Flatulence causing CO/Propane detector alarm?

[DarkSkySeeker]

I apologize for this graphic question, but this happened to me this last trip and I wanted to ask...

Twice during the night, my CO/Propane detector went off - just after I passed gas. The detector is 5 feet away from the foot of my bed. I recall passing gas twice, and each time the alarm sounded within 2 minutes.

Is this just too gross to discuss here? Is this something you've experienced?

[BB_TX]

Yep. Farts definitely contain enough methane to be volatile. I have heard from unnamed sources back in my teen years :W that a fart, a tight pair of jeans and a cigarette lighter will create quite a flare. Not a good idea with shorts though. :E

[naturist]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Smoke, carbon monoxide, and propane detectors all have a shelf life and false alarming could be caused in part by out of date detectors. Having said that passing gas is methane, and it may be closely related enough to propane to cause a detector to alarm.

Methane and propane are very similar, chemically, which is why natural gas, aka methane, and propane can be detected by the same devices.

[DarkSkySeeker]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Smoke, carbon monoxide, and propane detectors all have a shelf life and false alarming could be caused in part by out of date detectors. Having said that passing gas is methane, and it may be closely related enough to propane to cause a detector to alarm.

I've had the trailer with the detector for 4 years. So, yes it is ready for replacement. Interesting thing is how it did not sound any other time and my flatulence immediately preceded the alarm.

[routeforty]

What are you eating??? :E The environmentalists are going to be after you to change your diet-all this methane you are emitting is contributing too much to the climate change. :B

[DownTheAvenue]

Smoke, carbon monoxide, and propane detectors all have a shelf life and false alarming could be caused in part by out of date detectors. Having said that passing gas is methane, and it may be closely related enough to propane to cause a detector to alarm.

[MitchF150]

I laughed, so it made my day since I'm stuck in the house because of all of this COVID19 mess.... Not sick at all and want to keep it that way! 🙂

But, I can say I've never had that happen to me, and I can let off some good ones! I know when the wife smacks me in the head after I say "excuse me".. ha, ha..

I guess you should be watching what you eat or you just have a very sensitive detector..

Thanks again for making my day! I hope this keeps going for awhile. I think we all need something like this during this time.

Mitch

[colliehauler]

Doing what it was designed to do. Methane is a gas.

[naturist]

Yup. Farts contain methane, enough to set off propane/natural gas detectors under the right conditions. There are lots of folks who have talked about dogs setting them off in the night.

[Grit_dog]

And if you can produce enough methane to contaminate a camper....nice work!

(But I'd still suggest some dietary restrictions...lol)

[Grit_dog]

No, this will be the thread of the month!
Can't wait to see, not smell, the responses!

Suggestion, next time, fart on the detector. If it goes off you have your answer!
And eat less beans and cabbage!