Never attempt to bleed down a meter using ________; doing so reduces the pressure only in the hose and not in the meter.

• A. The vent line
• B. The discharge nozzle
• C. The hose end valve
• D. The regulator bleed

Answer: (C)

When you’re depressurizing a propane system, you must reduce pressure at the exact part of the line you’re working on. Opening the hose end valve releases gas from the hose downstream of the meter, so the pressure in the hose drops, but the pressure in the meter itself remains unchanged because the regulator holds the meter side at its operating pressure. That means you may think you’ve lowered pressure, but the meter can still be pressurized and gas can be present where you’re working, creating a hazardous situation. The hose end valve is designed to vent the hose, not to vent the meter, so using it to try to depressurize the meter is unsafe. Proper depressurization requires using the designated vent point that actually reduces meter pressure, such as the regulator bleed, following the safety procedures for your setup.