Discovered a scary propane leak under our stove top......heard a hissing when the burners were off. I think it is coming from the oven control. Going to call
Seaward when they wake up over there. Anyone had this experience?
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Propane leak in stove top
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 symandalay |
Propane leak in stove top |
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Posts: 130 10/16/07 05:14:25 |
Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel
Florida |
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symandalay |
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Posts: 130 10/18/07 16:51:54 |
Best guess at this point is that the regulator failed, sending 150 psi to the stove which blew out a seal in the oven thermostat/controller.
I replaced the regulator and fortunately we have a Seaward service man in the area who has ordered the part to fix the stove. I will be treating the propane system with more caution from this point forward. C
Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel
Florida |
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ajchan |
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Posts: 155 10/19/07 08:01:49 |
Was your LPG solenoid off?
Addison
Threepenny Opera
1999 C-42 MK II, 2CP Wing #640 http://the-voyages-of-threepenny-opera.blogspot.com/ |
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 azure42 |
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Posts: 321 10/19/07 09:17:49 |
Colin,
Is it possible that your thermocoupler failed? (thanks to Oscar for knowing the name). I changed mine years ago -- follow this link to read the info. http://catalina42discussionforum.yuku.com/topic/551/t/Propane-Oven-inoperative.html?page=1 or search Yuku for "thermocoupler". The information for you or your tech to pay special attention to is about cleaning up the little beads of mercury that may now be at the bottom of your oven if the thermocoupler failed. It's a fairly simple job to change it. Good luck.
Rod Williams
Azure' #343, 2-cabin fin Alameda/San Francisco Bay, CA.
Last Edited By: azure42 10/19/07 09:24:56.
Edited 1 time.
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ajchan |
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Posts: 155 10/19/07 11:26:15 |
A thermocouple is failsafe in that it remains closed when defective.
A cracked regulator diaphram could certainly create an overpressure situation and do damage. After all propane operates at 11 inches of water and a full open propane unregulated propane cylinder will have a gas pressure many orders of magnitude higher. Addison
Threepenny Opera
1999 C-42 MK II, 2CP Wing #640 http://the-voyages-of-threepenny-opera.blogspot.com/ |
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symandalay |
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Posts: 130 10/19/07 11:39:51 |
The solenoid is always left in the off position except when we use the system......the hissing was heard when the solenoid valve was turned on in order to use
the stove. That was after the regulator had seemingly failed and been replaced.
I took the old regulator apart and it was not immediately obvious what had gone wrong, although the pivot pin inside fell out while I was looking at it. The pivot pin could have come loose and allowed full pressure to enter the system. The old regulator looked a bit corroded on the outside from 8 years in the salt water environment but the inside looked fine with no signs of corrosion. I don't believe the thermocouple failed but I will take a look at it and make sure everything works properly when the tech returns with the part he ordered. Seaward tells me the local tech here is "the best he has" so I am confident it will be fixed properly. We are religious about turning off the solenoid valve when the stove is not in use but do not turn the tank valve off unless we leave the boat for a while. May have to revisit that policy! Colin
Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel
Florida |
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symandalay |
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Posts: 130 10/20/07 11:50:24 |
One other propane hint that we discovered during all this. Test the connection between the tank and the fitting that connects to the tank by putting some soapy
water on it while it is under pressure. If there is any leakage, there will of course be some small bubbles generated. You can stop this leakage by replacing a
part inside the tank valve opening. We took our tank to a propane fill station that had a small service department. They used a custom made spanner wrench to
unscrew this internal part and replace it with a new one. Cost $10 and it stopped the leak. The service man said these parts begin to leak when they are
overtightened. I don't know what they are called but they are about 3/4" diameter with threads on the outside and about 3/4" long with a rubber
seal on one end.
Colin Ward, Mandalay, #593 1997 2-cabin, fin keel
Florida |
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ajchan |
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Posts: 155 10/21/07 07:18:02 |
Another way to get a similar result to the soapy water test is to open and close the tank valve after installing a new tank. Leave it closed for several hours,
and if the pressure gauge does not move, then you know that your tank to regulator connection is OK.
Addison
Threepenny Opera
1999 C-42 MK II, 2CP Wing #640 http://the-voyages-of-threepenny-opera.blogspot.com/ |
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george lyons |
additional check / bilge | #8 | ||
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Posts: 10 10/22/07 07:43:53 |
I am curious about whether the leak produced enough accumulated gas in the Bilge to constitute a future safety concern . I used to investigate Gas
explosions as part of litigation discovery and have been informed of propane leaks that created pools of propane that stayed in depressions of the surface
structure for long periods of time . The "experts " I used have found combustible concentrations of propane in depression pockets weeks after the
leak was fixed and after continuous exposure to ambiant air currents . The propane had the ability to pool and remain concentrated much longer than anyone had
previously expected .
Lion Heart
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symandalay |
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Posts: 130 10/24/07 17:30:53 |
George,
Thanks for that heads up. I did run a household fan for a while with the boat opened up soon after the leak occurred. When the serviceman returns with the part for the stove, I will ask him if can check for buildup of gases. I have got a carbon monoxide detector but I don't know if that would tell me anything if I put it in the bilge. C |
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george lyons |
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Posts: 10 10/25/07 11:09:24 |
Co detectors of the variety that I am familiar with will not detect propane / butane . The instrument I have seen used is referred to as a CGI --Combustible
Gas Indicator . I would loan you one if I had one , however I do not own one . Your local propane supply company probably has one and may allow you to borrow
it .Your local natural gas utility undoubtedly has several , and may help if you ask thier "public safety " department .
Lion Heart
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