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Old 11-16-2019, 11:35 AM   #1
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Propane off or on over winter?

We have the motorhome parked and winterized on the property and have access to 50 amp service while here also. Not sure what the occasion might be, but if we needed to go on board as a rescue ship from the house, between having electricity and propane appliances, we’re pretty well set.

Any pros or cons to leaving the propane valve open AT THE TANK?
The LP detector is off so it prevents any flow through the lines. I’d have to purge them if I tried to light anything propane.
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Old 11-16-2019, 02:18 PM   #2
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Any time the rv sits, the propane is off. Only on when we are using it.
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Old 11-16-2019, 03:15 PM   #3
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Anytime our class C motorhome is not in use, the propane valve is shut off at the tank. I started this practice 20 some years ago when we had a cracked fitting in the furnace which resulted in a slow propane leak. You never know how well all the propane connections were made in the unit (it's a cheaply built RV, remember?), so why take a chance on there being a slow leak somewhere?

Purging the propane lines is a quick process. We do it every time we prep the unit for camping. The refrigerator usually lights right away. The water heater or oven/range may take a few tries, then they light.
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Old 11-26-2019, 07:54 AM   #4
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I always shut ours off during storage in the winter.
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:08 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A32Deuce View Post
Any time the rv sits, the propane is off. Only on when we are using it.
X2
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:14 AM   #6
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If it's gonna be more than a couple of weeks it's OFF at the tank.
You never know when some @#$%* critter may decide to gnaw on a hose...
My fridge is right next to the stove so opening a burner to purge is pretty easy.
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:19 AM   #7
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OFF when not being used.
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:35 AM   #8
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I'll add to the OFF vote when not used for more than about a week.

Purging takes just a few seconds.
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:35 AM   #9
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Agree with everyone, Off. You won't have to purge lines if they were already pressurized, unless you disconnected them.
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Old 11-26-2019, 08:55 AM   #10
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Agree with everyone, Off. You won't have to purge lines if they were already pressurized, unless you disconnected them.
Not always Kris...

Of my many R/Vs (probably 15) only one, maybe two didn't bleed off the LP system over several weeks. And even those did in a month or so.

I checked EVERY single one for leaks and found none.

I truly believe gas solenoid valves and regulators will tend to bleed off once no power is applied and have no back pressure to them or something to that effect.

Purging the LP system is a common procedure.
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Old 11-26-2019, 09:06 AM   #11
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Ours is always off if we are not going to need propane.
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Old 11-27-2019, 08:55 AM   #12
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the tank valves are off unless we are actually in it and using if. off in storage, off while travelling, off when loading and unloading. one reason is safety and the other is that i am suspicious that all the valves at the appliances may have small leaks in them that will empty the tanks over time.
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Old 11-27-2019, 09:34 AM   #13
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I'm actually more fascinated that you've owned 15 RVs!!! I've owned 3 tents in my adult years. Actually still have all 3, they are still good, and I keep telling myself maybe I'll use them again one day. Maybe because my unit is so new, I've had to do minimal to zero purging in between trips, which were at least a month apart. Wondering if the propane escapes through micro-leaks in the actually hoses, much like air migrates through a car tire rubber over time.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
Not always Kris...

Of my many R/Vs (probably 15) only one, maybe two didn't bleed off the LP system over several weeks. And even those did in a month or so.

I checked EVERY single one for leaks and found none.

I truly believe gas solenoid valves and regulators will tend to bleed off once no power is applied and have no back pressure to them or something to that effect.

Purging the LP system is a common procedure.
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Old 11-27-2019, 09:36 AM   #14
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I have yet to purge. Very slowly open the valve and go in and turn on the reefer!
That's including swapping to the extend a stay.
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Old 11-27-2019, 09:57 AM   #15
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For me, purging is simply turning on a stove burner until I have ignition. I'm assuming that's how everyone does it?
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Old 11-27-2019, 10:20 AM   #16
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I purged mine yesterday. We're leaving in an hour or so, for a trip for Thanksgiving, and I usually do my Pre-trip check list and make sure everything's operating properly prior to departure. I'm not full-time, so I always shut down my tanks before leaving the campground and head home. Then, when we head out again, I do my Pre-trip check list again.
As a general rule, I do a pre-trip before each trip.
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