propane bottles freezing

[funny farmer]

I went to make breakfast this morning and the propane wouldn't flow, so instead of spraying the 100 pound bottle with starting fluid and lighting it on fire, I poured 2 gallons of hot water on it and the regulater. I went in the house and the stove lit, now I'm enjoying my steak and fried baked left over potatoes from last night and eggs.

 

[WantedWolf]

I went to make breakfast this morning and the propane wouldn't flow, so instead of spraying the 100 pound bottle with starting fluid and lighting it on fire, I poured 2 gallons of hot water on it and the regulater. I went in the house and the stove lit, now I'm enjoying my steak and fried baked left over potatoes from last night and eggs.

Outside temperature?
have an ice scraper for tommorow morning?
enjoy breakfast

 

[funny farmer]

-22 f. yesterday it was -27. For some reason the water didn't freze to the tank like I thought it should. Hopefully I didn't make things worse, I could be just running low of propane.

 

[SnowRidge]

I didn't go back and read the whole thread, so maybe this has already been suggested.

Some, maybe all, propane regulators have a small vent hole on the back side of the diaphragm. Sometimes this frosts over, which essentially plugs the hole, and the regulator stops working. Perhaps that is the problem in this case.

If it is, don't be tempted to move the regulator inside the building. I know of a communications site owner who did just that. As the owner found out, a high pressure propane line inside a building is a bad thing, especially if there is a lightning strike.

 

[WantedWolf]

wowanyone hurt? thanks for the tips

 

[SnowRidge]

wowanyone hurt? thanks for the tips

No, there was nobody inside at the time, but it was a total loss. I got to see the remains. It was a roofless conrete shell. About the only things left standing were the walls.

 

[Jagmandave]

Would an electric blanket wrapped around the tank work? Maybe wrap some insulation over that for weather protection?

 

[WantedWolf]

Would an electric blanket wrapped around the tank work? Maybe wrap some insulation over that for weather protection?

Hi Jag
thats how it all started lol
we were wondering about using a water bed heater unit (waterproof heating blanket)
slightly off topic has anyone tried it on cold shop floors, im replacing the steering gear on a truck right now, and wouldnt mind the comfort

 

[Egon]

If it is, don't be tempted to move the regulator inside the building.

There are vented regulators that will work inside an enclosed space.

 

[SnowRidge]

There are vented regulators that will work inside an enclosed space.

That wouldn't have helped with the lightning strike. The problem is high pressure propane inside the building. If it leaks for any reason, it leaks a lot!