Do I have a propane leak?

[Rickcnc]

Over the summer I swear I saw one of my two 400 lb propane tanks drop from 75 to 65 on the gauge. the second tank remained at 80.. In late Aug I called the company and expressed a concern of a possible leak. I could smell a hint of propane on the suspected tank. They dispatched a tech who ran a few test and did the soap test, couldn't find a leak.. I monitored the tank through most of Sept gauge remained at 65.
Oct 15 the propane company stopped in and filled the tanks, 72 liters required in total. I check the gauge and both read 80. Today, I checked the gauges again one is 80 the other is 72.... .
The heat was turned off last April / May and has not been turned back on. Shop is still 50 degrees inside.

Any input...

 

[Milton Shaw]

Turn of the lines from tank to house and see if you can isolate the leak. Dishwashing (dawn) in a spray bottle will find the majority of the leaks. Look first around any valves etc on tank, then plugs etc, then check around the legs for any cracks/pinholes in welds. You have a leak somewhere for sure. My tank had a slow leak around one of the valves on top. Tried to tighten it and it would not stop, so I loosened it a couple of turns cleaned threads, and use a lot of pipe dope on it and then screwed it back in. That took care of the leak.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

 

[Rickcnc]

Quick update.. checked for a leak myself and could not see anything, very possible I missed it..

Called the propane company and they said the would come out a look at it.. Had not heard from them in a week, walked to the back of the shop today to see where the gauge was sitting and the tank has been replaced... gauge is sitting at 90%

 

[bczygan]

Happy ending!

 

[sourdough]

Quick update.. checked for a leak myself and could not see anything, very possible I missed it..

Called the propane company and they said the would come out a look at it.. Had not heard from them in a week, walked to the back of the shop today to see where the gauge was sitting and the tank has been replaced... gauge is sitting at 90%

Personally, I would have the % gauge replaced by the propane company if it is a leased tank. If you own the tank it will cost you out of pocket for the part(s)/labor/service call. One should never see it at 90% as the max fill level is 80% (+/-).

Unless the garden gnome refilled it at night while you were sleeping...

 

[Rickcnc]

Personally, I would have the % gauge replaced by the propane company if it is a leased tank. If you own the tank it will cost you out of pocket for the part(s)/labor/service call. One should never see it at 90% as the max fill level is 80% (+/-).

Unless the garden gnome refilled it at night while you were sleeping...

I wondered about that, is the tank designed in such a way it cant be over filled or is it up to the truck driver or gnome to stop filling.. The replacement leased tank looks new and has a "remote ready" gauge (although I didn't look for dates stamped on the tank).
I've been a propane user for a year, when my originally tank was installed the gauge read 85%. the installer at the time said the guy filling the tanks at the station must have put a to much in this one..(400 lb tank was delivered with propane already in itl) Going forward when I checked the fill ups from the truck; gauge always read 80%
The replacement tank was also delivered with propane in it, so I assumed it was over filled. You're probably correct in that the gauge may be off or do the new "Remote ready Gauges" read differently.