Community Forums

Greg from Pittsburgh · 12-14-2009, 04:05 PM

I have a propane leak and can't seem to find it. I walked into my coach the other day, and the place smelled like something was wrong. I checked my aux. propane tank and it was empty even though I had no appliances using gas at the time. I checked the past threads and there was one of particular interest, it seems that the leak was caused by the addition of the "extend a stay" accessory. The reason this is of interest, is that I too have installed the extend a stay and it seems the leak started sometime after that. I've installed a pressure gauge in the coach to monitor the leak. I start out with about 7.5 oz of pressure, close the main tank valve, turn the water heater switch off, make sure fridge is on elect. and then wait. After about an hour, the gauge still reads 7.5 oz, after about 3 hours, the gauge reads 0. Checked all the fittings with soapy water, including the "extend a stay" and surrounding fittings, fittings on the slide out, furnace, water heater and can not find a thing. I have ordered one of those hand held detectors, maybe that will be more accurate than the soapy water test.

ernieh · 12-14-2009, 05:24 PM

Oven pilot?

TandW · 12-14-2009, 06:28 PM

I recently advised the makers of Extend-a Stay that both the male and female POL fittings on the kit I purchased thru my campground had insufficient thread sealant, were undertorqued and thus had leaks visible via the standard soap-bubble test. Advice; redo or rebuild and recheck with SNOOP or soap bubbles before assuming it is safely in service!!

Greg from Pittsburgh · 12-14-2009, 08:46 PM

Thank you for the responses, I do not have an oven, so the pilot would not be the issue and I have soap tested all the fittings including the extend a stay on the main propane tank, any other suggestions out there will be appreciated!

Greg from Pittsburgh · 12-16-2009, 03:58 PM

Well I got the portable gas detector and went right out and started testing all the fittings that I'd tested previously with the soapy water and what do you know, the fitting going to the furnace was leaking on the bottom where I must not have noticed the bubbles. I've tightened the fitting and now I'm doing another pressure test. Let you know how it works out.

Dale777 · 12-16-2009, 04:01 PM

Greg,

Which portable gas detector did you use?

EngineerMike · 12-16-2009, 05:30 PM

I use the wife. Her receptor element is more sensitive than mine.
I'm thinking of putting her on the scent trail for Bin Laden. She could sniff that bum out at a thousand yards.

Greg from Pittsburgh · 12-17-2009, 08:34 AM

Dale, I bought the Innotek gas detector from RV Upgrades, seems to work well. Unfortunately the leak persists! I will keep checking and let you know what I find.

wa8yxm · 12-17-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TandW

I recently advised the makers of Extend-a Stay that both the male and female POL fittings on the kit I purchased thru my campground had insufficient thread sealant, were undertorqued and thus had leaks visible via the standard soap-bubble test. Advice; redo or rebuild and recheck with SNOOP or soap bubbles before assuming it is safely in service!!

I do agree with the need for testing and I did a good soap test on my Extend-a-stay when I got it

As for the brass fittings needing thread sealant.. if they are the proper type of thread.. Brass to Brass, being semi-mallable, will seal even if you don't use paste or tape sealant.. That's the advantage of brass over iron which is much harder. Or so I'm told by folks who claim to know what they are yacking about.

I have often found, however, that things are not as tight as they should be.

Mine does not leak.. PERIOD