(Not quite so) stupid gas question

[chenderson1965]

Morning everyone.

After finding a very simple solution to my 240v electrical problem before we set off yesterday, I found a second, more serious, problem with my van That seems to have developed during lockdown.

we have a 2x11 Gaslow system. I’m as certain as I can be that, when we put it away last October, one bottle was completely full and the other had a good two thirds left. I’m also pretty certain that I closed the valves on both bottles.

When I went to switch the fridge to gas I found the first bottle completely empty (the other one was still completely full).

It seemed to take a little while for the gas to get through (which I guess is normal) and I could hear some small pumping noises from near the bottles (which I guess was the regulator sorting pressures) and after a couple of minutes the fridge fired up.

On returning to the van a little later, I thought I could smell gas - but put it down to a little having leaked from the fridge burners while I was getting it to start (I’d had to switch it off an on again). Later again we came back to go to bed and there was a strong smell of gas, so I closed both cylinders and aired the van to be safe overnight.

I’ve had a look at the connections in the gas locker and all seem nice and tight. There’s no sign of any damage, or of anything having moved which might have dislodged or twisted the pipes. I guess if there was a leak in the locker, it should have vented to the outside rather than into the van.

Does anyone have any ideas, or a diagnostic process, that I can use to find where a leak could be coming from?

Thanks a lot.

Chris

 

[Googlebot]

Empty bottles do smell of gas a lot more than full ones.

Only sure way is by doing a pressure test to check for leaks.

 

[TheBig1]

somewhere in the van you have a leak. Find the internal isolator taps and turn them all off. Then one at a time turn 1 on, with the gas bottle on and see if any make a smell. Then you need to check all joints on the leaking circuit. Often it's the hob with a valve passing gas if the grease dries out

 

[Gaston aires]

As above from The Big 1 .
Definately isolate everything and one by one switch the valves on and then you should find the leak if you have one.
Ours needed the green button on the regulator pressing to get everything going again after a long lay off.
Phil

 

[andy63]

Does anyone have any ideas, or a diagnostic process, that I can use to find where a leak could be coming from?

Some leak detection spray on all the joints you can access from the cylinder outlets to the appliances might reveal something.. but
Ideally you could use a manometer on the low pressure side after pressurising it and then isolate it and check for a drop in pressure..
That would be with the appliances isolated to start with.. unfortunately
If you detect a leak you are still left with having to find it with the spray..
It does sound like you may have a leak on the cylinder connections..I'd start there...
Andy.

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[Lenny HB]

Always carry one of these in the van.

Honeywell EzSENSE Flammable Gas Detector

The Honeywell EzSENSE is a small, lightweight, economical gas leak detector using a catalytic bead sensor that requires no calibration. It can be used in checking gas leaks in pipes, fittings, valves, gas storage tanks, home appliances and hot water heaters. The EzSENSE is designed to detect natura

www.safefiredirect.co.uk

 

[chaser]

Probably no good to where you are but we have one of these, really works well and you can push it in where you can't get with spray http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=123312082229

 

[34127]

As mentioned, get a pressure test done. I wouldn't take any risks with gas.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I usually cary a leak detector spray, which is available from toolstation or similar plus a kitchen spray bottle with soap solution in. The leak detector spray is bright yellow and can make a mess, I use the soap spray to give a quick once over, when we set up anywhere and bottles are turned on. Like has been said, despite having drop vents in gas lockers they can still smell of gas. Usually from the filling stage, but it does linger.

 

[Lenny HB]

As mentioned, get a pressure test done. I wouldn't take any risks with gas.

You can buy a water gauge from Screwfix for about £18 the Truma regulator has a nipple on it to connect a gauge to.

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[Clarky]

Always carry one of these in the van.

Honeywell EzSENSE Flammable Gas Detector

The Honeywell EzSENSE is a small, lightweight, economical gas leak detector using a catalytic bead sensor that requires no calibration. It can be used in checking gas leaks in pipes, fittings, valves, gas storage tanks, home appliances and hot water heaters. The EzSENSE is designed to detect natura

www.safefiredirect.co.uk

Thanks for that link Lenny HB
Been meaning to get some sort of gas detector for ages but now you’ve spurred me into action.
Ordered a detector plus a new CO2 extinguisher and a fire blanket, all things that kept getting forgotten about.

Richard.

 

[34127]

..

Thanks for that link Lenny HB
Been meaning to get some sort of gas detector for ages but now you’ve spurred me into action.
Ordered a detector plus a new CO2 extinguisher and a fire blanket, all things that kept getting forgotten about.

Richard.

I have the Honeywell EzSense and simple to use. Also has the benefit of being able to leave it close to any joints so they can be monitored over period of time. The price used to be nearer £30 a few months back.

 

[Clarky]

..

I have the Honeywell EzSense and simple to use. Also has the benefit of being able to leave it close to any joints so they can be monitored over period of time. The price used to be nearer £30 a few months back.

That's what I’ve just paid. Looked on Amazon and it was nearer £50.

Richard.

 

[Lenny HB]

That's what I’ve just paid. Looked on Amazon and it was nearer £50.

Richard.

Paid £28 for mine on Amazon but was 5 years ago.

 

[Landy Andy]

If the inside of the van smells of gas then the leak is in the van not the locker. The locker will have a drop vent and will (should) be sealed to the living area.

check the basic items
is the hob controls off, check the manifold (which have been know to fail)

it doesn’t help with the fact that the bottle has emptied if it was turned off though.

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[EMS]

Just a thought, in our van fitted that had Gaslow bottles we had a leak a few years ago, it was the rubber/plastic washers fitted in the flexible metal pipe fittings.
The seals had perished and had to be replaced, they were about 6/7 years old I expected them to be of better quality. Naturally they only leaked when the bottles were opened for operating the gas appliances as we always turned of the bottles when travelling or storing the van..

 

[chenderson1965]

Thanks everyone.

We’re now away so I don’t have (and can’t easily buy) something to do leak detection with. Fortunately we are parked next to a cottage where the rest of the family are staying so we can’t manage with cooking, refrigeration etc for this week.

I will have a go at some Amata leak detection when we get home but it’s still on the warranty so, if I don’t find it I’ll simply take it back and ask them to look at that at the same time as one or two other warranty items.

In the meantime, I’m trying a few experiments with the isolation valves. They are a long way away from the locker so I guess there’s a fair amount of potential for the leak to be somewhere between the locker and the isolation valves - but we’ll see.

At the risk of starting to get into idiot territory, I don’t understand how the two bottles on the Gaslow system work. I know some of them have a switchover valve to manually select between the cylinders but I can’t see anything that looks like that. If I close down the empty cylinder the fridge stops working so it seems like the gas on the full cylinder is somehow going through the valve for the empty one? How could that be?

Thanks.
Chris

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you mix some soapy water in a bowl, you can just brush it on. Get a good froth up in the bowl and paint it all over your gas connections. Soon see if you have any leaks. If no brush do it with your finger.

 

[Lenny HB]

Put some photos up of your regulator then we can advise.

 

[rosalan]

As Jimbohorlicks says, often the simplest methods are the best, !. Your nose. 2. Soapy water, just the same as a punctured tyre solution. An additional thought after installing gaslow myself several years ago. Followed the instructions and did not overtighten anything. Gaslow came to my home and tightened the offending leak, making beads of sweat run down his face.

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[jockaneezer]

You might struggle to find the leak if it's on the empty bottle ?

 

[TerryL]

Gas bottles, even new, have been known to leak. Don't discount it.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you do need to tighten anything up, don't overdo it most of the connections are brass and can easily crack. Just nip up and test each joint as you do it. Also best to check along the hoses brush soap water over those as well, just in case they have not been damaged during installation.

 

[TheBig1]

check the manifold (which have been know to fail

On one van the owner said they could smell gas, I went to turn off the isolator valves on the manifold and one just fell apart in my hand. The valves are pressed into the brass housing and are so tight they can't leak. This valve, the housing cracked and the valve just fell out when touched. Leak found in seconds on that occasion, so they can and do fail

 

[TinaLes]

Thanks Lenny HB for the Honeywell Gas Detector recommendation, you have just cost me £34.14!!!!!
Is there any end to having to buy stuff for a MH?, Will have to get at least weeks wild camping done to cover these costs now
Better safe than sorry,I know, but knowing my luck I bet the AA batteries are flat/leaking when I eventually drag it out when needed.
Cheers mate.
LES

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