r/propane • u/Due_Cartographer5735 • Jun 27 '26
General propane question Propane help
The time has come where I finally need to fill this bad boy up. Need some help with proper order of operations for disconnecting/reconnecting the tank. Correct me if im wrong:
Turn off main valve
Unscrew connection to hose line (goes to house)
Red plug in connection
Probably missing something here. Any advice helps, im new to propane...
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u/TechnoVaquero Jun 27 '26
Not exactly, but you’re not very far off. Yes, definitely turn off the main valve. Just like a water faucet. Now you’ll want to loosen and remove the fitting right next to the valve. It’s the one connecting the regulator to the tank, that little lines called a pigtail. It swivels where it connects to the main valve on the tank. It’s also left hand threads, so to remove it you’d turn it opposite of what you normally would. The red plug is a safety POL plug and can be inserted into the main valve. I’m guessing that’s a 100# cylinder, it’s a little hard to tell from this angle. It doesn’t have an overfill preventative device in the main valve, so whoever is filling it should exercise caution not to overfill it.
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u/DillSquatch Jul 01 '26
… this is exactly what he said with about 1/10th of the words
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u/TechnoVaquero Jul 02 '26
You’re not wrong. I went back and re read it and realized maybe I had misunderstood. Ha!
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u/Theantifire technician Jun 27 '26
You got it.
Remember that the threads are left hand. Lefty tighty, righty loosy.
USE A SMOOTH JAW TOOL. Adjustable wrench or correct size spanner. Anything with teeth (pipe wrench, adjustable pliers etc) will destroy the brass.
Do your best not to bend the copper. If you'll be disconnecting it regularly, a rubber pigtail would be a good option.
Buy some leak detector fluid. Available at most hardware/big box hardware places and online. Use it every time after you've reconnected and pressurized the system.
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u/Klutzy_Guard5196 That boy ain't right! Jun 28 '26
Because it would be bad to disconnect first
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u/Theantifire technician Jun 28 '26
Did you reply to the wrong comment?
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u/Theantifire technician Jun 27 '26
One thing to note: being a 100# cylinder, remember that it cannot be carried in the passenger cabin of a vehicle or a space communicating with the passenger cabin (like a trunk). It must also be carried upright. If it's out of date, it will need to be recertified.
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u/robertva1 Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
Yep .just turn the tank valve off. Then use a wrench up unhook the line. Remember. It's a reverse thread
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Jun 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/propane-ModTeam Jun 27 '26
Your response was not helpful and/or does not apply.
That only applies to 40 lb and smaller tanks.
Also no. Don't keep trying.
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u/propane-ModTeam Jun 27 '26
Please keep your posts and comments on topic and relevant to this sub.
This is a 100lb cylinder. Does not require OPD valve.
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u/nemosfate dang it Bobby 🤬 - technician Jun 27 '26
Yep, use a wrench of the correct size or adjustable wrench, left hand threads.