Fizzicks, Propane and WTF????

mrvette

mrvette

Phantom of the Opera
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
15,194
Location
NE Florida
For the last THREE daze I have been battling a weird happening....

I have a BBQ propane tank feeding the gas range in the island of the kitchen....

underground 3/8 copper tube, through gray electrical PVC conduit....no biggie....

SO somehow the line was leaking near the side of the range, and had gotten weak there from moving the range over the years....can't see why, but it happened....at any rate....when sniffing down at the floor pipe upkick feeding the copper tube....we smelled NOTHING, wife and I over the last 3 daze....

nothing, maybe a bit rancid like old cooking grease....understandable..but the leak was about 2" from where our noses were....no smell..and gas was ON....

but I got pissed about 330 yesterday afternoon, and went looking with a propane torch....I hit that pipe next to the kitchen cab, and the whole area exploded in flames....wife was outside through OPEN WINDOWS FOR 3 DAZE NOW....and turned off the gas....I hit it with a glass of water to extinguish the flames from the under ground pipe....

so....question IS....WHY didn't we smell that damn gas on what had to be 6 attempts EACH of us to smell any gas from that conduit that seeped in from the 3/8 copper line.....WTF???

can anyone explain just WTF was going on ??

What alerted us was this vague but noticeable scent of propane gas in the house/kitchen area.....

then it got worse today, and when noticing the cylinder outside was full of ICE on the bottom 1/2 I knew it was loosing gas somewhere....so went looking with the torch as I had no other choice....I had to find it....damn nearly burnt the house down...but why did it all go down the conduit, and never stink anywhere else?? on either END??

WTF?? I know the conduit WAS a solid pipe because I laid it in when remodeling the kitchen....WTF??
:crap::hissyfit::crutches:
 
...was looking for a gas leak with a propane torch...
Good to know you're still alive because you would a made a good Darwin Award candidate, which you have been quiet a irony for someone like you.
:crutches::lol:
 
Because propane is heavier than air.
That's also why they make soapy water to search for gas leaks, or even electronic sniffers if you're in the business.

Jeesus, Gene --Even you are smarter than that!! :crutches:
 
this is almost as good as they guy who poured gasoline down some mole tunnels, then distributed the fumes with a leaf blower before igniting it.... detsroyed his entire yard .... LOL....
 
JPhil said:
Because propane is heavier than air.
That's also why they make soapy water to search for gas leaks, or even electronic sniffers if you're in the business.

Jeesus, Gene --Even you are smarter than that!! :crutches:
Click to expand...

We DID soapy water and all that shit,, even replaced some line on the range . reflared the pipe, new section....but the split/hole was in the old section about 2" from the end of the gray conduit....had to fish a new 3/8 gas pipe through it....man I was PISSED OFF no limit....

:crutches:
 
So you pour soapy water into the conduit and watch for suds & bubbles. Fill it up if you need to, and blow or suck it out later. But then you know the line is compromised without hurting anybody.
 
I use soapy water on the BBQ grill connection after I reconnect it after a refill.


Damn....looking for a gas leak with a torch......:censored:
 
BUT then again the ex and I bought a house with a drop ceiling in it....nat gas for stove/furnace/hot water.....and so that drop ceiling was full of gas leaks enough to drop me off the ladder when moving in and lifting a tile....I guess it would have exploded.....seriously....so if the house survived that some 31? years ago....and this smell was nothing to compare, not EVEN CLOSE....

WTF...maybe look for a small flame....so I thought...

:crutches:
 
BBShark said:
mrvette said:
so....question IS....WHY didn't we smell that damn gas on what had to be 6 attempts EACH of us to smell any gas from that conduit that seeped in from the 3/8 copper line.....WTF???

can anyone explain just WTF was going on ??
Click to expand...

Olfactory system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfactory_system
Click to expand...

Got nothing to do with it....smell in the room, NO smell from the conduit pipe....

that is the mystery to ME.....HOW?? why???

:crutches::hissyfit:
 
mrvette said:
BBShark said:
mrvette said:
so....question IS....WHY didn't we smell that damn gas on what had to be 6 attempts EACH of us to smell any gas from that conduit that seeped in from the 3/8 copper line.....WTF???

can anyone explain just WTF was going on ??
Click to expand...

Olfactory system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfactory_system
Click to expand...

Got nothing to do with it....smell in the room, NO smell from the conduit pipe....

that is the mystery to ME.....HOW?? why???

:crutches::hissyfit:
Click to expand...

Ask Sarah Palin. She knows everything.:D
 
big2bird said:
mrvette said:
BBShark said:
mrvette said:
so....question IS....WHY didn't we smell that damn gas on what had to be 6 attempts EACH of us to smell any gas from that conduit that seeped in from the 3/8 copper line.....WTF???

can anyone explain just WTF was going on ??
Click to expand...

Olfactory system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfactory_system
Click to expand...

Got nothing to do with it....smell in the room, NO smell from the conduit pipe....

that is the mystery to ME.....HOW?? why???

:crutches::hissyfit:
Click to expand...

Ask Sarah Palin. She knows everything.:D
Click to expand...

I would think he did, she gave him the trick to track down the leak with a propane torch!

Gene, is there any other "smell" in the house that would make you do weird things like that????
 
Was it such a BFD to replace the line to start with?
Dang Gene, propane torch?
I've survived 3 gasoline explosions in shops over the years. So the thought of adding flame to a known leak......you do crack me up Gene!
 
mrvette said:
Got nothing to do with it....smell in the room, NO smell from the conduit pipe....

that is the mystery to ME.....HOW?? why???

:crutches::hissyfit:
Click to expand...

201110050328242693.jpg
 
Haven't had gas appliances since the 70s. I miss them.
Just a forklift and it developed a leak last week in the tank supply line.


Odor Fade

NOTE:
Under rare conditions, the chemical odorant (usually ethylmercaptan) that gives propane its distinctive smell can "fade" or diminish in intensity.
On rare occasions, a leak can exist and the gas may not have an odor.

Odor fade can occur when there is an underground propane leak. The movement of gas through the soil can filter out the odorant.

Oxidation (a chemical reaction involving internal rust in the tank or cylinder) also causes odor fade. New and reconditioned tanks and cylinders that sit too long before being filled are prone to internal rust when moisture and air get inside.

Adsorption is another cause of odor fade. The odorant in leaking gas can adsorb (stick) on new or old building materials such as unpainted or untreated masonry, rough wall surfaces and on furniture fabrics and drapes, thus reducing the intensity of the odor. Adsorption of odorant can also occur on the inside walls of gas piping and static or periodically used propane storage containers and distribution systems.

Other Reasons Why You May Not Smell A Leak
In addition to odor fade, physical conditions may prevent you from smelling a leak.
Some physical causes are listed below:
colds, allergies, or sinus congestion;
use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs;
cooking odors and certain foods you eat;
taking certain medications;
decline in ability to smell, especially for older people;
prolonged exposure to the odor of propane; and
musty or damp smells, such as in a basement.
The smell from a propane leak may not wake you when sleeping.
If you are concerned that you may not be able to smell a propane leak, contact your family doctor.
Click to expand...
 
LMAO! Gene you are truly nuts! Gasoline to clean parts, torch to find a gas leak I am amazed you don’t blow up. But anyway if you can smell it and in your case enclosed in a pipe I would never put a match to it. :crutches: Most gas companies will check that shit out for free with a meter..Much safer!
 
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