Don't trust that Propane Leak Detector
Had a problem w an odor in my new RV (bought Jan 2017). Thought it was gas, but I was directed by various sources (professionals) to suspect a dead mouse. Headed down to New Mexico to enjoy warmer weather (little need for a furnace) and taking the advice of a few dealers I thought I'd let the mouse dry out down here since I could find nothing in any ducts or access panels. Talked w the mfg several times to verify the structure of ducts, underbelly, etc so I could guestimate where the dead mouse was (the ordor was only when the furnace was running). Then after 2 months deciding its time to head north soon, fired up the furnace to see if the odor improved. It did not. As a result I decided to pull my furnace and find the mouse (dealers were reluctant to pull the furnace for me fearing an open ended expensive project of finding a dead mouse).
Pulling the furnace I found no dead mouse or evidence of a mouse presence anywhere. SInce I had the furnace out I took it to a dealer to test. They found the furnace was leaking propane at the gas/heat exchanger connection. It was so loose it failed the bubble leak test by literally blowing the leak test fluid off; the fitting was only finger tight. So what I was smelling was propane as I origianlly suspected, and a RV gas leak test would not have found this. The furnace would have to be running to find the leak since the leak was downstream the furnace gas shutoff valve.
Then checked my propane detector. How could there be such a stench in the coach and the detector not alarm? I tool a grill lighter, extinguished its flame, and poured that gas over the detector, letting it whiff up around the detector. The alarm never went off. I pushed the alarm test and yes it can make noise. Then I pointed the grill lighter directly into the detector vent, and after 10 seconds the alarm finally went off.
Lesson learned: Do not trust your propane detector. Just because the test button will cause the alarm to sound does not mean it is detecting gas. Need a good test to actually verify the gas detection works.
The detector is a Atwood. Note I talked with Atwood who seemed completely unconcerned. They only said to take it to a dealer for warranty service. Ya know, if this RV blew up, I bet Atwood would be concerned then
Pulling the furnace I found no dead mouse or evidence of a mouse presence anywhere. SInce I had the furnace out I took it to a dealer to test. They found the furnace was leaking propane at the gas/heat exchanger connection. It was so loose it failed the bubble leak test by literally blowing the leak test fluid off; the fitting was only finger tight. So what I was smelling was propane as I origianlly suspected, and a RV gas leak test would not have found this. The furnace would have to be running to find the leak since the leak was downstream the furnace gas shutoff valve.
Then checked my propane detector. How could there be such a stench in the coach and the detector not alarm? I tool a grill lighter, extinguished its flame, and poured that gas over the detector, letting it whiff up around the detector. The alarm never went off. I pushed the alarm test and yes it can make noise. Then I pointed the grill lighter directly into the detector vent, and after 10 seconds the alarm finally went off.
Lesson learned: Do not trust your propane detector. Just because the test button will cause the alarm to sound does not mean it is detecting gas. Need a good test to actually verify the gas detection works.
The detector is a Atwood. Note I talked with Atwood who seemed completely unconcerned. They only said to take it to a dealer for warranty service. Ya know, if this RV blew up, I bet Atwood would be concerned then
