Atwood furnace fumes inside RV

At a minimum I suggest you take your rig into a commercial propane dealer and have them inspect the propane system of your rig - sounds like you have leaks, bad gauges, and maybe other issues that a pro should be able to identify fix quickly. I never heard of RV heat system that leaked so I would focus on the propane system first - just my 02.

YES...........

The heat exchanger is cracked allowing combustion/exhaust inside RV

Moved from Forum Technical Support

EVERY RV should have a smoke and CO detector ! No excuses !!

I agree that it sure sounds like a bad heat exchanger, which of course is something in the "do not use until repaired" category.

If the gas gauge you're referring to is a three or four light level meter, it is if necessity very imprecise. Assuming a built-in tank, there should be a dial gauge on the tank, probably partly obscured by the sender for the lights. That dial gauge gives a far more informative reading.

theoldwizard1 wrote:
EVERY RV should have a smoke and CO detector ! No excuses !!

I full time and 2 of each. A cracked heat exchange can kill you with CO.

I am thinking you are right. If the heat exchanger is leaking you have a very dangerous device.. Leaking heat exchangers cause many to go to sleep.....and stay there... forever.. (Die).. I'd get it checked by a professional or, if you wish, replace it..

Came a tad too close to that in my Sticks and bricks.. Turns out I made the decision to upgrade and replace.... Well, let me put it this way. When I made the decision it was "elective" so I got a good price on the job which was scheduled at the installer's convince.. Had I Waited till the coming heating season I'd have paid much more for an "Emergency" replacement. This became obvious when the old unit was hauled up the stairs and dumped for the scrap iron man.. I saw holes in the heat exchanger. it would not have made it another year.

By the way, I have smoke, CO and LP detectors and none went off. The LP detector is handheld so you can probe places I don't want to put my nose. It didn't detect anything before I replaced the valve. Not very sensitive.

frankziegler wrote:
By the way, I have smoke, CO and LP detectors and none went off. The LP detector is handheld so you can probe places I don't want to put my nose. It didn't detect anything before I replaced the valve. Not very sensitive.

Are they OEM or have they been replaced recently.

They ALL have a 'self life' which is typically 5 yrs or so. Sensors go 'nose blind' and fail. Expiration date is stamped on backside of detectors -----
2006 .......they are 10 yrs PLUS and are no longer reliable

REPLACE!

My old smoke alarm over the driver seat goes off before the brand new units over the stove.
I went back to shore powered heat as soon as I noticed the issue. I work from the RV and smells don't help concentration either.
Then again it's 40 outside and with two 1000W heaters I'm maintaining 70 inside just around the dining table. May need to upgrade the insulation.