Gas grill leaking --can't find source, need suggestions

[4570Man]

My favorite way to check for propane leaks is with a match. Of course I would not recommend it to anybody - might do away with yourself and neighborhood. But I hate using soapy water - too messy. A match is nice and clean. - Again don't do it. Anyone else use a match to check for small leaks? :laughing:

That's what I do. Just turn the propane cylinder off, come back later, turn it back on and do the test. That way not very much gas is lost and an explosion won't happen. Being outside its unlikely enough would buildup to explode anyway.

 

[Egon]

Keep the propane bottle/tank fully open or fully shut.

 

[tomplum]

Back in my grill days a suggestion came up for this. First, submerge the grill in your neighbors pool- then...

 

[teejk]

That's what I do. Just turn the propane cylinder off, come back later, turn it back on and do the test. That way not very much gas is lost and an explosion won't happen. Being outside its unlikely enough would buildup to explode anyway.

Propane is heavier than air and can accumulate like ground fog. Can be nasty stuff under the right conditions and in the case of a 3 burner grill where more than one valve might be leaking it might make for a very exciting experience. But I do know a "gas rat" that will test for leaks with a BIC lighter.

 

[mobilus]

You probably know this, but few of my students know it coming into the maintenence career field. The best way to use soapy water to check for leaks is to use a dishwashing soap bottle with water and soap inside, shaken until bubbly, then squeeze out bubbles over test area. If the bubbles enlarge and burst, you've found the leak. Simply dowsing the suspect area with soapy water doesn't work as well because it has very little surface tension and once blown out, looks like no leak is present.

 

[Brake Weight]

I have had to replace 3 hoses on my gas grille if I forget to bring the hose inside when not in use. They're just the hoses from Lowe's but the Teflon, or whatever, spacer in the tank connection dry rots and falls apart. If you never remove the hose it will stay intact enough to hold some pressure and just be hairline cracks.

 

[mobilus]

I have had to replace 3 hoses on my gas grille if I forget to bring the hose inside when not in use. They're just the hoses from Lowe's but the Teflon, or whatever, spacer in the tank connection dry rots and falls apart. If you never remove the hose it will stay intact enough to hold some pressure and just be hairline cracks.

That o-ring is probably the most overlooked thing on gas grills. They should be inspected regularly (annually?) and replaced as needed.

Since I'm thinking about gas grills, let me share this: my dear wife just burned up her second one. Remember to clean out the drippings tray occasionally because if it gets hot enough, i.e. walk away and come back after the meat is charcoal, it can burn up the valves and ignitor leads. Yep, it has happened twice.

 

[arpt209]

My favorite way to check for propane leaks is with a match. Of course I would not recommend it to anybody - might do away with yourself and neighborhood. But I hate using soapy water - too messy. A match is nice and clean. - Again don't do it. Anyone else use a match to check for small leaks? :laughing:

I thought that was how it was supposed to be done. "Here! Hold my beer. I'll show you how to find that leak;" says the human torch.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You probably know this, but few of my students know it coming into the maintenence career field. The best way to use soapy water to check for leaks is to use a dishwashing soap bottle with water and soap inside, shaken until bubbly, then squeeze out bubbles over test area. If the bubbles enlarge and burst, you've found the leak. Simply dowsing the suspect area with soapy water doesn't work as well because it has very little surface tension and once blown out, looks like no leak is present.

The best bubble test is kid's bubble wand solution. The stuff is designed to bubble.

I have had hoses leak in addition to the connections. Just recently I bought a 20 lb. swap-a-tank from Amerigas and the tank seal inside the shutoff valve connection was half gone and spewed propane all over. I was (literally) not a happy camper.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Did you check the relief outlet on the regulator(if it has one). A leaking diaphragm will show up there. Not common but it does happen. I believe the tank valves have a back seat so you have to turn all the on the prevent leaks around the valve stem.

Larry, I just took a tank and exchanged it and it was full. Apparently the auto fill shut off is stuck shut and won't feed gas. Funny, I just had the tank filled too. New tank works fine. Stuff happens.

Ron