About losing propane pressure in the cold

 A winter or two ago I posted in these forums (fora? I suppose) looking
for information about dealing with the loss of propane pressure at
very low temperatures (getting close to the boiling point, but still
high enough that things ought to work).

I got a bunch of useful information and advice, so I'm back to return
the favor.

This year I suffered pressure loss at a much higher temperature than
ever before, and based on some of the information I'd been given I
began to suspect that that I had some bad fuel (high butane content,
e.g.).

However, upon phoning the gas supplier, I ended up talking to someone
who suggested that the regulator (disk-like thing about 5" in diameter
on the output line) might be frozen up. I have no idea what's inside
these things or how they work (though I'm sure as heck going to find
out now). Anyway, on her advice I slowly emptied a kettle of boiling
water over it--thankfully I have a wood stove to boil water--and that
did the trick.

Once or twice since then, I've had to do it again, so maybe the
regulator is going duff and is due for replacement, but meanwhile at
least I have a solution.

[Telephone operator voice:] Please make a note of it.

Cheers,
-=s

 
There's a vent hole in these things that should be facing down, so
it'll drain, FWIW...


--
William Smith
ComputerSmiths Consulting, Inc.    www.compusmiths.com

 bb

It has moisture in it (common problem). They are simple devices, consisting
of a diaphram and a needle valve. A spring pushes the needle valve open and
the resulting gas pressure pushes on the diaphram, forcing the valve closed.
The regulated pressure is when the pressure on the diaphram from the gas
matches the spring pressure.

 

If it is an old regulator it could be gummed up with mercaptan, this would
also respond to the hot water treatment. When possible just open it up and
check, old mercaptan can become very thick and will only get worse in cold
weather.

Jack

 writes:


Just make sure, as they say, to do this in a Well Ventilated Area.

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
             dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]