Can't turn on gas- again...

[Bobbie54]

I've read threads on this and tried a lot of things.

Initially propane came on and worked flawlessly.

Now, 11 months after getting the trailer, I can't get the propane to come on. Fridge didn't come on yesterday and now everything has warmed up (I didn't notice because it was cold at night, nothing in freezer.) Heater won't come on.

One tank is close to empty, one full. I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting hoses, opening slowly, closing, leaving closed, reopening slowly.

The fridge seems to come on briefly and then goes out. Furnace fan comes on but furnace never does. (Fridge does the same whether or not I try to start the furnace.)

I have not removed tanks and banged them on the ground (seems incredibly dangerous) or turned one over (the full one is pretty heavy.) And I have not tried to light the stove (see multiple threads on the stove!) No smell of propane in the trailer.

I don't know which tank the regulator is set for if both show red. I know which one is full. Is there any way to know if it isn't changing over vs no flow in the full tank?

[Donna D.]

Have you tried the stove? What's the state of your batteries?

[Perry Butler]

Did you actually manually flip the lever over to the other tank. Only if the lever is straight up will the switchover be automatic.

Enjoy,

Perry

[escape artist]

Hi: Bobbie54... If all propane appliances are refusing to lite and run I'd suspect the regulator. In this heat and humidity anything seems possible or impossible!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[davidmurphy02]

Turn off the empty tank and have the black switch flipped toward the good tank and then at least you will know for certain that the regulator is feeding from the good tank. You don't need to slam the tank down on the ground, but a solid tap or two sometimes works if slowly opening the valve a couple of times does not. And if none of that works try switching the full tank to the other side and feeding from that in the unlikely event that somehow the regulator isn't working on one side.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Have you tried the stove? What's the state of your batteries?

Batteries are fine, no to stove for reasons discussed in threads on the stove. But I did not on the last trip either.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

Did you actually manually flip the lever over to the other tank. Only if the lever is straight up will the switchover be automatic.

Enjoy,

Perry

My understanding is that the lever only tells you the state of the tank and has nothing to do with the actual changeover, but yes, it was straight up to start with, now it is on the full tank side. Both tanks (on or off) show red.

[Bobbie54]

Originally Posted by davidmurphy02

Turn off the empty tank and have the black switch flipped toward the good tank and then at least you will know for certain that the regulator is feeding from the good tank. You don't need to slam the tank down on the ground, but a solid tap or two sometimes works if slowly opening the valve a couple of times does not. And if none of that works try switching the full tank to the other side and feeding from that in the unlikely event that somehow the regulator isn't working on one side.

I did that. Also bumped it on the ground, also switched full tank to the other side, also turned it over (all since first post.) At the moment fridge is trying to light.
Nope, just switched over to error again.

I don’t know that it was working yesterday as I precooled, turned on the fridge, saw it went to gas (apparently that light comes on due to absence of AC, not actually due to gas flow) and then ignored it. Discovered the problem when I tried to turn on the heat this morning.

[canakiwi]

Twice over the last 10 years I have had a valve on a tank that would not openg and had to be replaced. In both cases initially a tap on the valve with a hammer sometimes got it working. But only a new valve proved a permanent solution.

[Bobbie54]

Well, 27th time is the charm, I guess. I loosened the clamp, banged the tank on the tray, reattached the hose, and this time when I opened slowly I got green. Now for the fridge to cool back down!

It shouldn’t be this hard.

[Bobbie54]

If I had my druthers I would not turn it off again until the tank is empty and then would go exchange it. But I have to turn off propane for the ferry (like that’s going to matter).

Not sure it is just this tank, though it might be.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Bobbie54

If I had my druthers I would not turn it off again until the tank is empty and then would go exchange it. But I have to turn off propane for the ferry (like that’s going to matter).

Not sure it is just this tank, though it might be.

Hi: Bobbie54... Didn't they fix a TV camera on the moon with a hammer? Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie