School me on gas safety

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vantastic

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I'm new to motorhoming and new to using gas. Gas being something you have to be a bit careful with I thought I'd ask for some advise before doing something silly.

First of all, are gas systems expected to be 100% leak free? Do you check them regularly? If so, how?

I have an underslung lpg tank with the shutoff valve on the tank itself. I can get to it relatively easily but it involves me laying down on the ground. So how often do you turn this off? Leave it on all the time or turn on/off only when you use it?

How to you measure, or quantify, usage? I have a 25l tank and a gauge inside and I can see if it is full-ish or empty-ish. If we go away in winter I don't want to risk running out of gas. Is there any way I can see we are using x liters per hour or something like that?
 
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On the filling side, take little notice of the dials just fill it when you see a filling station that sells it, makes no difference if you are full or empty you can still put some in, you only pay for what you put in.

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If you have a habitation service that should include a gas test. If not , then get a gas check done annually. You don't have to wait until your tank is empty before filling, that is one of the main advantages of a refillable tank, over time you will get to know how much gas you are using, the gauge isn't very reliable.
 
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I think the way people use the shut off valve on the tank varies from person to person. We have a refillable tank in the locker so a lot easier to get at I shut it off when traveling and you are supposed to do unless you have a special regulator as if theres noan accident you could have a gas pipe come loose or rupture which would be really bad news. If you don't understand anything about your system I would take it for a gas leak check and ask them to check the dates on the hoses etc and explain to you how to use everything or if you got it at a dealer ask them if they guarantee all the gas system has been checked for being in date and ask for the explanation.
As for usage the gagues are usually not that reliable. When it first shows empty refill it and see how much it takes. It should be roughly the same each time although if its like ours the gague often sticks so goes in jumps sometimes. If you then see how long it takes to reach the same point you can estimate your gas usage per day and how many days worth you have left when it shows empty.
In our case if we are off grid we have one refillable bottle it lasts about 3 weeks off grid then shows empty and we still have about 5days left. The big advantage of refillable is that you are able to refill at any point you just feel a bit of a prat if you only get 3 quids worth in!
 
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Lesson 1: Don't use a naked flame to test for gas leaks! :Eeek:
 
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We have a CBE gas detector fitted to our van.
If you have one, it should be sited low down.
We test ours every time we fill up ! I’m not sure how it gets in but there is a drop vent in the floor near the filler point which is on the side of the van.
We turn ours off for the tunnel, that’s it. A physical impossibility to turn on and off as required!

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Ok, gas check annually. But there is nothing else on a day-to-day basis when using the van? You expect it all to work unless you can actually smell something?
People leave the gas open all the time?

98% of the gas lines are run under the vehicle and only connections to appliances are inside the vehicle. Inside there are drop vents by the appliances as well so I imagine it must be bad if I can smell it inside!

Lesson 1: Don't use a naked flame to test for gas leaks!
Click to expand...
Yup, I've heard that one before. But then I was thinking to myself, a naked flame up to a join might be a good test, to see if there's a flare up. ? (I'm only joking, I will not)

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You could fit something like this and do your own regular checks.

gasproducts.co.uk

8mm Alde Marine/Boat Gas Leak Detector (Bubble Tester)

The Alde Marine Gas leak detector is designed to be connected close to the outlet side of the gas regulator. It then provides an instant visible check for leaks. Bubbles in the sightings chamber indicate a leak downstream of the bubble tester. Supplied complete with fluid. It may be used in...
gasproducts.co.uk gasproducts.co.uk
 
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Borderland said:
You could fit something like this and do your own regular checks.

gasproducts.co.uk

8mm Alde Marine/Boat Gas Leak Detector (Bubble Tester)

The Alde Marine Gas leak detector is designed to be connected close to the outlet side of the gas regulator. It then provides an instant visible check for leaks. Bubbles in the sightings chamber indicate a leak downstream of the bubble tester. Supplied complete with fluid. It may be used in...
gasproducts.co.uk gasproducts.co.uk
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That will show a leak but is not the same as a full inspection, which should include a visual check on the installation as well as testing all safety devices and combustion, ventilation etc.
 
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I quite like the bubble tester. I think I will get one of them.

But just to reiterate, is it reasonable to expect 100% leak free or are very small leaks expected/acceptable?

Again, this is not in lieu of annual testing it's more for my own peace of mind.

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vantastic said:
I quite like the bubble tester. I think I will get one of them.

But just to reiterate, is it reasonable to expect 100% leak free or are very small leaks expected/acceptable?

Again, this is not in lieu of annual testing it's more for my own peace of mind.
Click to expand...
I am not an expert on this and hopefully The Ex-Gasman can advise on this but one problem with leak testing in a campervan is that that the volume of the gas pipes are so low that any leak no matter how small will show a quick reduction in pressure. I did see a post a while ago suggesting that the system should be 'volumised' by temporarily connecting a vessel to give a better indication of any leak.
Some would say that there should not be any leak but I believe in domestic gas systems a small leak over a given time is acceptable, not sure if this is correct in a campervan.
 
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Borderland said:
I am not an expert on this and hopefully The Ex-Gasman can advise on this but one problem with leak testing in a campervan is that that the volume of the gas pipes are so low that any leak no matter how small will show a quick reduction in pressure. I did see a post a while ago suggesting that the system should be 'volumised' by temporarily connecting a vessel to give a better indication of any leak.
Some would say that there should not be any leak but I believe in domestic gas systems a small leak over a given time is acceptable, not sure if this is correct in a campervan.
Click to expand...
There is an "allowance" the minimum is 0.5 mb over 2 minutes , however this rises in relation to the size of the installation tested. I do not know what the drop is for a MOHO, as although I am qualified to work on them I never did, I would have to check my books to find out and I don't have them to hand. I always allowed 0.5mb and if it was over that I would look up the rate for the installation, but any sound installation should hold for the the test period
 
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I believe in domestic gas systems a small leak over a given time is acceptable
Click to expand...
This is what I have previously heard as well which is the reason I asked the question to begin with.
Which also leads to the whole, should I turn off the gas at the tank question.
 
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