Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Topic: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel. (Read 1438 times) previous topic - next topic

Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

June 22, 2023, 12:11:18 pm

A GrandVilla exploded when the owner went to start the heater.
https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article276646016.html?fbclid=IwAR1gSHAVfmKKQ3PCjM_s_4OcKIrUiigBQhawhwS7RDTn3G8Tig9qDOcfX5M

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #1 – June 22, 2023, 12:40:19 pm

Sorry to hear about the GrandVilla. We cannot read the story, but wonder what happened

Only members can read that FB group. Please copy and paste the story so our members can benefit.

Thanks. . .

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #2 – June 22, 2023, 01:30:51 pm

Scary. I'm glad he survived. I found this little job on my grand villas LP detector during our remodel. Wonder if there's a common root cause.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #3 – June 22, 2023, 01:47:12 pm

Quote from: Elliott – June 22, 2023, 01:30:51 pm

Scary. I'm glad he survived. I found this little job on my grand villas LP detector during our remodel. Wonder if there's a common root cause.

Someone cut the wires rather than replace the detector. It likely was beeping because it had aged out, and whoever did that took the "easy" way out.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #4 – June 22, 2023, 01:48:03 pm

1 hurt in Surfside Beach-area camper fire, Horry County Fire Rescue says | WBTW

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article276646016.html

It does not look like there was any fire.

For only one person injured, and not killed is amazing.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #5 – June 22, 2023, 02:14:25 pm

It seems the two common causes of fires in these rigs are propane and the generator. Would love to get rid of both, but cooking with propane is real nice. A reduced risk of fire may be nicer.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #6 – June 22, 2023, 02:27:39 pm

Quote from: Zach – June 22, 2023, 02:14:25 pm

It seems the two common causes of fires in these rigs are propane and the generator. Would love to get rid of both, but cooking with propane is real nice. A reduced risk of fire may be nicer.

To be fair, it's a common cause for an uncommon event

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #7 – June 22, 2023, 04:29:08 pm

I can't watch it either so I missed the details. I have a back up for my propane system alarm. Also have two smoke alarms so if one fails. Look forward to seeing the details of this event.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #8 – June 22, 2023, 05:19:05 pm

Quick reset for gas detectors is to give them a shot of air from a small can of compressed air for cleaning a keyboard.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #9 – June 22, 2023, 05:24:47 pm

Having looked at the damage, the person that tried to light the propane heater is lucky to be alive. Damaged an RV on both sides of that coach. Blew the top completely off. That was a bad leak to do that! Having dealt with both propane and natural gas for well over 20 years, I always told people that propane will kill you, natural gas will scare you when it goes, but nothing like the latter! Always make sure your propane detector is working, as well as the smoke alarm!

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #10 – June 22, 2023, 05:27:35 pm

Does anyone know if it was a forum member?

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #11 – June 22, 2023, 08:49:54 pm

How could you not smell the amount of propane that must have been present. Lucky individual that survived that.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #12 – June 22, 2023, 08:58:19 pm

Propane is at the floor. It's heavier than air so you have to bend over it to smell it.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #13 – June 22, 2023, 09:19:49 pm

Folks - let's remember this is yet another human being that has lost their coach. I've had to remove a couple of posts that were putting blame on the gentleman who has lost not only his Foretravel, but a beloved pet is missing. Let's be kind and compassionate.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #14 – June 22, 2023, 09:27:13 pm

I hate it for them, can't imagine going thru such a thing.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #15 – June 22, 2023, 10:41:04 pm

Twig and I have had quite a few discussions over the benefits and/or dangers of propane.
That's a really scary situation. These coaches are getting older and sometimes preventative maintenance doesn't get everything.
Losing a pet is quite devastating. Events like this certainly makes one think. I love this lifestyle being full-time in my motor coach, and recognize there are definite risks that I take on. Like when I got stuck in the snow on the ride up to fish lake in Utah and couldn't get my Jeep out. We're getting the coach stuck in Idaho in the mud. Neither one was life-threatening but certainly nothing like just staying home and living in the sticks and bricks and taking an occasional Cruise or fishing trip.
As juicesqueezer said make sure your alarms are all in working order.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #16 – June 23, 2023, 12:07:01 pm

So lucky to survive that much of an explosion!
Hope the dog is recovered soon, poor little thing must be terrified.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #17 – June 24, 2023, 12:05:39 pm

This is very scary. I always am nervous about the giant tank of explosive under the coach. Going all electric would be ideal...

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #18 – June 24, 2023, 12:59:04 pm

Quote from: nbluesky – June 24, 2023, 12:05:39 pm

This is very scary. I always am nervous about the giant tank of explosive under the coach. Going all electric would be ideal...

Compare how much power a kg of fuel contains versus a kg of batteries. They aren't even in the same ballpark. If there was one perfect solution everyone would use it.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #19 – June 24, 2023, 10:10:16 pm

Quote from: genehorr – June 24, 2023, 12:59:04 pm

Compare how much power a kg of fuel contains versus a kg of batteries. They aren't even in the same ballpark. If there was one perfect solution everyone would use it.

Yeah, I would prefer rely on non explosive dieselfuel for heat instead of propane is all i mean really. Fridge and cooking could easily be all electric.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #20 – June 25, 2023, 08:19:07 am

RV gas detectors are intended to be replaced every 60 months.
Very few people realize this!

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #21 – June 25, 2023, 08:30:04 am

Anyone aware of any updates on this story? Obviously a propane explosion but no fire afterwards? It had to be quite a concentration of propane contained in the bays to cause sure a catastrophic explosion. Very lucky no one was killed in this incident.

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #22 – June 25, 2023, 09:26:04 am

Quote from: FourTravelers – June 25, 2023, 08:30:04 am

Anyone aware of any updates on this story? Obviously a propane explosion but no fire afterwards? It had to be quite a concentration of propane contained in the bays to cause sure a catastrophic explosion. Very lucky no one was killed in this incident.

First allow me state that I believe in knowledge and reason and find fear a superpower.

Propane tanks do not explode. Period.

Propane does not explode. It may, under certain limited conditions, deflagrate or if contained detonate, but the flame front doesn't reach the speed for it to be termed an explosion. We have words to accurately describe these things. Explode is an incendiary, word with emotional strings attached to boot.

If you "smell gas" ventilate the space and turn off the fuel gas at its source. Problem solved.

FWIW when I was a teenager, there was a resident in town who tried to re-light the pilot light in his propane or city gas water heater. The resultant deflagration lifted his house above the foundation and the house turned slightly as it settled. The man was taken to the local hospital and treated for his injuries.

[inappropriate comment deleted - moderator Michelle]

You can begin your reading here:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016236107001706

And from Italy:
https://www.aidic.it/cet/16/53/011.pdf

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #23 – June 25, 2023, 11:08:41 am

Then I wonder what really happened here. Your detailed articles are too technical for me to read and understand. But if propane does not explode, then...what did?

Re: Check that propane. Tough week to own a Foretravel.

Reply #24 – June 25, 2023, 11:35:48 am

Quote from: sfbmwwife – June 25, 2023, 11:08:41 am

Then I wonder what really happened here. Your detailed articles are too technical for me to read and understand. But if propane does not explode, then...what did?

It appears to have experienced a "resultant deflagration " 🤷‍♂️

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