Can anyone answer a question about propane torches? (flooring, laminate, tank)
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So we had some new flooring installed in the basement. To smooth out the concrete, the contractors drilled out some bumps in the concrete, patched it, and then used a propane torch to dry it before proceeding.
Later in the day I noticed one of them carrying the propane torch to their truck to put it away, and it was dripping a fluid (propane?) out of its nozzle. I am concerned that this fluid is propane, and that it got on the concrete and now the floor is covering it. Or that it got on the floor itself, because they were careless.
The workers didn't speak English, so I couldn't ask them. If it was propane, what are the consequences if it got on the concrete before the flooring was put down, or if it got on the new flooring itself. I'm worried that it's still in liquid form and flammable, or will have an odor.
Thanks for your response, but what was dripping out of the nozzle of the propane torch? Not pouring out, but dripping out? It was about 95 degrees out as he was walking to his truck.
The propane in the tank is compressed to make it a liquid. The valve wasn't closed tight and it leaked out, thus dripped. It turned into a gas as soon as it was no longer compressed. It's gone.
It could also have been water. Water condenses in and on the tank due to the cold temps generated by the propane turning from a liquid to a gas. It could have formed on the torch and you saw it drip off. It too has evaporated by now.
The propane in the tank is compressed to make it a liquid. The valve wasn't closed tight and it leaked out, thus dripped. It turned into a gas as soon as it was no longer compressed. It's gone.
Thanks for your response. So if the propane did drip out onto the concrete slab, and/or planks of my laminate flooring, how long would it stay a liquid?
Also, would it ruin, discolor, or otherwise alter my flooring if it did drip on there?
No. Your making a mountain out of a molehill. It was either condensation water or the propane. Propane is only a liquid when under pressure...hence when it hits the air....no pressure. It evaporates immediatly. The water is condensation and dries. It's cleaner water than you get from a tap or bottled water.
It was water. Propane woudl not remain in liquid form long enough to hit the ground. Burning propane or natural gas always results in some water. It has to do with compressed air or gasses. Try bruning a propane torch for a while, you will see water drip out. Run a compressor and then empty the tanks - water comes out. I do not know the science of it, but I do know that releasing compressed gasses result in water. This might be why water comes out of your car's exhuast pipe as well
It was water. Propane woudl not remain in liquid form long enough to hit the ground.
Correct answer right here.
And, I propose that the water was condensation on the tank which became ice cold as the propane was used. When the propane valve is opened and the gas escapes from the tank, the tank cools, sometimes to the point where it is too cold to hold. WAter condensed on the tank and froze around the top of the tank and then what the OP saw was that frost melting off the tank.
Thanks for your response. So if the propane did drip out onto the concrete slab, and/or planks of my laminate flooring, how long would it stay a liquid?
For less time than it took you to type that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bass101
Also, would it ruin, discolor, or otherwise alter my flooring if it did drip on there?
No... especially because propane did not drip there. It was long gone before it could hit the ground.
Seriously... no need to worry!
This happened two days ago. Why don't you take a look for yourself?
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