Possible propane leak?

[TyGuy02]

I was getting my borrowed wheelhouse ready tonight (hoping to get out to LOW on friday) and everything was working fine until I went outside to check out the tanks were doing and I could smell propane. Needless to say I didn't mess around too much longer. Turned the tanks off and got the heck out of there for a little while. Is it normal for a little propane smell to be coming from the tank area? What direction should the lever on the regulator be turned when being used/not in use? Or is the lever on the regulator just to shut off one tank and open up the other one? I had them both turned on.

Also, how long should a couple twenty pound tanks last on a wheelhouse. I looked all over the empire heater to find the BTU's but nothing.

How long should a deep cycle battery last to just power the lights and the furnace? I've never been out on LOW and I want to cover all my bases when I go out. I don't want any catastrophes

Thanks

[ONE BIG POLACK]

the lever usually just switches tanks.... be carefull... check your o-rings at your hook up. Sometimes they go bad... also check to make sure they are tight.... A couple of tanks should last you a good while depending on how high/much/BTU you run them...

[TyGuy02]

but two full 20 lb tanks should last an overnighter right? I'll have the big buddy in the back half of the house so we shouldn't need the forced air running so hard.

But if I turned one tank off that might solve the problem? The guy that had it last year had no problems, so?

I'm just getting quite paranoid, I don't want to look like a fool to my friends. I'm only 2 hours from warroad, so it's not like I'm coming from the cities, but still it's a jaunt if something goes wrong

[acman2u]

one 20# lasts me almost a week set on low when I'm gone and comfy when I am there, usually a few hours a night. 2 20 pounders should be fine depending on if you have a leak and how well the house is insulated. take some dish soap and try to apply it around the fittings to check for a leak.

Good luck

[Surface Tension]

No you shouldn't smell any propane.

Like already said check the o-rings and tighten the connections at the tanks. Check for leaks at the regulator. If you find a leak use two wrenches to tighten those connections.

These tanks are outside and not enclosed, correct?

Another possibility is the pressure relieve valve bleed off some propane.

Just so you know when its late at night and the furnace isn't working... Depending on temps and size heater you might want to open both tanks.

I would bring another deep cycle battery along.

[TyGuy02]

the tanks are outside and not enclosed. I'll check it today with one tank closed and the regulator closed on that tank. I'll have some help from the in-laws too, so thanks for the help so far!

[Mainehazmt]

soapy water solution sprayed around fittings will help find a leak

[icehousebob]

I just checked my gas hose two days ago and found that the 'O' ring had become a 'C' ring, half of it was missing. Since it happened once it could again. I bought two spares to carry in my tackle box. Cheap insurance.