Overfilled Propane Tank
As a homeowner who uses a propane tank, or anyone living the RV life may wish to know, can you overfill a propane tank? That is a simple question because propane tanks for homes or RVs shouldn’t be over 80% filled. After all, doing so is dangerous for both fire and safety and can cause even an explosion.
It is, therefore, best to know the symptoms of the overfilled propane tank and how to fix the issue should you have propane tank overfilled. Quick symptoms are it can end up leaking or you smell propane as propane expands in warmer weather.
Our guide teaches you more about spotting when your propane tank is overfilled. By the end, you’ll know how to handle your propane containers and what you can do to let excess propane escape from your overfilled tank without worry. (Read What Is Propane Tank Condensation)
What Is The Propane Tank 80% Rule?
Overfilling propane tanks is feasible but uncommon because most include overfill protection mechanisms. You might smell propane, hear a hissing sound, and see a released relief valve if your propane tank is overfilled.
Remove all potential fire sources from the area and call your propane supplier if your propane tank is overfilled. Here, you can learn about the propane tanks’ 80% rule to fill your tank correctly.
Never fill a propane tank completely since this prevents room for gas growth. When the temperature changes, propane expands and contracts. So instead of filling propane tanks to 100%, the general norm is to fill them to 80%.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, though. For instance, if you have an underground tank, your propane supplier might fill it up to 80% or more. This is so that the dirt around the underground tank can act as insulation.
As a result, gas expansion is less affected by high temperatures than it would be if it were above ground.
How To Avoid Overfilling Your Propane Tank?
A mechanism is available that is designed to prevent you from filling your gas tank excessively. The OPD cylinder valve is the name of this component. OPD, sometimes known as an overfilling prevention device, is an overfill protection device.
The triangle hand wheel distinguishes an OPD cylinder valve at the top of the valve.
This mechanism, which functions within the tank, is similar to a float valve in a toilet. As the liquid propane rises, the float is turned on. The flow of propane into the tank is stopped after it reaches a specified level (usually 80%).
The National Fire Protection Association introduced a revised standard for OPD valves in January 2003. It specified that safety devices, such as the OPD valve, were required for all propane tanks weighing four to forty pounds. This restriction reduces the fire hazard and safety presented by overfilled portable tanks.
How To Bleed An Overfilled Propane Tank?
It’s not advisable to bleed a propane tank that has been overfilled if you’ve never done it before.
Below explains each stage so you can understand the process better.
1. Check The Area
Make sure you are in a location with free air before bleeding the overfilled tank, such as if you are near a gas water heater or your home has propane furnaces.
Double-check the local area for any flames or sparks. This lessens the chance of a fire. If you are in your RV, a propane stove can be enough to ignite the RV propane tank gas.
2. Open Your Overfilled Propane Tank Bleeder Valve
The bleeder valve on the propane tank will have to be opened. A dip tube that enters the tank is attached to this valve. You release excess pressure, and propane can be released as you open the gas valve.
3. Let Your Excess Propane Escape
After you open your bleeder valve slowly, you’ll need to wait for the excess propane to escape from the bleeder valve. Until the level is about 80%, you can see near-liquid propane spewing from the pressure relief valve you opened.
You will soon see bursts of propane vapor escaping from the bleeder valve, thus lowering the overfilled propane tank pressure on the gauge of your propane indicator.
4. Close Your Bleeder Valve
It’s time to close the bleeder valve when vapor rather than liquid propane flowing out of it.
The bleeding procedure often just takes a few minutes. However, under extreme conditions, it can take quite a while, and in severe cases, some users claim it can take about a week to return to the 80% level. (Read Can You Lay A Propane Tank On Its Side)
What Happens If My Propane Tank Is Overfilled?
Clearing the area should be done first if your RV propane tank is overfilled. Make sure there are no nearby ignition sources. To handle the situation, call your propane provider as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you might bleed the tank if you have experience using propane tanks. An overfilled tank is dangerous as propane expands in warm weather and the tank pressure rises. In addition, an explosion could lead to a filled tank where the liquid has no space to expand.
When pressure is too high, the tank’s relief valve may open, resulting in a gas leak, which causes a fire hazard if you have any ignition sources nearby.
Purge Propane Inside An Overfilled Propane Tank
Here is how to purge your propane tank:
Before proceeding, ensure you’re in the open air and there are no flames or sparks near.
Purging your new tank is a practice that aids in preventing filling issues. Most often, this is done by your tractor supply or propane companies or propane dealers before you come to use them.
Doing this means your propane tank can fill the bleeding process and purging faster, yet it works reliably.
To begin with, purging simply entails letting the compressed air that new tanks ship with to enable easy fill tanks, and you won’t need propane provider won’t spill propane because of too much internal pressure.
To purge your tank:
- Use a purge kit or a connecting line with a regulator, a bleed port, and a two-way valve to connect a full propane tank to the new tank.Set “purge” on your purge valve.
- Turn the valve counterclockwise to open it on the new tank.
- Now set the valve on the connecting line to “charge.” As a result, propane can now enter your new tank. Next, wait for the propane to run out (you should not wait for more than a few minutes).
- Set the connecting line valve on your old tank to “purge.”
- The new tank now leaks propane vapor (lasts about 1 minute).
Repeat steps 2 through 5 a total of three to four more times.
You can now safely fill your tank.
Signs Your Propane Tank Is Too Full
It’s not always easy to determine whether your barbecue or domestic tank has been overfilled. How do you tell whether your tank is overly full once you’ve left the nearby convenience shop where you usually fill it up?
How to spot signs:
As soon as the person fills your bottle at your RV dealer, you may see propane coming from the top of the tank when he disconnects his equipment. Under normal conditions, there should be nothing, a little stream, or slight hissing noise after the refill process.
There is a leak or an overfilled tank nearby everywhere you notice a propane stench.
Testing if your propane tank is overfilled
To be extra sure, you can check the tank for signs of possible overfilling. But, again, as long as your tank has a functioning bleeder valve, the test is relatively easy. All you need to do is slowly open the bleeder valve, then instantly close it.
Near-liquid propane spills in a solid stream if the tank is filled above the safe 80%, and you should bleed it as outlined.
How do I empty my small propane tank?
Here’s how to safely transfer a small propane tank to a refill location, storage, etc.:
Take away all the propane tank’s connections, then move the tank to a secure outdoor location.
- The tank should be moved such that the valve points sideways.
- Open the valve now, and you’ll see a flow of propane.
- Wait until there is no longer any propane or flow pressure.
- Shut off the valve.
Plan to have an OPD (Overfill Prevention Device) installed in your tank after you’ve bled the tank (if your tank is one of the older models that come without). If your tank has one, but you think it could be broken, have a mobile repair technician fix it, or go to your nearest propane dealer.
The triangular hand wheel at the top of the overfill prevention valve makes it easy to identify propane bottles with this feature. The hand wheel connecting to the valve stem is impervious to tampering and cannot be used with a cylinder that lacks overfill prevention to stop any safety hazard.
This will stop the issue from arising again in the future. Always refuel at a trusted propane vendor.
You may even watch the attendant as they work; naturally, people focus more intently on their jobs when they are being watched. (Read Stihl Ms391 Upgrades Guide)
Why Do Propane Tanks Need More Or Less Space?
Propane cylinders should only be filled to 80% of their capacity to allow for expansion. Depending on the temperature, the same propane can take up more or less space. The extra space in the tank acts as the tank increases in pressure while it’s hot outside.
In cooler weather, a full tank will have a lower gas level. A good guide is when you see an overfilled propane tank freezing. The freeze line will be toward the neck of the tank rather than a few inches down the bottle when the cold gas causes condensation on the bottle.
If you can see your cylinder in use, you can find the condensation line a quicker solution than checking your fill indicator and the propane from the bottle to your device.
If you are using large stoves, and all the stove burners are in use, you can almost watch the line move down your cylinder. One thing to note is that if you use gas too quickly in cold weather, the propane inside can freeze, and you’d have to stop using your appliances until the stove burners return to normal.
