Propane, woe's! Hopes this helps some one

[CougarCouple]

Hi
This might have been mentioned in other threads concerning lack of propane flow. I don't know.
I installed a water heater in our camper. No problems, things went smoothly. Test fired no problems, good to go right. Nope drove from Vegas to Provo area, now the water heater only lights then goes out. Stove lights then flame dwindles to hardly lit, and the furnace lights, and goes off as fast as it lit. So I tried a different propane bottle same result. So I started thinking the propane regulator is sticking. Stearing at the regulator and wondering what was happening inside, I see the manufacturer name. So I called and ask for tech support. Spoke to Rick and told him what I was experiencing. Do you know there is a flow check valve in the end of the hose which attaches to the bottle. Sure you do, did you know that if you don't open the valve slowly the check valve stops flowing and the small bypass allows a little propane into the lines, but there is not the volume needed to operate the appliance. So if you experience propane woes make sure the stove and all appliances are off, crack the hose at the bottle then retighten and bearly crack the valve. Wait a few seconds then open the valve.
If everything starts to works, good for you, if not might have another issue.

I know it's not a exciting story, but it happened to me and at least I was able to, with reasonable ease overcome this. Without buying needless parts, trying to fix something which was not broken. If this info was in the owners manual, which I did not read very well. I must say I probably would not have typed this post.

Russ

 

[ski3pin]

We learned this by experience just like you did. The rule - open the propane valve slowly.

Thanks for the reminder for all of us. Good explanation of the check valve.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Russ, thanks for passing along this little gem!

 

[PaulT]

Interesting. I would not have thought there could be a problem like this. Years ago (many years ago), when I took welding classes, the instructor insisted on just cracking open the valves on welding tanks because the sudden pressure with a lot of volume could cause problems with the regulators and you would be in a position to turn off the valve quickly if there were a problem. I got so accustomed to this procedure that I have always done that with any tank of compressed gas, including propane.

I don't think I would easily deduce the problem and solution from the symptoms. It does make sense though,

Thanks for posting.
Paul

 

[EnviroProf]

Never heard of this issue, but nice to now that it clearly does exist. I think there is a mention of this in the FWC owners manual, and I remember reading it and wondering if it was really an issue.

 

[Rusty]

Every day....something new

Thanks for this little jewel....I weld so I take care when I open the valves anyway but with a propane upgrade in my future....

a very goo thing to know!

I'll bet it's even in the newer manuals...and we all read those...don't we

 

[Bill D]

I learned this by chance, when hooking my Coleman stove up to the 10# bottle. I have to crack the valve slowly.

I had a similar situation happen with the Hawk. Both of the 10# tanks had just been filled and only one would work with the camper. I burnt a bit of pressure off of one of the tanks (with the Coleman stove) and problem solved.

On a similar note, my the filter on my Buddy heater has a safety feature which prevents propane from flowing if the heater gets knocked over. Something to consider if you have been 4X4ing perhaps you could trip a safety valve as well.

Thanks for sharing your experience CougarCouple. It comes in handy when you ready something like this in a thread before a real life situation happens to you.

 

[Ramblinman]

This has happened to me a couple of times. I am told it occurs when the propane bottle is over filled.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Have not had this problem with the camper as I always open the valve slowly.
But at home I have a Webber "Q" gas grill and it has happened almost since new (about6 years).
It was very frustrating at first so I searched the Webber site and they gave the procedure of how to
use the grill so that you get the proper flow.
On the grill it would have a flame but very low and thinks would take forever to cook.
Big bummer.
So now open slowly at tank and also at the grill/stove.Works no more problems.
Thanks for posting that info.
Frank

 

[craig333]

I've heard of this before but its a good one to bring up from time to time. You're not supposed to be able to overfill a modern tank with the OPD (overflow prevention device) but I'm sure there are ways around it.

 

[DanoT]

I have not heard of this problem before but sometimes starting the propane fridge in my 25 year old 5thwheel is difficult but helped by getting the stove lit. The stove is farther down the propane line from the tank than the fridge and this seems a better way of getting the propane flowing to the fridge.

 

[Lighthawk]

This accounts for at least two trips where I've had 'sticky regulator' syndrome, including last week at Loon Lake.
I had a relatively full 2 gal tank fail to provide more than a breath of propane to my grill. Luckily I carry spare one pounders and the steak saver adapter for the cabin.

Thanks for the tip, CC.

 

[Ronin]

Thanks for posting this info. I've been clueless that this could happen and I guess lucky too as I've never had this problem. I'll open the valve very slowly from now on.