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

Reply via email to