Wow, very glad you weren't injured any worse! Did the firemen fuss at you for handling the situation yourself and getting burned in the process?
I'll be curious to hear what caused the leak, and I totally agree with finding a different place to get your propane tank filled. Soapy water would have revealed that leak when your ears didn't. I have three tanks: one that I own, that came with the grill, one that I "bought" from the grocery store dispenser cage, so I just swap that out with a filled tank and pay the $20 or whatever, and a third tank same as #2 but neighbor gave it to me when they moved and didn't want to take the time to return it for a refund. I try to keep at least two full tanks on hand. Note to self: "hurican" season is hear, check your propane tanks... ------------- Max Charleston SC On Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 3:09 PM, Curly McLain via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Waytago! > > We are glad you are not badly burned. > > This was a considerably bigger propane fire, but it is why I am not > thrilled about the Cathey "test refrigerant" in a car. > > https://archive.org/stream/midamericapipeli00netc/midamericapipeli00netc_djvu.txt > I saw the destruction firsthand. > > > > 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 >> > > > _______________________________________ > 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 > > _______________________________________ 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
