Can sewer gas set off the gas alarm ?Guy

Interesting question. From an article on gas alarms:“If you buy a residential gas detector system, make sure you get the right one, O'Shea said. Natural gas customers should purchase a detector that can sense methane gas, while propane customers should purchase a propane detector.”So it would appear that a propane detector such as we have in our RVs would not detect methane, which is a component of sewer gas. Dave

Over the years I have had all sorts of chemical set off the propane alarm. Those items have included hairspray, insect repellent, sulfurous emissions in Yellowstone, and caulk. The caulk was the worst. I used a large amount in the bathroom to add a slope to a small ledge. I had to disconnect the alarm for a great many weeks while it cured.You may also get false alarms as the detector ages. The life expectancy of a propane alarm is about 5-10 years from the date of manufacture. Some seem to be overly sensitive or defective and give false alarms when they are relatively new.

A few years ago, a poster to this forum had a dog with intestinal issues. He said that the dog regularly set off the propane detector.

magicbus wrote:Interesting question. From an article on gas alarms:“If you buy a residential gas detector system, make sure you get the right one, O'Shea said. Natural gas customers should purchase a detector that can sense methane gas, while propane customers should purchase a propane detector.”So it would appear that a propane detector such as we have in our RVs would not detect methane, which is a component of sewer gas. DaveThat may be dated information. It’s hard to even find a unit that doesn’t claim to detect both propane and methane. My suspicion is that they can only label them with a particular gas if it was tested by a standards organization for that gas but that most of them in general detect flammable gases and vapors regardless of the label.

I think the alarm going off, is likely the co detector. In that case anything having carbon monoxide would set it off.Many times the propane and co detectors are incorporated in one unit.Jerry

Question on gas alarm | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
Guy Roan wrote:
Can sewer gas set off the gas alarm ?

Guy

Sewer gas is mostly methane and ___anes are explosive for the most part. So yes. We call it a "Propane Detector" but it is truly and explosive gas detector.

Methane (Farts/Sewer)
Alcohol
Gasoline
Butane
Propane
and a host of other things that go BOOM if the air/fuel mix is right.
kedanie
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2020
How old is the alarm unit? They are only good for about 5 years. They don’t cost a bunch, replace the unit if it is older.

Keith
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
MFL wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Guy Roan wrote:
Can sewer gas set off the gas alarm ?

Guy

Don't know but a broken bottle of Tequila sure can!!!

Storing a bottle of Tequila, where it can move around/break is dangerous! Just when you really need it, you discover that you are OUT!

Jerry

It was a sad day as it was the good stuff.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2020
MFL wrote:
I think the alarm going off, is likely the co detector. In that case anything having carbon monoxide would set it off.

Many times the propane and co detectors are incorporated in one unit.

Jerry

Not based on my experience. Every time I have had a false alarm the lights indicate it has been from the propane, not the CO, detector. I also have a separate CO detector. Except for using the test button it has never gone off.
MFL
Nomad II
Dec 12, 2020
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Guy Roan wrote:
Can sewer gas set off the gas alarm ?

Guy

Don't know but a broken bottle of Tequila sure can!!!

Storing a bottle of Tequila, where it can move around/break is dangerous! Just when you really need it, you discover that you are OUT!

Jerry
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
Guy Roan wrote:
Can sewer gas set off the gas alarm ?

Guy

Don't know but a broken bottle of Tequila sure can!!!
MFL
Nomad II
Dec 12, 2020
I think the alarm going off, is likely the co detector. In that case anything having carbon monoxide would set it off.

Many times the propane and co detectors are incorporated in one unit.

Jerry
jkwilson
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
magicbus wrote:
Interesting question. From an article on gas alarms:

“If you buy a residential gas detector system, make sure you get the right one, O'Shea said. Natural gas customers should purchase a detector that can sense methane gas, while propane customers should purchase a propane detector.”

So it would appear that a propane detector such as we have in our RVs would not detect methane, which is a component of sewer gas.

Dave

That may be dated information. It’s hard to even find a unit that doesn’t claim to detect both propane and methane. My suspicion is that they can only label them with a particular gas if it was tested by a standards organization for that gas but that most of them in general detect flammable gases and vapors regardless of the label.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2020
A few years ago, a poster to this forum had a dog with intestinal issues. He said that the dog regularly set off the propane detector.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2020
Over the years I have had all sorts of chemical set off the propane alarm. Those items have included hairspray, insect repellent, sulfurous emissions in Yellowstone, and caulk. The caulk was the worst. I used a large amount in the bathroom to add a slope to a small ledge. I had to disconnect the alarm for a great many weeks while it cured.

You may also get false alarms as the detector ages. The life expectancy of a propane alarm is about 5-10 years from the date of manufacture. Some seem to be overly sensitive or defective and give false alarms when they are relatively new.