My LQ has a 4 cu. ft. propane/electric RV refrigerator which in the 13 years I've owned my trailer the fridge has seen little use - but does work just fine. My problem lately is I smell propane inside if the fridge is running and the LQ door is closed, like overnight whether getting ready for a trip and pre-starting the fridge or actually on the campout. There is always a window open about 4 inches (has a MaxxAir vent) and the bathroom vent is also always open (another MaxxAir vent).
The local trailer service shop says there is nothing wrong with the fridge and they find no leaks and couldn't smell anything but do not have the 'pressure' lines for some kind of test. My friends do smell the propane (rotten egg smell). Is that smell normal, dangerous, or don't worry about it? My CO alarm down by the floor never sets off but then that may be defective. Any input would be welcome.
Posted 2013-05-16 7:15 PM (#152072 - in reply to #152071) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
You should not be smelling the propane at all when your fridge is running on propane. You especially should not get a build up of propane smell overnight/after long periods of the LQ being closed up. I would have another service center look at it. I would also replace your floor gas monitor. Better to be safe than dead ;) I'm sure someone with more technical info will chime in but it's definitely something to be concerned about.
Posted 2013-05-16 7:17 PM (#152073 - in reply to #152071) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Regular
Posts: 79 Location: Alberta Canada
don't take a chance with it if you smell propane... go to your local natural gas company,or utilities company, someone with a gas sniffer unit They will be able to detect any gas leaks with their eqpt. PLEASE do not take a chance and rely on you units gas detector... too many people die each year from being poisoned by gases. If your smell propane... then there is definitely a leak somewhere..
Posted 2013-05-16 7:26 PM (#152075 - in reply to #152071) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Thank you so much for the input. I will definitely find someone who can locate the leak...and then have my regular guy replace the CO monitor.
On my last campout my dog got sick - vomiting, never happened before. She slept on the floor in the LQ! Now I know what happened to her!!! Bad dog mommy.
Posted 2013-05-16 10:42 PM (#152081 - in reply to #152071) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Changing the sensor is a very easy DIY project, that can save you almost half of a professional installation cost. They can be purchased on line from many sources.
I ditto all of your responses. Have the leak detected and repaired by a professional, and replace the sensor.
Posted 2013-05-17 4:40 PM (#152099 - in reply to #152071) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
Thanks to everyone for their responses; yes, the smell of propane is not a good thing. Took the trailer into a repair service this morning for a pressure test and they found three LP leaks underneath where the pipe lines formed an "L." The repair man said probably due to the age of the system. Anyway all the piping will have to be replaced along with the sensor. Not an inexpensive job but considering the consequences it is cheap in comparison.
Posted 2013-10-22 6:22 PM (#155478 - in reply to #152071) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Member
Posts: 14
Location: SW Virginia
I'm sorry and I know this is an old thread...but...if you have a propane leak why would the CO monitor go off? Propane is not CO, is it? With CO the risk is dying of asphyxiation with propane the risk is, well, blowing up.Also, that smell is added to propane so that you will recognize that there is a leak. Propane does not naturally smell like rotten eggs, as I recall, right? CO is naturally odorless which is one of the reasons it is so dangerous but with that said, I've never heard of anything that could release CO having any addition of odor so that it would be detected.Just want clarification since if I don't know what the CO monitor is supposed to be doing it's hard to be sure it's doing it.
Posted 2013-10-22 11:04 PM (#155483 - in reply to #155478) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If you had an incomplete combustion of a propane gas supply, from any kind of open flame heating appliance, CO would be produced. Without a detector it could be impossible to know if you were being harmed by the unburnt gasses until it was too late.
Here's a good article that better describes the CO problems:
Posted 2013-10-23 8:13 AM (#155487 - in reply to #155478) Subject: RE: LP Refrigerator
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Tomball, TX
The CO should have gone off but it was old and needed replacing. Propane is heavier than air and will accumulate on the floor--the reason the monitor isn't higher on a wall. Anyway, after the pipes were replaced - no more smell, new CO detector, dog didn't get sick, and I figured out what was wrong with my fridge...the burner openings had closed off with rust...scrape with a wire brush and skinny screwdriver and everything is good as new.
LP Refrigerator
