[VAC] Flexible propane lines.

["Mr. Joy H. Hansen" <joytbrew@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Polly,

With regard to the hose clamps on the fiber reinforced tubing, the tube
seems to shrink with age and eventually the clamps need to be retightened.
I used this tubing for my beer making for years as I was pumping 180 degree
liquids.  I found that the hose clamps on the straight end copper tube would
pop off regardless of how tight I fastened the hose clamps, right up to the
point where I almost cut the tube off with the clamp.  My solution was to
solder a ring on the end of the copper pipe.  The hose stayed in place since
the clamp couldn't slide over the ring.  Other areas, I used hose barb, much
like the PEX fittings.  None of this is critics of you novel approach to
fixing your freeze damaged plumbing.  Just information that might make the
connections a bit more sure if you get into a high pressure/hot water
situation.

With regard to the rubber hose for propane lines, your thought might be
practical for the runs from the tank along the outside of the trailer,
though it would take a lot of clamps as compared to copper.  On the
practical side, there might be concern about fire burning off the rubber in
areas where the usual tube enters the trailer, like for stoves, furnaces,
refrigerators, and even the water heater.  If something happened at the
appliance and burned through the rubber hose, there would be a terrible blow
torch loosed inside the trailer and/or the gas could fill the inside of the
trailer.

A motor home nearby exploded a few days ago from leaking propane inside.
Just opening the door detonated the gas inside.  Fortunately, only the motor
home was melted to the ground.

Possibly a specialist on the list could inform us about the legality of
using the rubber hose.  I do know that if something goes wrong with the
regulator (an unlikely happening), the typical hose clamp connections would
fail under the high pressure at the tank.  From common sense, I wouldn't use
other than copper tube with appropriate flare fitting and pipe doped
threaded fitting connections.

Still just my opinions,

                    Regards, Joy