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05-12-2011, 08:42 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dixie !! (north Georgia) USA
Posts: 4,110
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Almost goofed badly
I was checking the coach the other day, getting ready for a trip this weekend. I turned on the fridge to let it cool down before putting any food in it. Went to the shed yesterday and when I came in I smelled a dead mouse. These things have an odor that is hard to miss. I searched and looked for maybe 15 minutes and then decided to pull it out of the shed so I could open the slides and search more completely. The odor was tough so I turned on the vent fans and opened a couple of windows and the door. This helped. My grand daughter was helping me and we opened every cabinet door and drawer we had - nothing. The odor seemed stronger in the center of the coach in the kitchen area. I started checking again and finally noticed a control button on the stove slightly open. I realized it was gas I smelled and not a mouse. I don't know how close it came to reaching the explosive point, but it had been on at least one full day. I shudder to think about my 3 year old inside that thing and what would have happened had a spark got to it.
From now on I must double check myself on everything. Just the hand of the Lord looking after us I guess.
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05-12-2011, 09:06 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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You should also replace your propane detector (or install one if you don't have one)!
Thank God everyone was safe.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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05-12-2011, 09:09 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 35
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one blessing
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05-12-2011, 09:39 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,589
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And a pat on the back to you doc for having the tenacity to pursue something you knew wasn't right.
__________________
2007 Newmar DSDP 4023
Discovery is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.
If you want to see what man made go East; if you want to see what God made go West.
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05-12-2011, 10:28 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dixie !! (north Georgia) USA
Posts: 4,110
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You know, I had not even thought about the propane detector. I am pretty sure this thing ought to have one. It is an 08 we bought new. Gotta check that ASAP. Would it be close to the floor or on the wall?
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05-12-2011, 10:32 AM
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#6
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Community Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,379
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doc
You know, I had not even thought about the propane detector. I am pretty sure this thing ought to have one. It is an 08 we bought new. Gotta check that ASAP. Would it be close to the floor or on the wall?
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Mine is on the kitchen cabinet near the floor. Propane is heavier than air and therefore will seep towards the floor.
__________________
Cliff,Tallulah and Buddy ( 1999-2012 )
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05-12-2011, 10:34 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 860
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Did you have any roof vents open for the gas to vent out. Or the leak was so slight the detector couldn't smell it.
__________________
Mike, Janet & Duchess (cavalier King Charles)
2008 35B windsport, Brazel's rear TracBar, Koni shocks & Safe T plus steering
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05-12-2011, 10:42 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 933
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Wow, another thing you would never think about until someone points it out. I have a detector but I also smoke and I sometimes go into the coach to check on things with a cig. lit. Not anymore.... You are one lucky person. Someone is looking out for you!
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05-12-2011, 10:52 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Nor'easters Club
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Mid-Hudson Valley NY, USA
Posts: 1,332
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Holy cow!! I'm not sure why the propane wasn't turned off at the tank (maybe you had just turned it on to check it). Mikron: roof vents wouldn't help because as was stated before, propane gas is heavier than air and will lay on the floor. Doc, were your house batteries drained? The presence of the gas could've caused the alarm to go off while you were gone and killed the house batteries......Wow...just when you think everything is going ok......
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Ron & Kathy
2020 Newmar London Aire 4569
2019 Ford F150 Limited 450hp
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05-12-2011, 01:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,754
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clifftall
Mine is on the kitchen cabinet near the floor. Propane is heavier than air and therefore will seep towards the floor.
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Mine is in the same place at the base of the sink.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
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05-12-2011, 04:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Was helping locate a water leak for a fellow camper, Went back to check on if she'd gotten it fixed (We found it) and she tole me she had a propane smell so she'd turned her gas off.
Except she did not know that valve is left handed so she'd really turned it on.
I checked for the leak.. First place I looked I saw
OFF, OFF, LOW, OFF
I guess you know the leak was easy to fix
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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05-12-2011, 07:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dixie !! (north Georgia) USA
Posts: 4,110
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Went back to the coach to check. There is a detector there. It says it will not work if the batteries are turned off. But, they were on! The little light was blinking like it usually does. I had turned the gas on to purge any air in the line going to the refrigerator. I had the stove eye burning and I recall turning it off, but how it got back on - don't know. The valve on the tank is electric and it will not open if the batteries are off. I think my next step is to take my propane torch and use it as a source to see it the detector is working or what ever. I realize that I am one lucky fellow. I am so thankful that my grandaughter is OK. Thanks guys for all the good words and advice. You can bet I wil be double cautious from now own! THanks again.
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05-12-2011, 08:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 521
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doc
You can bet I wil be double cautious from now own! THanks again.
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Yep, and thank you for taking the time to post this. Sometimes threads like this stick in the back of our minds, and come to the forefront the minute something doesn't seem right. Who knows, this may save someone else a lot of suffering, or a grandchild...
__________________
2011 Winnebago Vista 30W
Duane, Precy, 11 year old son Matt, and Abby, the spoiled rotten Eskie.
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05-13-2011, 04:21 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 180
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A Bic lighter can be used to test your propane detector. Just don't light the flame.
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