ON THIS PAGE YOU WILL FIND
HANDY TIPS FOR DETECTING LPG LEAK
HOW TO CHECK YOUR GAS BOTTLE LEVEL
8 QUICK TIPS FOR NEVER RUNNING OUT OF LPG
SOAPY WATER LEAK TEST
HOW DO YOU CHECK FOR LPG GAS LEAKS?
The soapy water leak test allows for tell-tale gas leak soap bubbles that are indicative of a gas leak.
You just coat all of the gas transmission gear (pipes, hoses & valves) with soapy water and then pressurise the system.
If you see gas leak soap bubbles or smell rotten eggs, you know you have a leak.
It is important to know how do you check for gas cylinder leaks and regularly leak test your BBQ gas bottle (LPG gas cylinder), regulator and hose using the soap bubble test for gas leak.
Leaks from these items are frequently the cause of BBQ gas fires.
HOW TO DETECT LPG GAS LEAKAGE
Using your nose is the first step to detect LPG gas leakage. The first hint would be the smell of rotten cabbage or rotten eggs. An odourant – Ethyl Mercaptan – is added to the naturally odourless LPG for the aid in detection of leaks
GAS LEAK DETECTOR WITH SOAPY WATER
Apply soapy water to the entire hose assembly, including the tank’s valve and regulator, using a spray bottle or sponge. Pressurise the system without turning on any appliances. If you see bubbles or smell rotten eggs, you have a leak
GAS LEAK CHECK SOLUTION -
To make the solution for the soap test for gas leak, simply mix dish detergent with water. The soap can be put in a spray bottle or placed in a bowl for sponging on. Dish washing soap is formulated to make lots of bubbles so it works better for the soap test for gas leak.
Liquid laundry detergent doesn’t work as well as dish soap, as it is formulated to be low sudsing.
Remember to cover the entire hose assembly from the gas bottle valve to the hose attachment to the BBQ or heater with soap solution. Open the valve to pressurise the system, without turning on the burners, and look for soap bubbles or sniff for the rotten egg smell.
COMMON PROBLEM AREAS
NO AMMONIA
Your BBQ valve and fittings are made from brass.
You must never use any soapy water leak test solution that contains ammonia, when you do your testing.
Ammonia can cause brass to become brittle and crack.
Be aware that ammonia is found in many pre-prepared glass and surface cleaners, so make sure you read the label before use.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR GAS BOTTLE LEVEL:
Checking your gas bottle level -
Finding out how much gas is left in a gas bottle is easy.
Here’s how it’s done.
-
Fill a bucket with hot tap water.
-
Slowly pour the hot water (not boiling water) down one side of the gas bottle.
-
A line of condensation may appear indicating the gas level. If not:
-
Wait a few moments, then feel the side of the gas bottle where you poured the warm water.
-
You should feel a noticeable cooler change of temperature at the level of the gas.
-
If you feel no difference, the gas bottle may be empty.
Checking gas bottle levels regularly will let you stay on top of your usage for your cooktop and gas heaters and know when it’s time to check levels and re-order. This process works not just for regular LPG gas bottles but for BBQ bottles too.