Hello, just wondering if anyone has had their propane detector go off in their LQ trailers? Ours goes off when we are camping in the middle of the night. We open the door to air out and then it goes off only to come on again in about 4 hours . It does not do this on every trip. Any ideas? Thanks
Posted 2009-10-16 7:04 PM (#111960 - in reply to #111957) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
If you "air out" the LQ to silence the alarm ... Believe what it is telling you.... You have a propane or flamable gas leak in the area that it is responding to...
Another way to be sure is to REMOVE the propane tanks from the trailer. AND anything else that may contain a flamable gas ... like bug spray, hair spray, nail polish remover, cigarette lighters, gas lighters, charcoal lighter fluid, gas lanterns... Do you have a generator on board? Suspect the fuel supply. Then if it still alarms, the detector may be faulty.
Otherwise ... find and fix the leak. (Soap bubble solution is not sensitive enough for a leak that takes hours to build a detectable level )
Posted 2009-10-16 8:11 PM (#111968 - in reply to #111957) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: ohio
Thank you, I agree there is a leak some where but I can not convence my husband because it does not go off every trip. We do have a genarator but it is under the tack compartment and we take it out and away from trailer when running it. Yes, it has set the alarm off when once we used it close to trailer. It was outside covered up for the night so I don't think that was the problem. My husband swears it was my boots setting in the bathroom smelling of horse piss. He threw the boots out and the alarm came back on in about 4 hours. Do we need to take trailer to a RV place or would a heating/cooling person be able to come out and look at it? Thanks.
Posted 2009-10-16 9:21 PM (#111969 - in reply to #111957) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
We were also experiencing the same problem as you. Reset the alarm and it would come back on quickly.Never seemed to go off during the day; just at night. We checked for leaks and none could be found. While looking for information about the detector I found out that they do have a working life span of about 5-6 years and should be replaced after that time. I believe that it has to do with the sensors and filters. Your CO detector has the same operating time limits also. Bought a new detector and no more problems. The detectors have a manufacturing date stamped on them. When you buy a new one, try to make sure that it is fairly new and has not been sitting on a shelf for several years.
Posted 2009-10-16 9:48 PM (#111973 - in reply to #111957) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Veteran
Posts: 112 Location: ohio
Yes, ours only goes off in the night. Our trailer is a 04 model so it just might be it needs a new one. Do you have to buy the whole monitor or just a filter? Did you get them from a RV dealer? Thanks so much.
Posted 2009-10-17 7:53 AM (#111985 - in reply to #111973) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
Yes, you need to buy a new detector and they can be expensive depending on where you buy. I looked on e-bay and found one that was reasonable with a current manufacturing date. You need to pull your old one and see if it has 2 or 3 wires. If you buy the same model, they are very easy to switch out. Good Luck; I hope that this will solve your problem.
Posted 2009-10-17 6:03 PM (#112012 - in reply to #111957) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420 Location: Florida
I hate to say this but I will "Cause I posted it" Is your husband SERIOUS! Come on! Propane detectors and smoke alarms are not installed to be ignored. Please Please have your propane connections checked as said above with soapy water or by removing the tanks. Replace a faulty detector at any cost. It WILL save your life (Which is priceless). Propane is a heavy gas and sinks that is why the detectors are on the floor. Opening the door is letting the propane (if present) sink out of the door.
Posted 2009-10-17 9:50 PM (#112017 - in reply to #111957) Subject: RE: Propane detector
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
Take it to an RV place, pretty sure they have sensors that will 'sniff' out the leak, if there is one, wherever it may be. You could have a dry rotted hose or a hose that has been rubbing on a corner somewhere that putting soap on the connections won't detect. If they can't find a leak, definitely get a new sensor. This is NOT something to mess around with. I know someone who nearly died, suffered some brain damage, a long hospital stay and an alcohol problem that still exists today as his fiance did die due to a leak in a the propane system on a camper. He only survived as they figure he woke to go to the bathroom and collapsed by the door which gave him a certain amount of fresh air she wasn't getting. His fiance was a fairly popular barrel racer in the Joliet, Illinois area. This was years before we had the sensors we have for campers now.
Take full advantage of the technology we have today. OK and if that isn't enough, ask your husband if he's bucking for a Darwin award.
Propane detector
