Ask Me Help Desk - Gas line pressure test

I hate to be redundant on my first question here but I'm in a bit of a delimma. I have installed a black iron propane gas system in the house I am building by myself. (Retired and needed something to do and place to live) My propane supplier guy loaned me a gauge that you screw onto the end of the pipe and put compressed air into the system.

First, I have only one outlet (to the water heater) capped off. The rest (3 more) have the ball valves installed with just some teflon tape (everything else is LP rated pipe dope)

So, my propane guy says "just put that gauge on there, pump it up to about 15 or 20 pounds and leave for a couple of days. Okay. I left it overnight and it was a zero. I checked all the inside (the pipe runs under the house --- pier & beam and has 5 joints/couplings) and found a couple of really slow leaks which I tightened up and it seems I have fixed those.

I guess you are getting the picture here. I'm well past retirement age and don't crawl under houses too well so I'm trying to avoid that if at all possible, hoping to find a leak inside instead. So, I guess I have a couple of questions.

First, is it possible the ball valves could leak, they're brand new and appear to be somewhat heavy duty --- like maybe commercial even.

Second, if the line holds pressure for 15 minutes, but then is at zero an hour or more later, isn't that a problem that needs attention?

And I guess last but not least, does anybody have any idea why damned old fools get it in their head that they are going to do something all by themselves and then won't hire a professional when the going gets rough?

I appreciate you folks taking the time.

Tks

JC

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccooper

I hate to be redundant on my first question here but I'm in a bit of a delimma. I have installed a black iron propane gas system in the house I am building by myself. (Retired and needed something to do and place to live) My propane supplier guy loaned me a gauge that you screw onto the end of the pipe and put compressed air into the system.

First, I have only one outlet (to the water heater) capped off. The rest (3 more) have the ball valves installed with just some teflon tape (everything else is LP rated pipe dope)

So, my propane guy says "just put that gauge on there, pump it up to about 15 or 20 pounds and leave for a couple of days. Okay. I left it overnight and it was a zero. I checked all the inside (the pipe runs under the house --- pier & beam and has 5 joints/couplings) and found a couple of really slow leaks which I tightened up and it seems I have fixed those.

I guess you are getting the picture here. I'm well past retirement age and don't crawl under houses too well so I'm trying to avoid that if at all possible, hoping to find a leak inside instead. So, I guess I have a couple of questions.

First, is it possible the ball valves could leak, they're brand new and appear to be somewhat heavy duty --- like maybe commercial even.

Second, if the line holds pressure for 15 minutes, but then is at zero an hour or more later, isn't that a problem that needs attention?

And I guess last but not least, does anybody have any idea why damned old fools get it in their head that they are going to do something all by themselves and then won't hire a professional when the going gets rough?

I appreciate you folks taking the time.

Tks

JC

The reason it doesn't work properly is because you might have the wrong gauge of didn't screw it on tight enough and if there is a switch to say how much or how little throw that baby into full blast try all of these ideas maybe one is right get back to me as soon as possible. p.s did you check to see if maybe something might have punctured your line?[IMG]128 x 128 - 18k - pnghttp://[/IMG]

It's the gauge my propane guy uses all the time and it is tight. I checked it for leaks and there are none. I don't think anything I have around here could puncture iron pipe. And there is no switch.

I've resigned myself to having to crawl under the house and check those joints.

Thanks

JC

Quote:

Originally Posted by jccooper

It's the gauge my propane guy uses all the time and it is tight. I checked it for leaks and there are none. I don't think anything I have around here could puncture iron pipe. And there is no switch.

I've resigned myself to having to crawl under the house and check those joints.

Thanks

JC

When you're checking for leaks, are you using a mixture of liquid dish detergent and water in a spray bottle?

No, I'm putting it on with a small throw away paint brush.

JC