Propane leak... Help!

[elima27]

First, let me say hi! I'm new to the forum but I've browsed a lot.

I've been living in my camper (2004 Coachmen Spirit of America) for about a year and it is parked in my parents drive way. That being said, I still consider myself to be a newbie.

About two weeks ago, I walked outside to go into the camper, and I smelled propane at the end, towards the refrigerator. When I opened the door to go inside, the reek of propane almost knocked me down. I thought maybe the propane had simply run out and I needed to replace the canister but the refrigerator light said it was ok. I couldn't find any leaks but I ended up having to sleep in the house because it made me sick.

I can only assume that the leak is coming from the refrigerator. I did notice that the fridge itself wasn't cold, and I wasn't running either the stove or the furnace. I just turned off the main propane supply and have basically gone without, but it's high time I get this sorted out.

I turned the main propane supply back on and then the refrigerator, which came on with no problems. I let it run for 15 minutes and checked the panel outside. I could hear the pilot light burning, but to my surprise I could see smoke coming from the top of the pilot box. Is that normal? Is there a way for me to check for leaks? I'd really like to be able to use my refrigerator, and having the furnace back occasionally would be nice as well. I've never had any problem with the propane at all, so I really don't know what to do.

I apologize if this is a simple fix, but I'm really ignorant when it comes to this type of thing. I am learning as I go though.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

[lj2654]

Sometimes the propane regulator develops leaks and needs to be replaced. I had a propane smell and that was where it was leaking on mine.

[JWRoberts]

Agree with budwich

it sounds like more of a "ammonia lesk". I suspect once you turned off the propane, you then also turned off the fridge and the problem went away... because the fridge is off. Try running the fridge on AC only, does it cool and does it smell?

[elima27]

Alright, so I did go outside and check to see if I see any yellow coloration.. it was dark so it was hard to see but I'll check again in the morning. I did however see the unit is plugged in. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the outlet didn't work because there are several outlets in the camper that don't work. My husband changed the fuses and it didn't do anything. And this might seem a silly question, but if there were no power going to the fridge, would the light come on when it's opened? Because the light does work.


The refrigerator is a dometic RM 2652.

And I really don't know if it's ammonia that is leaking. It smelled strongly of propane and I've camped my whole life... that is what it smells like to me. But of course I could be wrong.

[Old-Biscuit]

elima27 wrote:
Ok I definitely don't see a propane alarm, though I will get one.
And how do I turn the refrigerator to a.c. mode? On the fridge itself it just says auto and gas. It's always been on auto.

AUTO MODE''''''
Fridge runs on AC when AC Power is available
Fridge will swap automatically to propane (gas) when AC Power is not available
Fridge will swap back to AC when AC Power is restored

GAS MODE'''''''
Manually selects gas ONLY operation

If always in 'auto' and you have seen a flame lit on fridge then fridge AC Power is not working
Either outlet fridge is plugged into is dead
AC fuse on control module is blown---typically 5A glass fuse
OR the AC electric heat element is bad


WHAT BRAND/MODEL of Fridge?

And I am very surprised at NO LP DETECTOR =====2004 model would have them

[elima27]

Ok I definitely don't see a propane alarm, though I will get one.
And how do I turn the refrigerator to a.c. mode? On the fridge itself it just says auto and gas. It's always been on auto.

[Old-Biscuit]

Propane Detector would be located down low...floor area \ Typically in toe kick area of kitchen cabinets etc.

It alarms when a propane leak occurs as propane is heavier than air and settles at floor
BUT TRAILER BATTERY NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED as it is wired directly to battery and NOT fed from converter.

Something like this.........brown/white/black
And they also have a shelf life of 5-7 yrs. so your 10 yr old one needs replaced


You stated fridge wasn't cold when you noticed the smell and flame was still on.
If it IS a propane leak..........then fridge outside compartment would have been filled with propane vapor and it would most likely have gone boom.
If fridge flame went out...gas valve would have to have stuck open to allow any gas to flow w/o a flame.

Look for any yellow residue in outside compartment around the burner area (main flame is small-------no pilot flame used)



Plugged into electric at house then try running fridge on electric vs propane and see of fridge will cool down.
Smell, no cooling....good chance fridge cooling unit is bad. That means replace cooling unit or replace fridge....neither cheap

[elima27]

I don't think the camper has a propane alarm, as I mentioned before. I took a picture of the panel box, but from my phone I don't see anywhere to post it. But when i said pilot box I meant the little metal housing around the pilot light.
And yes, the camper is level on a flat paved drive way. If it is indeed the ammonia, what can I do? Though it did smell like propane, which I've smelled before.

[Old-Biscuit]

budwich wrote:
it sounds like more of a "ammonia lesk". I suspect once you turned off the propane, you then also turned off the fridge and the problem went away... because the fridge is off. Try running the fridge on AC only, does it cool and does it smell?

Ding ding ding........winner

OP stated:
About two weeks ago, I walked outside to go into the camper, and I smelled propane at the end, towards the refrigerator. When I opened the door to go inside, the reek of propane almost knocked me down.

Although propane does have an odor it is not the kind that will 'Knock you DOWN'.
AMMONIA will.

OP Stated:
I can only assume that the leak is coming from the refrigerator. I did notice that the fridge itself wasn't cold

Fridge not COLD because the AMMONIA has leaked out...along with the hydrogen gas and the sodium chromate

OP Stated:
I could hear the pilot light burning, but to my surprise I could see smoke coming from the top of the pilot box

That smoke would be from the yellow residue burning (sodium chromate) because typical place for crack/leak is in the 'perk tube (boiler/stack)
Look for yellow residue around burner box

OP........
Your fridge cooling unit has overheated, developed a leak, coolant solution has leaked out and cooling unit is DEAD.

Just curious........
Is your trailer set up in driveway level or slightly off level---sloped?

[westend]

I let it run for 15 minutes and checked the panel outside. I could hear the pilot light burning, but to my surprise I could see smoke coming from the top of the pilot box.

Could you explain what a "pilot box" is? Are you referring to the metal valve body that has the gas line that runs to the pilot light? If so, there should never be any smoke coming from that valve. If you saw that, the valve needs to be replaced.

[old_guy]

one thing to think about, if it was a propane smell, your propane alarm would be going off. you might want to put a battery on the tongue and hook it up. the battery acts as a filter for the 12v system.

[RVcircus]

If you're sure it's propane I'd check all of the lines and fittings. They sell a spray or you can use soapy water. If you're not comfortable doing this have a mobile RV mechanic out to look at it. As for the smoke, maybe the burner needs to be cleaned? I'd say now is a good time to service it.

[elima27]

Ok so I just double checked and I definitely do not have a battery on the tongue of the camper. And this sounds insane, but I wasn't even aware of propane alarms until this afternoon. I am pretty certain I don't have one? I have a fire and carbon monoxide alarm, but those are the only two I see.

And yes, I obviously immediately turned off the propane and the refrigerator, but I've never gotten the fridge to run on ac.. am I missing something? But yes, the smell did go away once the camper was aired out.

[budwich]

it sounds like more of a "ammonia lesk". I suspect once you turned off the propane, you then also turned off the fridge and the problem went away... because the fridge is off. Try running the fridge on AC only, does it cool and does it smell?

[RoyB]

I was going to mention the same thing - The PROPANE ALARM should be screaming I would think if it was a propane gas leak inside the trailer...

Sounding more and more like a battery problem... Definitely find the battery and check fluid levels...

To me when the battery boils out is smells like rotten eggs ???

Roy Ken

[elima27]

Noo!!!! I turned the propane off and opened the Windows and let it air out for a week before I went back inside. I don't have a death wish!