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Trouble with propane tanks and bar-b-que stuff...

Kern Dog

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.
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This isn't the most fun or interesting topic but here goes....
I know very little about this stuff. I have had the propane bar-b-que quit flowing after sitting awhile. The tank isn't empty but the bar-b-que just seems to be getting no gas. I've tapped the regulator multiple times with no luck. Replacing the regulator seems to work but what actually causes this problem? I always turn the tank valve off when I'm not cooking.
Today I attached 2 separate space heater type burners to 2 different tanks but neither would flow any gas. I wonder if whatever causes the bar-b-que regulators to fail also happened to these space heaters. Anyone know what the heck is to blame? Are there some type of deposits in the propane that builds up to block the flow?
I bought a new burner today and it works great. Fifty bucks. How long until it stops working?
 
Have you tried resetting the regulator?

There is a procedure to do this if necessary - a regulator will 'trip' if the gas comes in a rush....and the result is a very small flame.

Just saying in case this is where you are heading. :)

It happened to me twice....the first time, I went to the Gas Station and got a fresh bottle....an expensive lesson.

How to reset your Grill Regulator - YouTube
 
I got tired of filling tanks, when I had a gas stove installed I also had a gas outlet put in for my barbecue.
 
All current tanks have over flow locks if you open the tanks and have high flow it locks down
All current tanks have a flow preventer if not connected or not connected properly
So make sure hose is tight and you turn every thing off then open tank slowly
 
Bm02tj said
and crack the valve open slow.
Its big brother protecting you.
 
Last edited:
Kern Dog said:
Today I attached 2 separate space heater type burners to 2 different tanks but neither would flow any gas. I wonder if whatever causes the bar-b-que regulators to fail also happened to these space heaters. Anyone know what the heck is to blame?
Click to expand...

Kern....Were you using the same flex hose when you tried to get the 2 separate space heater burners to work? The problem could be the o-ring inside the end of your flex hose that attaches to your propane tank. Those o-rings deteriorate after a number of years, and that causes the gas flow to be higher than it should be when you slowly crack the valve open.
 
KD I’ve even had the tank valves messed up and had to take back the tank. They told me tap on the valve or tap entire pig on concrete , keep it flat and repeat.. I have also had a regulator fail but it was a leak issue otherwise... tapping on the valve or tank doesn’t sound appealing but it does work sometimes.
 
Photon440 said:
I got tired of filling tanks, when I had a gas stove installed I also had a gas outlet put in for my barbecue.
Click to expand...


I did the same thing at the last house. At the new house, I have a 1,000 gallon tank buried in the ground which serves the stove, ceiling hung garage heaters & domestic heat/hot water. I had them plumb a line under the deck and out to the grill also.
 
Kern,
Is this a problem that just started or has it been on going?
 
Your still allowed to use propane in calli???!!
 
generally if the issue is with a barbque that won't light after sitting a while its because a spider has built a nest in the tubes. A good shot of compressed air solves that issue. Maybe try the same with the regulator hose - give it a shot of air.
 
Beekeeper said:
Kern,
Is this a problem that just started or has it been on going?
Click to expand...
The situation is this:
The tank is hooked to the flex line to the bar b que and works fine, then time passes and without doing anything, it just does nothing. The tank still feels heavy but the gas will not flow. I can't hear a hiss, I smell nothing and the flame does not occur. I have tapped the regulator and had it work but not always. Replacement of the regulator has worked.
You're not supposed to lube the threads or the O-ring, are you?
 
kiwigtx said:
Have you tried resetting the regulator?

There is a procedure to do this if necessary - a regulator will 'trip' if the gas comes in a rush....and the result is a very small flame.

Just saying in case this is where you are heading. :)

It happened to me twice....the first time, I went to the Gas Station and got a fresh bottle....an expensive lesson.

How to reset your Grill Regulator - YouTube
Click to expand...
Thank you, Roger. I'll watch the video later. I have an early morning commitment to make.
 
Kern Dog said:
The situation is this:
The tank is hooked to the flex line to the bar b que and works fine, then time passes and without doing anything, it just does nothing. The tank still feels heavy but the gas will not flow. I can't hear a hiss, I smell nothing and the flame does not occur. I have tapped the regulator and had it work but not always. Replacement of the regulator has worked.
You're not supposed to lube the threads or the O-ring, are you?
Click to expand...

so what’s the ambient temp where the tank is located?
 
Go to Charcoal, Unless the Nazi's in Calli. have banned it.
 
I agree that the issue is most likely spiders. They love the smell of propane and will nest wherever they can smell it. Doesn't take much to block the passages. The most common symptom of spider problems is when flame shoots out from under the bbq just before the burner. Their is a opening there allowing for proper LP fuel/air mixture. If they block too much of the tiny pinhole gas passages you won't get any gas coming out, but if not much blockage you will get flames coming from that area. Like previously stated by Stanton try a shot of compressed air. If that doesn't work, find cheaper regulator valve with hose. Here I can get from Amazon for less than $25.
 
Last edited:
Try buying a tank from a different supplier. I had the same issues. It was the valve on the tanks they had a bad batch went to a different supplier works perfect
 
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