Re: CO2 leaks - but only if you let it

["S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>]

---Neal De Pape wants to know why his CO2 use has
increased:

> My CO2 system has been churning through the CO2 on a
> much too quick pace for my liking recently.  I've gone
> from having to refill tanks approx every 9-10 months
> to about every 3-4 months.
> 
> In the past I've used a mix of dish soap and water to
> check for leaks on propane tanks and fixtures, will
> the same method work on CO2?
> 

It sure will.  You an also check whether you are getting
the same amount of CO2 on refills:  weigh the tank empty
(the tare weight should be stamped on the tank but you want
to calibrate the scale anyhow), then weigh a just-refilled
tank.  Even on a bathroom scale, which is only accurate
within a pound or so, if you *should/ be getting, say, 5
pounds of CO2 on a refill and are only getting 2, that will
probably show up.

Also, if you are running at a pressure close to the
safety-valve threshold, you might be letting out some CO2
through that valve on the regulator.  These valves on the
low side of the regulator are usually just rubber disks
held over a hole by a spring.  So the the threshold value
changes slightly with changes in CO2 tank temp.  Also, they
can slow leak.  The threshold for the safety valve is
different in different tanks but could be around 20-40 psi
(on the low or outlet side of the regulator).  don't try to
defeat these safety valves -- they protect you and your
equipment in the event that the regulator diaphragm fails.

Also, it goes almost without saying, that any increases in
agitation or increases is air movement over the water
surface (e.g., permanently removing a glass cover) can have
big impacts on CO2 use.

Hope you find your missing gas,
Scott H.

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