The screw valve shut off is leaking on my tank. It's a 500 gal. tank. Where should I look for a replacement? I'm at 15% right now, so would like to burn it off and repair/replace before I refill. Thanks, JB
You might want to try calling your supplier. They would have the necessary equipment and parts to do the job. One of my part time neighbors (deer hunter cabin) has a couple of 250 gallon propane tanks that they recently had joined instead of having two separate lines. The service was provided by their supplier. The only reason I know is I had seen some activity by their tanks as in moving them, so I went stealth (unarmed) and came within a half dozen feet of the guy before I let him know I was there. Scared him half to death! After some conversation I found out it was a guy from the supplier making alterations to the system. I hadn't noticed the service truck in the driveway because it was on the other side of the cabin. So I would suggest calling your supplier, letting them know the situation including the amount left in the tank, and take it from there. If nothing else they should be able to let you know where such a valve can be purchased.
I talked to one of my suppliers, who of course didn't know what the heck I was talking about. Just- $90/hr, for whatever they came up with. So I asked to be connected to a "tech". He said the seals dry out, to spray WD-40 on the stem as I un-screwed/screwed in the valve. It should rehydrate the seals. Tried that 3 times over a 2 week span. Still leaking.
Maybe find the numbers stamped on the valve including size, and then do a google search for the same valve. That should yield a start point anyway. Maybe even order from a company online. A temporary fix would be to remove the knob or handle from the valve after it is completely closed and remove the cap that holds the packing or O ring. Then simply replace that part of things. Usually, this type of valve has a double seal/seat, even a back seat, not just the single at the top. So this would only be a temporary fix. I will say, if you don't have the tank padlocked, you might want to do that too in order to keep your supplier from filling the tank before your able to make the necessary repair. I really do have limited experience with this sort of thing so truly, I probably should not have jumped in.
I had the same thing on a tank taht was bought and paid for years and years ago. (that's probably why it was for sale?) I had to replace the copper line coming from the valve to the primary regulator first. This is something that they may not sell you the part for due to the liability issue. After tightening the nut on the valve stem on the tank, it did seem to help out a bit-but not enough. What I finally did was to open the valve as far as I could by hand and then with a pair of large channel locks, grab onto the valve handle and tighten it just a tweak more. This did the trick. I used soap bubbles to leak check.
Thanks, that's what the "tech" told me I might have to do also. I'm getting ready to check it again tonight, see what happens.
Quick update- The WD-40 worked to a point. The propane guy got here this morning and squirted pink stuff all over the valves/controls. Something special to detect gas leaks. It all checked out,...but he wasn't quite sure. So he opened and closed, opened and closed, and then he put some grunt to the valve. Tah Dah! he broke it. So we got it sealed to a very small leak and a new "bonnet" will be installed by them in the next few days. It barely bubbles but it is leaking. So, all will be well pretty soon.
The "pink stuff" was most likely a pink dish soap and water. When I had the propane guys here yesterday swapping out tanks, they did the same thing, but it was special blue stuff - and he told me it was just soap/water combo since he had to overspray onto the house and he didn't want me to worry about it. There was a leak on one of the new tank fittings. The tech told me they had changed suppliers; never used to have problems with the fittings from the old supplier, but the new supplier fittings had to be replaced on a regular basis upon install. When he took off the old fitting, it actually had a hairline crack in it - and that was brand new.
It wasn't soap, something so nasty and un-wash offable he was wearing a thick, nasty glove to apply it. He hated the stuff but it worked well. New "bonnet" in place, no leaks. I do believe I'm good to go for a while.
