Gas

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kennygee
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Is it possible for the gas pipes to freeze up in the icy weather. The reason I ask this question is because I went to my van which is in storage and found that I couldn't light my Gas cooker. There just wasn't any gas coming through. Could it possibibly the regulator is frozen up also. Ken

Sproket
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What colour bottle have you got ? 

 

If you have Butane ( blue bottle ) then yes as it will not gas.......

Propane no !

Sir Sproket CJ ( BAR)

steve w77
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Are you using propane or butane, ( red or blue ) bottle? Butane ( Blue bottle ) does not gas off under about 4 degrees centigrade, so that could be your problem.

 

 

Steve W

Prof John L
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kennygee wrote:

Is it possible for the gas pipes to freeze up in the icy weather. 

 

Hello Ken, 

 

Its common misconception that as the temperature drops to around freezing that buutane (Blue bottle gas) will start to 'freeze' . It's true that you find you cant get gas from the bottle, but its not 'freezing' is actually stopped 'boiling' or 'vapourising' so the liquified gas no longer produces vapour or gas that we can use.

The simplest solution is to change from Butane to Propane which stops boiling around Minus 40C, so its fine for UK weather.

 

Incidentally, don't try insulating the gas bottles, as it will make the problem worse.

 

If you want to know why I am prepared to explain, but it is quite a long and involved description.

All advice and opinions given are my own and are given in good faith, unless quoted with references, The reader should verify the information given with relevant professionals

kennygee
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I am using Red (Propane) Gas. And yes I have checked if there is gas in the bottle.

Mel
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Dunno what the lowest temperature for Propane is; but it has been very cold in some places.  On the other hand you could have the dreaded blocked regulator.

mel

Lady mel

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Parksy
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According to John L's earlier post propane should be ok down to almost -40°C

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RogerL
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Propane will "gas-off" down to around -40C so no problem in the UK in any extreme conditions.

As the OP is using propane, not butane, the regulator should be the suspect, particularly if it's the bulkhead-mounted type - the early blocking problem was averted by running the pipes correctly but never stopped the leaching of material from the high-pressure pipes which may be just enough to cause blockages in cold conditions, ie like now.

Damian-Moderator
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Propane will provide usable gas pressure to -45degrees C.

I assume you checked that all the relevant gas isolation taps were open and he cylinder had gas in it?

 

If yes to all that, then the regulator is suspect and if blocked will need replacing.

The oily blockage is caused by the impurities in the gas cylinder, the hoses have very little to do with the problem, if anything, despite people keep saying they do.

If all the plasticiser was leached out of the hoses they would crumble like dust, they dont, they are normally in very good condition.

 

If your regulator is blocked get an engineer to replace it with a Clesse regulator which will not block as the GOK (Truma) ones do.

 

As the bulkhead regulator forms part of the fixed gas system, it must be replaced by  suitably qualified LPG engineer and the system leak and pressure tested after fitment.

Mel
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Parksy wrote:

According to John L's earlier post propane should be ok down to almost -40°C

O.K. so I didn't read prof john's post properly Embarassed.  -40 it is.  However, it is possible that the OP has his van stored in Siberia. Innocent.  Blocked regulator then.

mel

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If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

kennygee
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It isn't the regulator that's attached to the bulkhead, it is the one that sits on top of the cylinder. I am waiting for a change in the weather to try it again. It is stored in Scotland not Siberia Ha Ha