Most people know there is a date on their tyres but did you know the gas pipe between your gas bottle and regulator (pigtail) is also dated?
I didn't and when my regulator started leaking at the weekend, the bloke who came out to replace it pointed out that mine had a date of 2003 on it, on a 2009 caravan!!! Like tyres, you're supposed to replace them every 5 years and it was probably the age of the pipe which killed the regulator (the pipe crumbles internally and bits drop back into the regulator).
Ok, the pipe has only been used for 2 seasons but I was amazed it was already 4 years old when it was put on my van (i bought it in 2009 new buttthe paperwork shows it was built in 2007). So much for German quality ...
Also, 2 mobile mechanics and a local dealer never noticed it either!! Wonderful...
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
Looking on Waudby's caravan accessory website, I noticed that pigtail gas pipe sold by the metre is described as having a 1 year life for the black hose, and 5 years life for the orange hose. On another website, stainless steel braided ready-made-up pigtails were stated to have a 20-year life. Prices can vary enormously, too. On this site, 450mm s/s pigtails were £24.90 each. Yet another website offered the stainless steel braided pigtails (presumably same quality) and similar length at 20 inches long for £13.60 each.
So, like tyres, it's becoming a bit of coin-tossing exercise in depending what you go for.
Yes did know as I emailed calor for the correct information on age and anything else.there reply was to check each year for cracks and wear then change after 5 years.
Www.calor.co.uk
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
I had a pair of Bullfinch 1616 gas lanterns running last year when I heard a hiss half way down the hose. They had perished and had the consistency of a stale sponge cake. Turned out to be 1991 hoses.
1991 is almost certainly the date of the British Standard, ie, BS xxxx 1991, the hose manufacture date is further along.
While reasonably regular changing is advisable, especially if it's showing signs of cracking, examination each time you change a bottle is my advice.
PS, I don't for one second agree about bits from an old hose breaking off and getting in the regulator, probably impossible, and far more likely it's contamination from the gas bottle, AKA an oily substance!
I have just replaced the tyres and gas hose on my cruiser that I bought in October all were 1999 (13 years Old).
The tyres looked immaculate , the spare even still had the size label stuck to it.
John
I did know that there was a life span on LPG hoses but didn't know exactly how long that actually was. Some say two years and some say five but the problem with this is that the date printed on the hose is reference to the date of manufacture so if the pipe has been in stock for the past two years then when exactly do you renew your gas hose? Strangely enough though it seems to be omitted from the annual service and this is probably one of the reasons why but I renewed my gas hose when I purchased the caravan with the Orange type and also fitted a new hand wheel type regulator too. I'm not absolutely sure whether you should fit the Black or Orange hose as I think one is for low pressure and the other for high pressure but the advice I received was from a local plumber and gas stockist who advised to fit the Orange one as this is what is used on the portable LPG gas fires and to renew it every two years especially if we have a hard winter as the hose weather hardens which can cause cracks which you can't always see. It would be beneficial to us all if someone who is an expert in this field could explain the difference between the Black and the Orange LPG hoses and which type is actually recommended for caravans and motorhomes.
Can only tell you what the engineer at the service told me a few years ago.he said black low pressure pipe is only used for 12 months and then changed.the orange pipe high pressure would last for 5 years if not damaged.gary would know more on this.Not seen a date on a black pipe myself.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Had a hose on my propane gas blowlamp since 1983 and I have never had any trouble with it and it is not in use everyday only summer months so maybe they were made better then, I do check it before use.
low pressure black hose is just rubber, orange high pressure hose is rubber inner, then a weave of strong non-stretch material to stop the rubber expanding under pressure, finally the outer orange cover to protect the weave.
How long before? if not cracked, I change mine when it gets too stiff and makes changing a bottle that much more of a nuisance.
Having said that, the last orange hose was cracked from end to end after little more than a year from changing, it replaced a black hose dated 9yrs before changing and although very stiff, not cracked at all?!
The lovely soft black test hose I have been using every day for about 12yrs is the original off my dads old Avondale....1974!!!
Quote: Originally posted by arc systems on 08/4/2012
low pressure black hose is just rubber, orange high pressure hose is rubber inner, then a weave of strong non-stretch material to stop the rubber expanding under pressure, finally the outer orange cover to protect the weave.
Technically, if it doesn't have any reinforcement then it's tubing, not hose. The date marking is put on at the manufacturing stage so is no indication of how long it has been on your 'van (apart from the obvious) and how long it will last depends on many variables. If it's exposed to daylight in Spain for instance, you'll be lucky to get 12 months before it starts cracking, but this again depends on the manufacturer's compound recipe.
The only safe option is to check it on a regular basis and replace it if you're unhappy.
Frank
Low pressure hose has a 3 year life but as a rule i change each year. Its a couple of quid. High pressure hose has a 5 year life. After 2004 all vans are fitted with bulkhead regulators and have a 450mm high pressure hose which has a 5 year life. Hope this makes it a bit clearer. I serviced a van 2 weeks ago that had had a new regulator fitted on its last service. The hosewas 3 years out of date and the regulator had a leak on it. Btw your regulators have a life span on too. There is adate stamp on them and they have a ten year span.
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Topic: Gas pipe age
