...
Roy Ken
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Roy and Carolyn
I claim Horse Creek Country in Southern Ill - Momabear is from North Texas
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