Do I have a leak?

[Glass Allure]

I'm pretty sure something is not right but thought I would ask those that know more about safety than I.

I hooked up my new oxygen tank and immediately had a VERY noticeable loud leak from the spot on my regulator that has the arrow pointing to it.

3744

I turned everything off and tried again. It took me a few tries but I did get it hooked up so that O2 wasnt coming out of that spot. I checked all of the connections and there are no airbubbles.

When I shut down I turn off the O2 at the regulator then at the tank. If I remember right what usually happens is that the tank pressure always reads at whatever is in the tank the problem is that it is going down by the time I go back out to work the next day. Is that a leak? And if so, how do I figure out where the leak is?

[Dale M.]

I'm pretty sure something is not right but thought I would ask those that know more about safety than I.

I hooked up my new oxygen tank and immediately had a VERY noticeable loud leak from the spot on my regulator that has the arrow pointing to it.

I turned everything off and tried again. It took me a few tries but I did get it hooked up so that O2 wasnt coming out of that spot. I checked all of the connections and there are no airbubbles.

When I shut down I turn off the O2 at the regulator then at the tank. If I remember right what usually happens is that the tank pressure always reads at whatever is in the tank the problem is that it is going down by the time I go back out to work the next day. Is that a leak? And if so, how do I figure out where the leak is?

If your leak is where arrow is, its just the symptom.

The actual leak is where the conical end of connector (on regulator) seats in the tapered connector of oxygen tank. Since it is a pure metal to metal seal there are several possible reasons for this.

1> Dust or dirt in the tank valve area where conical end of connector seats.

2> Scratches or abrasions in tank valve causing it to be permanently damaged.

3> scratches or gouges in end of connector on regulator.

4> Dirt on seating surface of regulator.

5> Gland nut that holds connection together is not tight enough.

Sometimes you have to rotate regulator a few degrees one way or the other to find a spot where everything wants to seat properly when tightening it.

DO NOT attempt to seal leak with any Teflon tape or pipe thread compounds. This practice is dangerous. Some pipe sealing compounds actually contains oils, and oxygen and oils are a spontaneous explosion mix,.

IF you can't get tank and regulator to seal with pure metal to metal contact, its possible that tank valve is damages and you may have to exchange it for a different tank.

3751

If you shut off the torch and the tank but do not bleed lines, and do not back off the regulator and the pressure on the HIGH PRESSURE gauge (one closes to tank) and low pressure gauge drops over night you have a leak somewhere between tank valve and torch valves.

If you back off regulator setting and bleed lines (in that order) and tank valve has a reading, then it drops over night, you have a leak at connection between tank and regulator.

If you totally bleed system and all gauges are at zero when you quit, and in the moring when you go to start up again the high pressure gauge has a reading, the tank valve is leaking past its shut off position.

Dale

[Glass Allure]

If you back off regulator setting and bleed lines (in that order) and tank valve has a reading, then it drops over night, you have a leak at connection between tank and regulator.

Dale


This is the one. I have a feeling it is the tank since I havent had this problem before and I have had my regulator less than a year.

Thank you for your knowledge!!

[danelady]

Dale this is comprehensive but confusing... can you break it down for me further. I am totally confused

Thanks
Lyn
If your leak is where arrow is, its just the symptom.

The actual leak is where the conical end of connector (on regulator) seats in the tapered connector of oxygen tank. Since it is a pure metal to metal seal there are several possible reasons for this.

1> Dust or dirt in the tank valve area where conical end of connector seats.

2> Scratches for abrasions in tank valve causing it to be permanently damaged.

3> scratches of gouges in end of connector on regulator.

4> Dirt on seating surface eof regulator.

5> Gland nut that holds connection together is not tight enough.

Sometimes you have to rotate regulator a few degrees one way or the other to find a spot where everything wants to seat properly when tightening it.

DO NOT attempt to seal leak with any Teflon tape or pipe thread compounds. This practice is dangerous. Some pipe sealing compounds actually contains oils, and oxygen and oils are a spontaneous explosion mix,.

IF you can't get tank and regulator to seal with pure metal to metal contact, its possible that tank valve is damages and you may have to exchange it for a different tank.

3751

If you shut off the torch and the tank but do not bleed lines, and do not back off the regulator and the pressure on the HIGH PRESSURE gauge (one closes to tank) and low pressure gauge drops over night you have a leak somewhere between tank valve and torch valves.

If you back off regulator setting and bleed lines (in that order) and tank valve has a reading, then it drops over night, you have a leak at connection between tank and regulator.

If you totally bleed system and all gauges are at zero when you quit, and in the moring when you go to start up again the high pressure gauge has a reading, the tank valve is leaking past its shut off position.

Dale

[Dale M.]

ummm... I don't know where the confusion may be ... Just read each text block in its self and mull it over. Each text block is a different thought. If you try to read it all as one big glob of data it may just be information overload.

Don't know how to break it down any more because I dont know what aspect of the information that confuses you?...

Sorry if that confuses you, I think, now I'm confused!!!!

Note: fixed a few spelling/grammar boo-boos and typos... Check original post again...

Dale

[Glass Allure]

Thank you for the info Dale. I think I have the leak under control now but will know for certain in the morning. I took the regulator off the tank then blew on the threads of the tank. LOTS of dirt flew off! Hooked it back up and so far the pressure is staying where it should.