Gas line emergency repair.

[J. Morgan]

Last fall I ran over a piece of road debris that bounced up and punctured the gas line that supplies my furnace.

Upon finding the hole at the campground I made a trip to WalMart and bought some five minute epoxy and some silicone tape...

I just got around to making a permanent repair.... My patch job remained 100% air tight even after the silicone tape was removed.

Thoughts?

I am thinking that maybe I should have just left my temporary repair as permanent.

Superat stultitia.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

I am thinking that maybe I should have just left my temporary repair as permanent.

Personally, I would replace the punctured section of copper tubing with a new section, and forget the patch job. But that's just me.

[Ken J]

I don't think that's a good plan - in fact I would replace the entire line - ez to do


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[J. Morgan]

The section is already replaced.

But I think the repair would have lasted years or decades.....

If I had come on here asking advise before affecting my epoxy and silicone tape repair, I wonder how my idea would have polled?


Superat stultitia.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

. . .
If I had come on here asking advise before affecting my epoxy and silicone tape repair, I wonder how my idea would have polled?
. . .

Thumbs down . . .

[Ken J]

Well replace again - I doubt you would get much support for your plan - now if you were asking about 1 ton trucks vs mini vans you would get support for either lol !!!!

[J. Morgan]

Well, it was cold that night, we needed heat and a hot shower....

Elizabeth liked my repair. It served us for even a few weeks beyond repair night...

There is a reason why I seldom post about something before I actually do it... (Which MIGHT similarly include my permanent repair)


Superat stultitia.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Well, it was cold that night, we needed heat and a hot shower....

Elizabeth liked my repair. It served us for even a few weeks beyond repair night...

There is a reason why I seldom post about something before I actually do it... (Which MIGHT similarly include my permanent repair)


Superat stultitia.

After reading your post, I would be inclined to try the same patch if I were in your situation.

Quoting you "Illegitimi non carborundum"
Suum cuique.

add edit: most people discouragingly commenting on your patching method probably do not realize the small amount of pressure in the secondary gas line. A 14" water column =~0.5 psi

[J. Morgan]

Yea, the pressure is almost like nothing. High flow, low pressure.

"Suum cuique."

Yep!!


Superat stultitia.

[Ken J]

Well - I'm totally aware of the pressure - actually should be set at 11 column inches :-) - anyway - you did ask what we thought

[J. Morgan]

I did ask, I just thought it might be a fun conversation!




Superat stultitia.

[Ken J]

Oh - always checks for leak on repairs such as this - a lighted match works best

[tjdonahoe]

I wrapped all my lines with the split plastic electric wire conduit, mostly to keep it from being beat to death from road debris and small rocks, so far it is working...

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

most people discouragingly commenting on your patching method probably do not realize the small amount of pressure in the secondary gas line. A 14" water column =~0.5 psi

I discouragingly commented because it's not in compliance with NFPA 1192, the RV Standard wherein propane plumbing is covered. The patch may work. It may not. Only time will tell. But whether it works or not, it's not in compliance with the RV Standard.

The OP is not obligated to follow NFPA 1192— or even to have read it— since he did the work to his own trailer. If he wants to trust a non-compliant patch on a propane line, that's on him. Our opinions on the matter don't matter.

[SeaLevel]

It's good to know that you could do something like that in an emergency, until you can get to a place where you could fix it properly, which you stated in your OP that you had already done. Thanks for sharing.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

I wrapped all my lines with the split plastic electric wire conduit, mostly to keep it from being beat to death from road debris and small rocks, so far it is working...

Now that's a great idea! Should go in the favorite mods under $100 thread wherever that is 😀

I'm gonna have to try this myself.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

I discouragingly commented because it's not in compliance with NFPA 1192, the RV Standard wherein propane plumbing is covered. The patch may work. It may not. Only time will tell. But whether it works or not, it's not in compliance with the RV Standard.

The OP is not obligated to follow NFPA 1192— or even to have read it— since he did the work to his own trailer. If he wants to trust a non-compliant patch on a propane line, that's on him. Our opinions on the matter don't matter.

Fwiw, I already replaced the "repaired" piece with new tubing....

It was only a temporary repair...

Autopsy completed.

Also, I had to weigh what was more dangerous, violating code or telling Elizabeth that she was going to have to freeze all night and have to take a cold shower...

Superat stultitia.

[J. Morgan]

Even after unwrapping and getting the piece way too hot in the cutting process, the epoxy that is left is still air tight.




Superat stultitia.

[rmkrum]

Smart man. If I tried to tell DW that there was no hot shower or heater, it would cost me a very nice hotel room at the minimum. She expect all the trailer systems to work properly on demand....violating code temporarily is much less painful.


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[SteveH]

J. Morgan, you went to a lot more trouble than I would have for the emergency repair. I would have cut the damaged part out, and clamped a piece of fuel tubing in there, and then never told anyone about it.