I have a propane bottle, kept outdoors, that feeds a gas hob and Electrolux
refrigerator. In sub-zero temperatures I get no pressure indoors, but am
unsure whether this is due to the regulator having some water in it, which
freezes and sticks it shut, or water in the gas pipe itself (which should be
impossible, if the bottles only contain dry propane).

Has anyone had experience of this? Is there an easy way of testing the
regulator/servicing it/drying it out? I am tempted to put it in a warm oven
for a while but don't want to damage any rubber components inside it.

Thanks

Roger

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 20:34:37 -0000, "Roger Moss"
wrote:

I have a propane bottle, kept outdoors, that feeds a gas hob and Electrolux
refrigerator. In sub-zero temperatures I get no pressure indoors, but am
unsure whether this is due to the regulator having some water in it, which
freezes and sticks it shut, or water in the gas pipe itself (which should be
impossible, if the bottles only contain dry propane).

Has anyone had experience of this?

Yes. It's not due to water at all, it's a property of the pressurised
propane gas. Propane, although "better" than butane, will not change
state from the liquid phase to the gas phase at very low temperatures.
Butane refuses to "work" at anything below about 4°C.

--
MatSav

On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 20:34:37 -0000, "Roger Moss"
wrote:

| I have a propane bottle, kept outdoors, that feeds a gas hob and Electrolux
| refrigerator. In sub-zero temperatures I get no pressure indoors, but am
| unsure whether this is due to the regulator having some water in it, which
| freezes and sticks it shut, or water in the gas pipe itself (which should be
| impossible, if the bottles only contain dry propane).
|
| Has anyone had experience of this? Is there an easy way of testing the
| regulator/servicing it/drying it out? I am tempted to put it in a warm oven
| for a while but don't want to damage any rubber components inside it.

I read in the instructions, that there is a hole in my propane regulator
which should be protected from rain. This supports your theory. I would
leave the regulator on the top of the central heating boiler for a day or
two to dry it out. Airing cupboard would do as well.

--
Dave Fawthrop
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"Roger Moss" wrote in message
...
I have a propane bottle, kept outdoors, that feeds a gas hob and Electrolux
refrigerator. In sub-zero temperatures I get no pressure indoors, but am
unsure whether this is due to the regulator having some water in it, which
freezes and sticks it shut, or water in the gas pipe itself (which should
be impossible, if the bottles only contain dry propane).

Has anyone had experience of this? Is there an easy way of testing the
regulator/servicing it/drying it out? I am tempted to put it in a warm
oven for a while but don't want to damage any rubber components inside it.


1. You really do mean Propane do you? Butane is useless at sub zero
temperatures but Propane evaporates at seriously low sub zero temperatures.

2. A new regulator from BES is only a few quid and this may be a more
sensible way of sorting the problem

2. A new regulator from BES is only a few quid and this may be a more
sensible way of sorting the problem
There is a small hole at the side of the regulator body. Most people fit the
unit horizontal, so that any water will remain inside. AFAIK it should be
facing down so that it can drain.
It's just a diaphragm with a light spring resting on it. The spring gets
weak, the rubber perishes,-should be replaced every couple of years (so it's
said).
I couldn't get a decent supply of gas one time. When I removed the tube a
rather groggy wasp crawled out.
DaveK.



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Roger Moss wrote:
I have a propane bottle, kept outdoors, that feeds a gas hob and
Electrolux refrigerator. In sub-zero temperatures I get no pressure
indoors, but am unsure whether this is due to the regulator having
some water in it, which freezes and sticks it shut, or water in the
gas pipe itself (which should be impossible, if the bottles only
contain dry propane).

Has anyone had experience of this? Is there an easy way of testing
the regulator/servicing it/drying it out? I am tempted to put it in
a warm oven for a while but don't want to damage any rubber
components inside it.

A tiny help from Truma is called Ice-ex. It's a 12v heating element that
fits on the regulator. It will solve the problems that can occur around
(mostly some degrees above) zero degrees C.

--
Regards, Bert W
www.whattowcar.com

It's been said on here and I concur that it could be several things but
operate on the principle that it's cheaper to check than buy. First if there
is no rime around the cylinder itself at the bottom, it is unlikely that the
cylinder is chilling down too low to vapourise. A 47Kg cylinder will
vapourise enough gas to supply 15Kw of energy, but it is dependent on the
wetted surface of the cylinder, so the lower the gas, the less wetted area,
less gas vapourises so just because you have liquid left in the cylinder
does not mean it will vapourise. If you have a small cylinder, 6/11Kg or
perhaps even 19Kg it may not supply enough vapour. Gas in cylinders is an
impure product and will contain a small amount of water, although a very
large company was found guilty of ballasting cylinders with water. It is
unlikely that the water is getting into the reg. It is more likely to be
water getting into the body of the reg, so you can fit the reg with the red
cap facing down to stop water ingress, in this position you can pour hot
water over it to thaw it out. Hot water from the tap won't harm it as long
as it doesn't get in the body.


Robin

"Bert W" wrote in message
...
Roger Moss wrote:
I have a propane bottle, kept outdoors, that feeds a gas hob and
Electrolux refrigerator. In sub-zero temperatures I get no pressure
indoors, but am unsure whether this is due to the regulator having
some water in it, which freezes and sticks it shut, or water in the
gas pipe itself (which should be impossible, if the bottles only
contain dry propane).

Has anyone had experience of this? Is there an easy way of testing
the regulator/servicing it/drying it out? I am tempted to put it in
a warm oven for a while but don't want to damage any rubber
components inside it.

A tiny help from Truma is called Ice-ex. It's a 12v heating element that
fits on the regulator. It will solve the problems that can occur around
(mostly some degrees above) zero degrees C.

--
Regards, Bert W
www.whattowcar.com