Gas lock strong smell of gas

[Leap of faith]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a strong smell of gas in my gas locker. I am assuming I need to  replace the hoses/connectors so that I no longer have a leak. I can smell gas as I am sitting on the bow and it increases when I open the locker. There is no smell of gas inside the boat. The locker is vented. Do I need to get a gas safe engineer to do all the replacements. I did have a BSC cert done in February. What is the best move in this situation?

[Stilllearning]

6 minutes ago, Leap of faith said:

Hi everyone,

 

I have a strong smell of gas in my gas locker. I am assuming I need to  replace the hoses/connectors so that I no longer have a leak. I can smell gas as I am sitting on the bow and it increases when I open the locker. There is no smell of gas inside the boat. The locker is vented. Do I need to get a gas safe engineer to do all the replacements. I did have a BSC cert done in February. What is the best move in this situation?

Hi.

How recent was the last time you changed a gas bottle? I.E. is it possible you didn’t quite do a connection up tight?

[Ray T]

51 minutes ago, Stilllearning said:

Hi.

How recent was the last time you changed a gas bottle? I.E. is it possible you didn’t quite do a connection up tight?

 

When gas companies refill their bottles they are supposed to flush them.

They insert a liquid to give the gas its smell. This liquid can build up and enter the system if the bottles are not flushed and just refilled.

This liquid will sit at the lowest point and slowly block the pipes. 

If possible see if this is a problem and drain the pipes.

 

Also how old are your regulator and pig tails?

Boats with gas | Boat Safety Scheme | Go Boating - Stay Safe

 

avoiding - lpg.pdf (boatsafetyscheme.org)

 

 

 

Edited June 8, 2021 by Ray T

[Bee]

You can test for leaks with washing up liquid, an egg cup full of Fairy or something and a dash of water, paint it over every join etc. Chances are that there is no discernible leak in which case have you recently changed a bottle? That stinky stuff that Ray T referred to really hangs around.

[matty40s]

It may be that your bottle is about to go, we usually smell gas and then swear whilst dinner stops cooking a short while later.

Edited June 8, 2021 by matty40s

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Flexible hose will have a date of manufacture on it. If the hose is more than five years old, then it is time to replace it. The hose will become more porous to gas as it ages. Type depends on if it is low pressure, or high pressure hose. If the regulator is connected direct to the bottle, then it is low pressure. Check the boat safety scheme requirements for the acceptable types. No advice on high pressure side hoses if that is what you have. This would be hose between the bottle and regulator.

As has already been mentioned, if the connection to the bottle isn't tight enough then this can also leak.

Jen

[Machpoint005]

1 hour ago, Stilllearning said:

Hi.

How recent was the last time you changed a gas bottle? I.E. is it possible you didn’t quite do a connection up tight?

 

Left-hand thread for propane (orange cylinder)!!!!

[captain birdseye]

Remember hoses from bottle to regulator must have non return valves fitted

 

[Machpoint005]

Just now, captain birdseye said:

Remember hoses from bottle to regulator must have non return valves fitted

 

 

We don't know the configuration of the OP's system: it could well be a regulator screwed straight onto the bottle.

[captain birdseye]

Just now, Machpoint005 said:

 

We don't know the configuration of the OP's system: it could well be a regulator screwed straight onto the bottle.

well if the regulator is fitted to the bottle then there won't be hoses from bottle to regulator so it won't apply

 

[Machpoint005]

10 minutes ago, captain birdseye said:

well if the regulator is fitted to the bottle then there won't be hoses from bottle to regulator so it won't apply

 

 

Indeed so. Perhaps I should have prefixed my remark with "for the avoidance of doubt".

 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

21 minutes ago, captain birdseye said:

Remember hoses from bottle to regulator must have non return valves fitted

 

Is that in the BSS ?

[PeterF]

We once had a bottle that had a leak on the bottle valve but only when it was open, when closed no leak, from memory it came out of a small hole on the valve body probably from the valve stem gland packing.

[Tracy D'arth]

Regulators can leak too.

 

I always open bottle valves fully, many leak a bit if only opened part way.

[Chris John]

I notice no ones told you to turn the bottle off and fix the issue. Might be a good idea ?

[ditchcrawler]

15 minutes ago, Chris John said:

I notice no ones told you to turn the bottle off and fix the issue. Might be a good idea ?

I couldn't agree more, boating around with a known gas leak is not best Practice LadyG had similar

[Alan de Enfield]

2 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

I couldn't agree more, boating around with a known gas leak is not best Practice LadyG had similar

 

But it was better when she cut back on the beans ...................................

[captain birdseye]

On 08/06/2021 at 16:54, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Is that in the BSS ?

From the BSS. The pipes will have a label stating Non Return Valve Fitted on them

Edited June 10, 2021 by captain birdseye

[Alan de Enfield]

15 minutes ago, captain birdseye said:

From the BSS. The pipes will have a label stating Non Return Valve Fitted on them

 

I thought that was the section you were refering to :

 

When you said : "Remember hoses from bottle to regulator must have non return valves fitted"

 

The BSS only required an NRV to be fitted if multiple bottles are connected on the HP side.