Tips For Checking For Propane Tank Leaks
In order to make sure that you are not wasting a lot of propane, you will need to do what you can to keep an eye out for leaks around the propane tank. To help you do this, you are going to want to take a few moments to review the following tips.
Use Cardboard
On a dry day, place a piece of cardboard on the ground under the propane tank. Secure it in place with a couple of bricks, rocks, or anything else that is heavy enough to prevent the cardboard from blowing away in the wind. Just make sure that you are keeping those anchors along the edges or just the corners of the cardboard so that you have a nice clear area of cardboard to catch any dripping propane. Allow the cardboard to stay in place for the entire day before removing it. Once it is time to inspect it, you will want to look for any signs of propane. Even the smallest of propane drops will indicate a need for a repair to the tank or possibly a complete replacement.
Add Soapy Water
Using a bucket of soapy water, you will want to gently wash over the pipes and connection pieces that connect the tank to the building. If you notice any air bubbles forming over the pipes, connection pieces, or the tank itself where the connection pieces are attached, then you have a problem. Go ahead and rinse the soapy water off with clean water and call a propane tank specialist to see if the problem area can be repaired or if it is time for a complete replacement.
Look For Rust
Rust is not an immediate indication of an active leak, but it can be. It can also serve as a sign that there is about to be a problem with a leak in your tank. Therefore, you are going to want to take your time to thoroughly inspect the exterior of your propane tank and look for the smallest sign of rust. This means that you may also have to lay on the ground in order to get a proper look at the underside of the tank. It is important to make sure that you are not skipping that side of the tank, especially if you live in a region that gets a lot of snow. After all, the underside of the tank might usually have more direct contact with snow that sits on the ground for days, versus snow that falls on the top of the tank and melts off from the sun or is swept off by you.
With those few tips in mind, you should have no problem making sure that you are going to find leaks in your gas propane tank before you spend an arm and a leg on lost fuel.