Fixing a Propane Tank That Won't Release Any Propane
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2022
- I have trouble with this 20 pound propane tank. The Overfill Protection Device (OPD) has a check valve and to much pressure in the tank won't allow it to open. I drain off some of the gases in the tank. Usually 2 - 2.5 minutes is all that is needed of draining propane to get the tank working again. If you do this please make sure there is a nice wind. Propane is heavier than air and will settle in low spots and be a potential explosive hazard. Do not do this indoors or around an open flame of any sort. If you are not comfortable with trying this take it to a professional.
If this doesn't fix your problem you may have a bad regulator.
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I’m not Hank Hill so I never knew it was there. Learn something new every day. Thanks for sharing sir.
Haha king of the hill reference there. You're welcome.
Just tried this. Worked like a charm! Thank you! I try to not let a day go by without learning something. Got that done ✅ before noon today.
Oh fantastic to hear. It's a great hack
Went camping for a couple days. Hooked up the tank to my burner. Would work half the time. The last day it did not work at all. No way to cook so I left early.
Spent the last couple hours looking at videos.
You're the only video I found that shows the problem and how to fix it all in one video.
Thank you sir we'll try this tomorrow because it's already too late time for bed.
I hope it works for you.
I’m 63 and experienced an overfilled tank for the first time this year. This video saved my b-tt. Worked perfectly. I told my other old buddies and they never knew about it either.
Glad it worked for you.
😢with regulator removed,and valve closed VERY carefully depress internal valve,use a 5/16 BRASS punch,hand pressure should do it,you should get a small shot of gas out,,be careful 😮do this outside
Thanks for the handy tip. I had a tank that wouldn't release any gas, so I set it off to the side not knowing what to do about it. The people at the place where I get the tank re-filled told me that it still had plenty of gas in it (which I already knew) but that it had an air-lock and there was nothing they could do, so they just gave the tank back to me. I just went outside and tried your trick. Worked. Thanks!
Awesome great to hear.
Best DIY video for propane tanks I’ve seen!!! 😊
Good to hear
so many videos explaining Basics 101, that every proper man should know. Your video, got right to the fix. I have an older but what once was top of the line Weber propane grill & last couple years been having this very issue. I've fixed by buying new regulator valve but this season, even that didn't work. Your bleeder valve hack worked a treat...thx pal. Happy trails
Glad to hear it. Thanks for finding our channel
July 4th and I had this happen and your solution WORKED!!! Thank you for posting- you saved my bacon when it comes to grilling and entertaining outside on a major holiday! Thank YOU!!!!!!
Great glad it worked.
My man, you have saved me a 1 hour trip to Lowe's! Thanks 👍 1+ sub here 🤙😎
Glad it worked for you. Thanks for the sub.
It Works, it Works!!! I don't why the gas didn't flow, but I followed your video and we are grilling.Thank you😀👍
Glad to hear it. It's frustrating when that happens
I couldn't get the propane to flow to my little buddy heater. This fixed it with a 2.5 minute bleed. Thank you.
Glad to hear it
Over here in the aftermath of hurricane beryl and still without power. My last 2 propane tanks for my generator have no flow. This worked first try on the first tank, will try on the 2nd too. If it doesn't work I may try putting a bit of oil on the valve stem as others had mentioned. Thanks brother, you saved my bacon.
@@davidfmyers good deal. Stay safe
Thank you you just saved me from getting rid of a full tank appreciate you brother Merry Christmas
You're welcome. Merry Christmas.
Never knew that was there. Great info and highly-effective video. Thanks!
Glad it may help you. I just did it to one is mine
Stg. Best video. Straight to the point. Ty sir. Best demonstration ever. No cap.
You're welcome.
And you were RIGHT !! Just tried this... It took me 3 rounds of bleeding... But it DID finally work !! Tested my old grill.. All 3 burners worked...side one worked. Got a bit above 500 deg...in a few mins . Now I am, ready for my steak tonight THANKS !!
Awesome
Wow, thanks! I've got two propane tanks from one of the propane exchange places that wouldn't release propane. I had tried leaving the valve open for quite a while after connecting the regulator, but no joy. A one minute release was sufficient for the first tank I tried.
Good deal
Worked for me!! Thank you I learned something new today. Smile😊
Glad to hear it
Thank you very much...I saw a vid that said bleed for 10-15 secs, tried a few times, didn't work, so searched for other vids, found yours, n I thought, ah, bleed longer, 2-3 1/2 mins or longer even, so I did, bled, that long a few times, afterward tried turning on camp stove, nothing, then took off hose from tank, bled for abt 3 mins, afterward tried lighting camp stove again, at first nothing, then tried lighting again, BOOM, not explosion...boom! camp stove lit...hooray! You help people, so kind....
Glad to hear you got it.
Perfect video, got to the point and didn't yap my head off with a bunch of useless crap.
Glad it worked for you I'm good at blabbing lol. Thanks for commenting and supporting the channel.
Thanks for the demonstrations. The other videos said bleed for only 15 seconds. Glad to know it may take longer! Great video!!
Thank you. Hope it works for you
Thought that I was going to have to take the tank back to Home Depot. Only had to bleed it for a minute. Probably due to the warm temperatures that we've had in New Hampshire. Thank you sir!
@@charleseichhorst8504 cool glad it worked
Sir your video here works beautifully, I have a few tanks doing this and thanks to you I now know how to fix this problem if it ever happens again! Up until this winter I have never had any issues with a propane tank not releasing it's gas, and I have had a few this winter! I am a happy person now thanks to you! I subscribed to your channel hoping to learn more from you!😊
Thank you John.
My man the overfill is real bleed it a little and we cooking with 🔥 🔥 thanks to you brotha appreciate ya posting this video...
Glad it worked for you.
Worked for me as well - thank you!
Thank you
I have three bottles I filled in the summer, thanks for the save
Glad it worked for you
Wow. I never knew about that. Very helpful. Great video and explanation.
Glad it could help.
I missed the explanation but it worked perfectly!
Thank you. Worked perfectly
Excellent. Glad to hear.
Thanks you for this video clip. It is helpful for me. I been trying to fix almost hr not know how. Then get on RUclips saw your video.. it worked .
Glad to hear
@@BigelowWoodcraft 🥰
thanks for the nice explanation.
Hope it works for you. It nearly always does for me.
Great video!! Mine must have been filled to the max because I had to bleed it out for over 5 minutes but it worked like a charm!!
Glad to hear you got it working.
Well this BLOWS !! Exactly what Da said to do even sent Pictures of Tool and Location of Little Valve !
In my 28 year old Wisdom Said "Daddy you Crazy Ole 🐐 !!!" Looks like I better get Busy making some Carrot Cake 😂❤😂 His Fave . Thank you Sir , Bless you . 👍
Good deal
Thanks for the video.
I hope it worked for you.
Thanks for the heads up
Good luck
Thanks for the information. I just installed the brass tee fitting on my RV, so i can use the 20-pound tank vs. packing up the RV and moving to get propane. "4 way Brass tee adapter " If i open the onboard tank, everything works correctly. When i switch to the 20-pound tank , the eye on the stove only burns for about 1 - 2 minutes, then goes out.
You're welcome. I hope you get it resolved.
Best tip ever 👌
Glad to hear
Thanks!
Thank you and glad it worked.
I live in AZ. ITS AUGUST enough said! Thank you!!!
You're welcome.
I thought I had a defective torch or a bad tank. The gauge showed yellow but the tank was completely full. The gauge is useless.
Enough gas was coming out that the torch would light but the flame was too weak. I got it to work by lightly tightening the hose. If I tightened the fitting as usual it would choke off the flow. I'm sure that the OPD is causing this. Thanks for this video!
@@radiovan7 glad it worked
Thank you, bro!
You're welcome
Many thanks, buddy
No problem. Hope it worked.
This worked for me too. I had a tank that had been sitting for 2-1/2 years (I keep 4 on hand and date them to know). The fluctuating seasonal temperature must have raised the fill pressure or something just to the point of causing this. Went to hook it up to the grill, and nothing. Sat it aside for another tank as I was in the process of cooking (spare tanks make a difference!). Looked up this video later and bled for maybe a minute. Took it to the grill and hooked it up and voilà, it works again.
One note for people who dont know...like me; after I bled the tank that minute, I thought I would check for gas flow by just cracking the valve open to shoot some propane out without the regulator. That didn't work, but when I hooked it up to the grill, the gas flowed. My guess is these valves have a safety mechanism that keep gas from releasing without the back-pressure? of a regulator? I dont know that I have tried that in the past, but thats what happened for me in this circumstance.
Something else I read that I didn't know, is its not recommended to open the valve all the way. This can also cause the safety mechanism to kick in. I never knew that and always opened the valve all the way.
Glad it worked out and great tips. Thank you
Thank you thank you
Cool. Glad it worked
Thanks! Now I’ve propane
Good to hear.
thank you.
Glad it worked for you.
Thank you just fixed it at work bc my boss is taking forever
Good to hear
I have found if you spray wd-40 on valve stem and let sit for 5 minutes it unsticks it.. with out wasting propane.
Really? Just spray it down the throat and hit the seat? Excellent. Thank you. Hopefully people see this comment.
@@BigelowWoodcraft Worked for me too.
Can it happens also if its been outside when it's too cold?
Sorry I am not sure.
Mine is not working if below freezing, works for awhile if I pour hot water on the regulator,not sure this will work
I'm not sure this will work for you.
that actually worked thank you You are a lifesaver 😁
You're welcome.
does this diminish the gas in the tank by alot though? Are you basically throwing money away into the air?
It's not too bad. Maybe 5 percent? If you can't get it out it's all wasted.
@@BigelowWoodcraft not really, any tank left alone and away from high summer heat will "reset" over period of time. So, never really a all wasted scenario. But your method works for those gotta have it now times.
Gas valve should be open, when bleeding it?
No. Keep the valve closed.
For me I am trying to find out why it works until it’s down about 2/3rds or 3/4s. Guess I could try it to see if that makes a difference. Thanks
I currently have a tank it doesn't matter how much gas is in it I always have to blow off a little bit in order for the OPD valve to open. I'm not feeling this tank back up. Let me know what you find out thank you.
@@BigelowWoodcraft will do thanks
@@BigelowWoodcraft Hi Jerry. Hey I ended up trading in both of my tanks at a Dollar General for two replacements after trying to loosen the screw to drain them of propane for about forty seconds and still got the same results. I tried a couple of other suggestions as well. Bottom line is I traded them in. Now I have a new issue. I connected the tank to the grill and hand tightened the regulator turn it on to make sure it was working and there is a leak now from the regulator which doesn’t make sense. I turned the valve off several times and unscrewed the regulator and re tightened it as well. Still getting a leak although it seems to have slowed down with rotating the regulator but still a leak. Not good. It’s hard for me to accept that the regulator is now defective when it was working fine before and I haven’t in any way messed with it since removal of the prior tank. I’ve never done a trade in in the past but only taken my tanks in to get refilled. Any thoughts or suggestions on this? Wondering if an initial leak is normal with a different trade in tank? Thanks
I also have a tank that leaks. No matter how hard I tighten the connector it still leaks. When I look into the valve I can see it's all chewed up inside. The threads are not pipe threads so if propane gets by the seat it will get past the threads. Could it be leaking this way and not from the regulator?
@@BigelowWoodcraft that’s possible but not sure just yet. Going to see if the second tank does the same. After the football game 😎
From what I can Understand is the Tank is to full and needs to empty some of the Liquid propane out to make room for Gas!
That screw is there for when filling you will start to see Liquid drip out and that's when you know it's full, Plus there a bobber inside the tank that shut off filling when it reaches it a certain height.
You're correct about being too full. However those opd devices fail often. I have one tank right now that I have to do this every time I use it regardless of level.
Thanks took 10 minutes but all good
+
Glad to hear
Wouldn't that bleed out the propane?
Good save, happy eating
Glad to hear
Is it normal for the propane to come out like when you blow hot air when it's cold?
I live in Central Florida so it's only 70 degrees but I can see the propane coming out when I release the screw
The only time propane should come out is when you have an appliance connected to the tank and the tank valve is turned on. If you are doing little ripples in the air when you are all connected you have a leak. If you are asking about propane coming out when you open the vent, yes you will see propane and please use this technique outside. I hope this answers your question Chelsea. If not please get back with me.
@@BigelowWoodcraft
Okay thank you so much! You definitely helped calm my nerves! Lol
One more question, I just vented it for 2 and a half minutes and my grill still won't work. I just got it filled earlier today and it worked fine before. Is it a loss?
I would try it again. I actually have one tank that refuses to work too. Attach your grill then open up the vent. Before you close the vent turn the grill on and see if you have gas coming out. If you can't get it to work take your take for an exchange. These new opd valves suck.
If they are very full it can be difficult
Another youtuber explained tanks have safety feature of a ball beariing that if pressure drops too fast clogs the tank exit, this helpfully keeps tank from venting fully if hose is open at 1 end but it can mistakenly be ttriggered. So if have a long hose if you suddenly open tank the pressure drops suddenly before pressure rises as hose fills. Basically close off everything and SLOWLY open tank. Otherwise with the ball bearing you only get a trickle of gas. I never knew this. So, again, close off and waiit and then open sllowly!!!!!
I'll try that next time. Thank you
@@BigelowWoodcraft .. Any idea, can one have 2 pressure regulators like on hose and in stove, will the stove still get gas to come thru?
@@mbengambenga-xi6dp I'm not sure.
This is the correct way. The safety is shutting the propane off.
Thank you so much for this information! I was having the same trouble with the tank for my smoker. I would’ve pulled all my hair out if I had any but you definitely saved my Saturday 💪
I just hooked up a full propane tank yesterday morning. And this morning the gas will not come. My back is so messed up right now I cannot take this tank back off and take it outside to bleed it! 🥶
Dang. Hope you can get up and running soon.
@@BigelowWoodcraft Only after the temperatures came up did the propane start flowing, bleeding the tank didn't help.
Thank you for your video and response. ✌️
Bleeding the tank that I just exchanged helped much appreciated and I am thankful for your help.
So why does this procedure rectify the problem?
I really don't know. I think it releases the valve?
I don’t have any flow at all. The bleeding works but the result doesn’t change. So I guess it‘ll be the regulator. Can I fix that somehow?
Gerrit, I have had a tank that's the case too. I swapped it out at a local tank exchange. Sorry the bleeder trick didn't work.
@@BigelowWoodcraft
I have all three of my tanks like that. Did you get credit for it or was it a total lost?
No they gave me credit for the tank. Nothing I could do about the gas that was left.
how can a half empty tank be to full?
I had a tank I had to purge every time I used it until it was empty. I guess it's just a bad valve.
Does it have to have a hose connected to it? Or doesn’t matter
No it doesn't have to have anything connected. I just didn't take it off because I needed to use it. Good luck. It works great for me.
@@BigelowWoodcraft thanks for the reply. I’m going to try this. My tank is full but nothing comes out. Only a year old so I’m sure this has to be the problem.
You think leaving the tank out in the 100 degree heat is causing my issue?
That's exactly what I think it is. Mine work in the winter but I struggle in the summer at times when it's warm
Let me know how it works out for you
I'll give it a try, I'm pretty sure mine was overfilled because after I got it filled it was doing this. That was in the winter so it wasn't a change in temperature causing it. A mini tank and pretty new at the time. Got tired of exchanges at $20+ back then.
What tool he ise to bleed it?
Screwdriver.
@Bigelow Woodcraft returned mines,think there was no propane in it .Bleeded it and still nothing
How much gas will blow off?
I can't answer that. I feel it's not much. You could weigh it before and after. I just never have.
Any suggestion still did not work
Sometimes I have to do it several times. I had one that I couldn't purge. I swapped it out at an exchange place. Sorry it didn't work for you.
you don't seem to have a regulator?
Nope no regulator on the tank.
will a propane tank release propane without anything connected if I just open the valve? I think one of my tanks isn't flowing and that's why I am here :D
Yes if you turn that screw on the side you will release propane without anything attached to it.
Let me know how it goes. It always has allowed me to resolve the issue.
@@BigelowWoodcraft got flow now!
May as well try that because if you can't get it out you wasted the whole tank because you can't use it
I agree
All you have to do is leave the hand valve open and then loosen the hose just enough to get a bleed of gas for a couple of seconds then tighten back up and lite
Thanks for the input. Hopefully it'll help someone
Another problem with these newer propane tanks is they have a fast flow “safety” shutoff to protect from a sudden failure in the hose or appliance. You can easily trip this feature by hooking up a hose (that’s empty of course) and opening the tank valve too fast. A sudden fill of an empty hose will cause the safety trip. Opening the valve slowly at first allowing the hose to pressurize for a few seconds will most likely not trip
Hell yeah
Good deal
Sure is
Did you see him "JUMP" when it finally ignited...Millions and millions of passed down DNA for just an event. Great content.
Thanks for watching.
Somebody please help! It's late at night and I can't get these propane tanks working and I'm freesing!! And the neighbor tried to help and he turned the valves and it's still not working and I'm crying!!😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪
Sometimes it takes a couple of times bleeding the tank. Make sure it's a full 2 and a half minutes. Sometimes I'll connect the appliance and drain the bleeder at the same time. Make sure you do this outside
It' smells like gas! I don't know what to do and I'm still crying 😢😭😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪
It's so cold and I still can't get heat! 😪😪😪😪😪😪😪
I'd take that tank and exchange it if you can't get it going. Sorry I wasn't any help.
@@BigelowWoodcraft Thank you !
I tried bleeding my tank six times for two and a half minutes. Nothing happened. In the end I stuck a screwdriver in where the gas hose goes in and push that spring loaded valve and freed it up and that was all it took. What a waste of gas Guy should try this
Excellent I'm glad you got yours too work.
Makes no sense. Something else is wrong. It's something in your equipment. I've never soon this done. Anyone else?
OPD valve failing or over pressure is what I believe is going on. I've done this on many different tanks on many different pieces of equipment.
Many new regulators have a flow limiting feature which when tripped cause the flow of propane to be severely limited. Shutdown of the propane tank supply valve and any devices which consume propane then waiting about one minute should allow the safety valve to reset. Slowly open the propane tank valve before attempting to open any valves which would cause propane to be used from the regulator. Opening the bleeder valve in the method shown is unnecessary and potentially dangerous..
How much do you unscrew the bleed valve? 1/4 turn? 1/2 turn?
@@dougtorkelson8977 I open about a half turn
Are the “I’m a cool guy” shades required for ultimate success with this? 😎 ok I’m ready
Another thing is that it’s very important to open the valve slowly at first because the pressure can cause the safety inside to slam and choke it off. If that happens, close it, wait a minute and try to open it slowly for just the first quarter turn or so. Most often it is the safety valve inside that causes this problem and rarely are they overfilled and require bleeding the tank or transferring gas to another if you don’t want to waste it. 👍
Yes you have to have the glasses. I agree with everything you said.