Dodgy 6KG Propane cylinder

[Javert]

I have a 6KG full propane cylinder. When I connect the pigtail to it and open the valve, I can hear gas leaving out at the join to the cylinder. I have tried connecting it many times and tightening it up more but it is still leaking. Weird thing is, if I screw in the black plastic safety cap and then open the valve, I cannot hear any leaking.

The other cylinder in the van works fine - I have connected that one for now - no leaks and no noises, nor with the prior one I had which was just replaced with a refill.

The local caravan shop is reluctant to swap it out for free as they said “Calor are a nightmare and already owe us about 2 grand”. They gave me a phone number at Calor to call.

Does Calor actually have a working process to deal with this which I can go through as I need 2 cylinders for some trips in July and I’ll be forced to simply swap out the full one and pay for the gas twice if not.

I assume it’s not ok to dissipate the gas into the open air slowly over some days so the canister is empty and then swap it - frankly I am not sure I want it hanging around near my caravan and car while it’s still full, although it does not appear to be leaking when the valve is fully closed.

 

[ProfJohnL]

If you suspect you have a gas leak, then you must stop using the cylinder immediately, seal it and remove it to an open area with no hollows or drains (as LPG is heavier than air and will collect in low lying places).

You should contact the supplier who exchanged the cylinder, or Calor who should arrange to resolve the situation.

If the local caravan shop supplied the cylinder to you, then they are out of order in failing to take control of the situation. They are in breach of Health and Safety regulations and are contravening their legal responsibilities under the Consumer Rights Act.

This is the safety of you and your family and possibly others that's being put at risk. Don't mess with gas safety issues.

 

[Javert]

If you suspect you have a gas leak, then you must stop using the cylinder immediately, seal it and remove it to an open area with no hollows or drains (as LPG is heavier than air and will collect in low lying places).

You should contact the supplier who exchanged the cylinder, or Calor who should arrange to resolve the situation.

If the local caravan shop supplied the cylinder to you, then they are out of order in failing to take control of the situation. They are in breach of Health and Safety regulations and are contravening their legal responsibilities under the Consumer Rights Act.

This is the safety of you and your family and possibly others that's being put at risk. Don't mess with gas safety issues.

This cylinder was actually the spare cylinder in my gas locker for about the last 6 weeks - it was not leaking until I connected it to the pigtail and tried to use it - it is leaking at the join between the pigtail and the gas bottle. If I remove the pigtail, close the valve and insert the safety plug it is not leaking anymore (even without the safety bung it is not leaking). I.e. it is not leaking now.

I have removed it from the locker and placed it in a more open area but as said it’s not currently leaking.

I am no exert in these things but it is a bit puzzling that the safety bung on the gas bottle stops all flow, but the pigtail when inserted is clearly leaking enough to make a noise and smell. However the same pigtail did not leak on other seemingly identical gas bottles nor on the new one that it’s just been connected to!

 

[JTQ]

That Black plastic plug is in no way a "safety plug", the opposite*.
It is very, very dangerous to be doing what you did with it, please don't risk that again.
Sorry, follow the Prof's advice.

*, its just to keep dirt out and protect the connection.

I assume your pig tail has a hard metal nose for you to be in this position; the rubber nosed connectors are way more tolerant of a less than precision mating fit.

For illustration only, a connector like this LINK

 

[Woodentop]

Try wiping out the inside of the faulty cylinder outlet. If there is muck inside it the slightest bit will allow a leak. Also check the pigtail for the same issue.
Specifically because of this problem I always use a thumbwheel fitting as most of these have a hemispherical bulb on the end which when smeared with the tiniest smear of silicone grease or oil will form a good and tight seal.

 

[woodsieboy]

Afriend of mine had a similar problem it turned out he had mislaid a sealing washer, onc efound he had no furher problem

 

[Javert]

That Black plastic plug is in no way a "safety plug", the opposite*.
It is very, very dangerous to be doing what you did with it, please don't risk that again.
Sorry, follow the Prof's advice.

*, its just to keep dirt out and protect the connection.

I assume your pig tail has a hard metal nose for you to be in this position; the rubber nosed connectors are way more tolerant of a less than precision mating fit.

For illustration only, a connector like this LINK

Ok but if the issue is partially caused by the type of connector I am using doesn’t that mean it’s not an emergency as I just need to get a better pigtail and try that?

As said - the cylinder in question was sitting in my gas locker for 6 weeks until today so as far as I can tell nothing has changed.

Thanks for the clarification about the black plug - although to be clear I did not fully open the valve with this in just a tiny bit but I will not do that again.

I could also ask someone else to connect their pigtail to see what happens.

 

[JTQ]

Ok but if the issue is partially caused by the type of connector I am using doesn’t that mean it’s not an emergency as I just need to get a better pigtail and try that?

As said - the cylinder in question was sitting in my gas locker for 6 weeks until today so as far as I can tell nothing has changed.

Thanks for the clarification about the black plug - although to be clear I did not fully open the valve with this in just a tiny bit but I will not do that again.

I could also ask someone else to connect their pigtail to see what happens.

Not an emergency in respect to having to exchange the bottle, but as is you definitely should not attempt to use it, leaking LPG.
As said the soft nosed POL connectors are way more tolerant of the fit than the hard metal nosed ones are, though they still ought to be okay, just I know sometimes they are not.

Just cracking the valve open can still way over pressurise the plastic plug and blow it out. A small opening will not cause the valve to freeze quite as rapidly as with it more open, but there are still dangers, hand frozen onto the valve so you can't get away with an explosive mixture building up around you !

 

[Mel]

We had a leaking cylinder which actually wasn’t leaking. We had just picked up a brand new caravan and taken it to the site. The quarter full gas cylinder had been transferred from our trade in van to the new van by the dealers technicians. We get on site; turn the gas on via the knob on the top of the bottle. Head into the van. It was a Bailey so the gas locker was centre offside. I am sitting in the van and after a bit could smell gas. Tear outside to shut the cylinder off. Took it out to discover that the dealer technicians had cross threaded the pigtail and forcibly tightened it to the extent that they had damaged both the pigtail end and the screw thread on the gas cylinder. By this time the gas cylinder was almost empty. Fortunately most of the gas had harmlessly dropped out through the drop holes ( never ever block them).
Mel

 

[ProfJohnL]

Please forgive me, but having worked professionally with LPG appliances and installations , that were faulty or had been tampered with, I am all too aware of the dangers and risks of how unsafe equipment can be.

Having read your opening post, it is fairly certain you have a faulty coupling, but which part is at fault is impossible for anyone here on the forum to diagnose with any accuracy. It could be your connector, it could be the cylinder, or both.

The biggest risk is the cylinder as it contains the LPG under pressure, which its why its important that it is treated accordingly.

When it comes to problems with gas leaks, its important to get the relevant equipment professionally checked. The professional will have the skill and knowledge of how to assess and apply the necessary action to mitigate the risks.