Gas. On or off ?

[Oldrat]

Reassurance needed please.

Our gas cylinder cupboard is accessed by opening the tailgate.

We make sure that it is off most of the time, and only on when we want to use the cooker/hob.

But after our first overnight test in the van, its aparent that getting out of the van to turn the gas on for a first cuppa is a right flaff.

I'm sure the set up is safe and properly installed, but what does the team think about sleeping with the gas cylinder live and just turned off at the cooker/hob?

1. Do it all the time?
2. No never ever.
3. Our cylinder is inside, gloat

 

[Colinlp]

We always switch the gas off when not in use but it is easy access. Seems to me that all the joints and seals have just that little bit of a harder time in a van than in the house, rather be safe than sorry. By the way, that has nothing to do with safety, I'm just tight and don't want to pay for wasted gas!!

 

[Wongo]

Is there a tap where the cooker connects from the hard copper pipe to the flexible hose the cylinder, turn it off there and invest in a gas alarm, it also detects Carbon Monoxidr so sleep safe but not forever!

 

[T6 Dave]

You should have a set of taps as mentioned above on a distribution manifold, this is after a pressure gauge, the idea is that before use, you have taps and all appliances off.. Turn cylinder on and take a pressure reading, 10 minutes later say, you take another reading, if it's lower you have a leak! If ok, you open each appliance tap in turn and do the readings comparison again.. If all well your good to go. If not, you have a leak! You can also if wished use these to isolate say the cooker whilst using the gas heater (propex) overnight instead of an ebby or webby?

Also second the advice on a gas alarm and a carbon monoxide!

 

[Walski]

Mines the same @Oldrat, i need to open the tailgate to switch on/off. I always switch off for travelling and storage but leave it on overnight. I have got carbon monoxide alarm.

 

[xpfloyd]

Currently mine is under the sink so easy to get to so I switch it off at the bottle when not in use.

However I'm in the process of fitting an underslung lpg tank and once I finish the plumbing on that I won't be able to switch it off when not in use, all I'll have is an isolator valve in the cupboard inside the van (and a trio gas alarm)

I do have a slight concern with this as I could be in a crash and the pipe could get damaged between the tank and the isolator and I would be pumping gas into the situation

 

[Keeff]

If the installation has been tested you will be safe over night with it on .never drive with it turned on as if you get hit it could damage the pipework or appliances and leak . When you change the bottle make sure it is connected correctly with no leaks .you can get a tin of spray to test this from a plumbers merchants.
We have a caravan and it stays on all the time we are on site.
I am gas safe registered but don't do LPG

 

[Keeff]

Currently mine is under the sink so easy to get to so I switch it off at the bottle when not in use.

However I'm in the process of fitting an underslung lpg tank and once I finish the plumbing on that I won't be able to switch it off when not in use, all I'll have is an isolator valve in the cupboard inside the van (and a trio gas alarm)

I do have a slight concern with this as I could be in a crash and the pipe could get damaged between the tank and the isolator and I would be pumping gas into the situation

If you fit the tank under the van can you fit a valve as it comes into the van before any joints ?
LPG is heavier and air so any leak under the floor of the van will drop to the ground . Just think of it as water

 

[xpfloyd]

If you fit the tank under the van can you fit a valve as it comes into the van before any joints ?
LPG is heavier and air so any leak under the floor of the van will drop to the ground . Just think of it as water

I'm not as worried about leaks (got a test valve installed), more worried about getting side swiped by another vehicle or something and the pipe getting damaged so not only are we in a crash but there's also a gas leak. It's not a show stopper for me but just a small worry. I will have an isolator close to the van floor where the pipe comes in and will be isolating when the cooker is not in use

 

[T6 Dave]

I'm not as worried about leaks (got a test valve installed), more worried about getting side swiped by another vehicle or something and the pipe getting damaged so not only are we in a crash but there's also a gas leak. It's not a show stopper for me but just a small worry. I will have an isolator close to the van floor where the pipe comes in and will be isolating when the cooker is not in use

You can have a gas solonoid fitted as per LPG installs, this is activated by a switch , so have an on/off rocker in van.. Fit it to an impact cut off and mount that inside attached to the structure, it's the same one fitted to petrol injection systems to cut the fuel pump in event of collision.

 

[Oldrat]

Great.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and advice and experiences.

Now, can anyone point me towards a half decent detector that will do Carbon monoxide and the cooking gas please

 

[T6 Dave's Dad]

If you fit the tank under the van can you fit a valve as it comes into the van before any joints ?
LPG is heavier and air so any leak under the floor of the van will drop to the ground . Just think of it as water

@Keeff just ensure that there is a slight downhill "run-off" so the gas dissipates and beware of any hollows that might form a bund.

 

[xpfloyd]

Great.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and advice and experiences.

Now, can anyone point me towards a half decent detector that will do Carbon monoxide and the cooking gas please

This is the one I have Trio Gas Alarm

 

[Dale]

If you fit the tank under the van can you fit a valve as it comes into the van before any joints ?
LPG is heavier and air so any leak under the floor of the van will drop to the ground . Just think of it as water

Hear hear, it's the way to go, so many advantages with an underslung LPG tank.