Safely pulling LP valves - need advice

[tobycat]

Haven't been on the forum in awhile as awhile back my gallbladder tried to do me in, thankfully it's gone and I'm still here. Today I'm pulling valves from a couple RV sized propane tanks for the first time. My questions are these.

1. Once I put the Dawn -1 cup - in the tank are the suds that come out flammable?
2. Do I need to use TSP also?
3. How much time should they sit and how many water/soap changes?

4. I've read to cut with the tank full of water, won't I get electrocuted from my angle grinder instead of blown up?

 

[socalcooker]

What size tank is it t? If it's for an RV I assume around 60 gallons. When I did my 60 gallon I put half a bottle of dawn and a half gallon of bleach. The dawn will displace and push out any propane fumes. The bleach will decontaminate the mercaptan. Do this let sit for one day, drain and repeat with water and bleach. After the second soak and drain you should not smell the mercaptan anymore. If you still smell it do it again. The fumes should be gone after the first soak. I think a lot of people don't realize that the mercaptan used to make propane smell is actually pretty toxic and was my main concern to remove. Bleach is a standard DeCon for mercaptan. I don't think the TSP is necessary bleach and dawn will remove all the danger.

Kyle

Also when your filling the tank with water you can see the fumes being pushed out. So if on the second or third fill if you still see fumes then do it again till they're gone.