Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

propane leak

September 11, 2010, 12:12:01 am

I've left the coach closed up many times (with propane tank open) without incident but yesterday I left the water heater on (propane only).  The next morning the alarm was going off.  I couldn't silence it until I ran the fantastic fan for a few minutes.  Does the fact that it only happens with the WH on indicate the source of the leak?  I'm going to try leaving the fridge on propane with WH off and see what happens.  I'm wonder will any flow of propane cause it to leak more and not really indicate where the leak might be or would the tank valve being open and all gas appliances off still pressurize the system such that it should leak just the same? 

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Re: propane leak

Reply #1 – September 11, 2010, 12:59:02 am

Our propane water heater sometimes triggers our two propane detectors.  I think it is the fumes from combustion that blow/leak inside and set off our alarms.  I consider it normal and not a problem in our coach.  I just turn off the power to the detectors to silence them.  When turned back on, the detectors may or may not alarm again, so sometimes I leave the detector's power switch off for 10 minutes or so and then all is quiet again.
 
We do own an electronic propane leak detector and have never found that we have a propane gas leak.

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Re: propane leak

Reply #2 – September 11, 2010, 01:03:12 am

If the tank valve is open and the LP gas leak detector opens the solenoid valve to allow the gas to flow out of the tank and there is indeed a leak, the gas will leak whether or not there other appliances operating or not. You can buy gas leak detector at Home Depot in the Plbg dept it comes in a plastic bottle with a dobber. Just dob the soap on every joint and watch for bubbles.

good luck

Ernie
 

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Re: propane leak

Reply #3 – September 11, 2010, 08:16:11 am

Leak detectors will go into alarm mode with just about anything.  I had a rotten potato in a drawer that apparently gave off methane that set one off. Any hydrocarbon will set it off including spray cans that may have butane as a propellent.  ( Hairspray, paint, insect foggers etc. )

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Re: propane leak

Reply #4 – September 11, 2010, 07:00:37 pm

Went over today and no alarm (WH was off).  No smell.  Sprayed soapy water on every connection I could easily access without trying to access the entire run of piping.  No leake detected anywhere.  I'll go over again Monday and turn WH on and check it again Tuesday.  I can't understand how a leak could come and go.  I agree that having an appliance on or off shouldn't matter.  I think Barry's suggestion that the WH working has a residual gas effect that could build over time and sometimes cause the detector to go off (with the rig all closed up and 100 degrees inside).

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Reply #5 – September 21, 2010, 11:11:57 pm

update: I have narrowed it down to the water heater.  My theory is that sometimes when the water heater is on and the wind blows against that side of the coach, the flame goes out but that gas stays on until enough gas enters the coach for the sensor and alarm to be tripped and the supply cut off.  If this is happening, shouldn't the light on the switch come on and the gas shut off automatically?  Is this what transpires when an attempt to light it is made but the flame doesn't stay lit?  Does the gas automatically shut off in a failed attempt?  Mine is an older propane only unit.  I know that lighting it usually takes a couple of tries before the light on the switch will stay off.  Three times is usually the charm but sometimes it will fire off on the first attempt.  I fairly certain that the water heater has something to do with this.  I have been assuming that the gas is cut off in a failed attempt at firing it off and I imagined that if for any reason the flame goes out, the gas flow will be cut off.  Maybe whatever is supposed to cut off the propane when the flame goes out is not functioning properly.  Can someone tell me what part could be defective? 

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Re: propane leak

Reply #6 – September 22, 2010, 08:26:10 am

The thermocouple supplies the PC board with the "flame is present, keep the propane valve open".

And it would be very rare (and extremely dangerous) for them to fail in the "good to go" mode. 

There is likely enough Hydrocarbon even in the properly burned exhaust that a leak into the interior would set off the detector.

Open the outside access door and verify that the perimeter of the bezel, particularly where the tabs are are sealed.  Same for there the propane line comes from the interior to the outside area. 

Brett

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Re: propane leak

Reply #7 – September 22, 2010, 05:50:08 pm

Thanks Brett, I'll check it out.  I am going to add to my reply regarding boat dock on west coast of florida with some info for you.

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