As a gasfitter when I do a new installation I use a gas gauge (Sometimes called a Gasfuse) that fits into your cylinder and then the pipe or regulator fits into it. Once fitted just turn your cylinder ON and the needle in the gauge will go up and show pressure, then turn the cylinder OFF. If the gauge stays still and doesn't fall for atleast 20mins you have a well sealed system. If it falls then you can start looking at all the joints in the lines using the above soapy water method (or any window cleaner type spray) to check for bubbles that indicate a leak.
So I suppose using a cigarrette lighter is out. Nah we keep a squirty bottle of soapy water with our tanks at home and one in the van, I have found a couple of times with exchange bottles that the seat for the seal can have dirt or something on it and even had a 40kg bottle where the thread was badly dammaged and I had to take it back. I like to fill our own 9kg bottles so I can guarantee they are in good condition.
As a gasfitter when I do a new installation I use a gas gauge (Sometimes called a Gasfuse) that fits into your cylinder and then the pipe or regulator fits into it. Once fitted just turn your cylinder ON and the needle in the gauge will go up and show pressure, then turn the cylinder OFF. If the gauge stays still and doesn't fall for atleast 20mins you have a well sealed system. If it falls then you can start looking at all the joints in the lines using the above soapy water method (or any window cleaner type spray) to check for bubbles that indicate a leak.
G'day Bob, that's the first time I've seen a sensible use for a GasFuse. I bought one years ago and after asking around, the general consensus of opinion was that there was no way they would stop/detect a small leak....otherwise it would turn the gas off every time you turned a gas stove on.
But you've explained a method of using the GasFuse to indicate if there is a leak without having to crawl over under the van squirting soapy water looking for a leak that may/may not exist.
You can buy a gas sniffer off ebay for about $50 delivered. The one I bought is called
"Omega Greenpower Portable Pen Nature Green Gas Leak Detector Natural Gas LNG LPG".
Very easy and quick to use. I recently purchased a second hand caravan and found it had a slow gas leak as indicated by the gas fuse not holding pressure. Found a flange nut on one "T" union was not tight, a simply fix, saved a trip (not to mention cost) to a caravan dealer to find the problem. Now every time I change gas bottles I can check the connection is OK in a matter of seconds.
I have found that the easiest way to detect a gas leak is the 'bubble tester' as I had fitted on my boat in the UK.
It is a simple small globe filled with a liquid and placed in line on the gas pipe.
When the lines are full of gas but no item is alight the button on the top of the 'bubble tester' is pressed and if bubbles are seen ( gas passing through the line) it shows there is a leak.
If there are no bubbles all is well.
I have not seen them here in Australia but would like to know if they are allowed under the various regulations.
There are widely used on boats and RV's in the UK, easy to use at any time, and at around $50 are not an expensive safety item.
I have found that the easiest way to detect a gas leak is the 'bubble tester' as I had fitted on my boat in the UK.
It is a simple small globe filled with a liquid and placed in line on the gas pipe.
When the lines are full of gas but no item is alight the button on the top of the 'bubble tester' is pressed and if bubbles are seen ( gas passing through the line) it shows there is a leak.
If there are no bubbles all is well.
I have not seen them here in Australia but would like to know if they are allowed under the various regulations.
There are widely used on boats and RV's in the UK, easy to use at any time, and at around $50 are not an expensive safety item.
That isn't legally allowed to be fitted to a system in Australia...
It requires cutting into the system to install it and then it creates another potential place for a leak...
All regulators that are properly fitted will have a test point fitted to them on the low pressure side also all gas appliances have a test point built into them where a monometer can be attached and leak tests carried out..
Like I said in an earlier post using a gas gauge (Gas fuse) is the easiest way for anyone to test for leaks...
Your system should hold pressure for at least 20mins but a well sealed system will hold pressure all day..
If it doesn't hold pressure then the soapy water test (mentioned above by others) at every joint should find the leak for you starting at the cylinder and working your way along your system untill you find it..
-- Edited by oldbobsbus on Friday 27th of December 2013 11:20:49 AM
