Monday, June 18, 2012

RV Propane Detector

Dear R.V. Shrink: 
We live six months at a time in a 35 foot fifth wheel. Recently our propane detector started acting weird so my husband just disconnected the wires. He failed to inform me of this repair technique and I was content that it was working properly again. When I finally discovered that it was disconnected I had a fit. I want the safety features all up and running while we are living in our rig. I will put up with the constant false alarms if that's what it takes. It drives him crazy when the buzzer goes off and we cannot find any gas leak. I think they must be very sensitive and we should just deal with it like everyone else. I am not confrontational. How can I convince my husband that they put these systems in for a reason? I want to know when I have gas. --Alarmed and Dangerous in Detroit 

Dear Alarmed:
You need to be a bit more confrontational. Do not accept anything less than a functioning detector. Propane detectors are like milk, they go bad after awhile. This is probably what is happening with yours. The sensor goes bad and it starts giving constant false alarms. It could also be bathroom sprays, refrigerator smells or the dog passing gas. My guess is you need a new detector. It is well worth the sixty clams to replace. Make sure your fire and CO2 detectors are up and running also. Ask your husband if he thinks you should drop your vehicle and health insurance. You can YouTube a couple videos of rigs burning and melting to the frame. That might get his attention. Order a new detector and wire the old one back up. Deal with the false alarms until the new one arrives.

Keep Smilin', R.V. Shrink 

##RVT834

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

If memory serves me right, propane leak detectors last around five years. The detector may need replacement.

Anonymous said...

Or, did you consider that it's really working, get another and run the both for a while, perhaps

AK Travler said...

Perhaps it would be wise to go to a repair shop and have a certified technician do a lp leak test using a calibrated manometer. The propane pressure can be adjusted properly, a drop down test to check for leaks on the system and a lock out test to be sure the regulator is functioning properly.

Anonymous said...

A lot of aerosol sprays will trigger propane detectors. maybe she sprayed something causing the detector to go off. There may be nothing wrong with the detector.