ATTABOY! Flammable gases are not to be taken lightly. I think you dodged one when the tank didn't explode.
On Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 1:35 PM, WILTON via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Yesterday 'bout 5 PM, I had a few minutes of excitement after installing > full, 20 # tank of propane on my Weber grille. > > 'Had the tank filled 2 or 3 months ago at local hardware store. 'Thought > I heard it leaking at the fill/dispensing valve while the clerk lady was > filling it, and asked her, "Is that bottle leaking at the valve shaft?" > She replied, "Nah, I probably didn't have the fill/charging connection > quite tight enough." > > Coupla months ago, SWMBO had problem with the grille not getting hot > enough. I read owner's manual, and realized that she was turning it on in > such a manner (too quickly) as to cause a safety feature to keep it from > providing high heat. During my tests, I temporarily installed the full > tank and found it leaking at the fill/dispensing valve when I opened the > valve on top of the tank. I changed the bottles back to the "old" tank. > Coupla days later I took the "newly-filled" tank back to the hardware store > and tried to tell 'em that, indeed, it does leak and asked if they could > change the valve. 'Lady who had filled it nearly went "ballistic" when I > tried to ask her if she remembered my concern about it while she was > filling it. Another clerk (male) took the bottle to the charging station, > plugged it in and declared, "Not leaking; ya may not have had the > connection tight enough." I replied, "Well, I had it as tight as I could > get it with a wrench (big pliers)." > > 'Brought the tank back home and sat it on patio/terrace by the grille > until I installed it yesterday. > > When I first opened the valve on top of the tank to start the grille, I > heard a slight hiss/leak at the valve; after closing the valve, "got on" > the connection nut again with the big pliers while trying to wiggle the > hose. When I opened the valve on top of the tank again, I heard no hiss > and proceeded with the grille starting procedure and leaving the doors to > the tank compartment open. When I pushed the ignition button, not only did > it ignite the grille burners, It ignited a significant flame around the > valve on top of the tank in such a manner that I could not reach the valve > handle/knob to turn it off! > > 'Grabbed my cell phone and told Siri to call 911. 'Clearly identified > myself, location and situation to the dispatcher, "Propane leak with active > flame that keeps me from reaching the valve, 'needing help NOW!" > Dispatcher started asking his questions, and I went through all of it again > and finished with, "While we're talking, I hope you have a truck underway, > I need it now!" > > Fire station is only about 10 to 12 blocks away, so I quickly began to > hear the sirens headed my way, and noticed that the flame pattern around > the valve and top of the tank had changed slightly so that I may be able to > use the pliers to turn the valve bit by bit to turn the gas off. 'Grabbed > the pliers and began to get a grip on the hard-to-hold triangular-shaped > knob while trying to dodge the flames. After several tries, I began to > find a way to grip the knob and turn it off a bit each time. I finally got > it off as the fire truck pulled up in front of the house. > > 'Was literally bar-b-q ing my hand - 'got coupla small first degree burn > (very minor) places on inner, top of thumb. Singed hairs on back of > fingers, hand and wrist. > > Wilton > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > -- OK Don NSA: The only branch of government that actually listens to US citizens! *“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.”* – Mark Twain "There are three kinds of men: The ones that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves." WILL ROGERS, *The Manly Wisdom of Will Rogers* 2013 F150, 18 mpg 2012 Passat TDI DSG, 44 mpg 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
