Furnace Cut off. Propane smell detected.

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

I wanted to do some measuring today. I walked out to the camper, turned on cylinder #1 ( I had not checked its level) then fired up the furnace. I heard it kick on, then went on my way to an appointment. I came back to find nothing running. I opened the camper door, walked in and could detect the smell of propane. I immediately exited and shut off the tank. My propane sensor is showing tank #1 to be 25% (or less as it is either low or the signal is bad.) and I did not open the valve of the 2nd tank, because I thought I had enough propane to run the furnace for a bit from tank #1. Is it typical to get a bit of propane smell if the furnace cuts out due to lack of propane?

 

[craigav]

I have never smelled a propane odor due to a lack of propane. However, I suspect it is very possible to have such an odor occur as the furnace leverages the heat from the flame to create a flow of exhaust and if the flame got smaller and smaller (lower on propane) then the exhaust may not have been flowing as it should have and certainly could cause an odor that would not normally be smelled.

One other thought to add, there should be a combination Propane leak \ Carbon Monoxide detector low on one of the interior walls of your RV and if there was any raw propane then the alarm should sound loudly. I haven't looked at mine lately but I believe there is a little light on it to show it is on. (I said "raw" to distinguish the difference between unburned propane and the burned propane exhaust, only unburned propane should trigger the alarm).

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

I let it sit for an hour, door open. I went out and opened the second tank and the heat kicked on. It appears to be working fine. I'd say residual smell, in the idea you're using propane, so chances are you'll smell it a bit? There weren't any alarms sounding. I didn't know, my CO2 detector is also a propane detector?

On another note. It was nice to be inside, visiting the camper. Today, in the shadows, the wind chill is -7, here in CT. We have been so spoiled over the past few winers. This year so far, February is like torture. I needed to get inside to look for something and because it is so cold, I was like, 'No way I'm spending any time in there without some sort of heat.'

April can't come soon enough.

 

[Velz]

How cold was it outside?

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

How cold was it outside?

22 degrees F with a wicked whipping wind, making if feel like 7

 

[Velz]

Regardless of volume left in the tank, propane won't flow well enough to remain ignited at those low temps, but a small amount of un-ignited propane will still be "dribbling" through the line. (Although I would think a trailer heater would have some sort of pressure check valve to prevent that. Perhaps more informed minds can comment.)

Our home stove top is propane. We experience the same phenomenon below freezing, but of course we turn the burner off and get out the electric fry pan.

 

[JudyK-JAY22rb]

Regardless of volume left in the tank, propane won't flow well enough to remain ignited at those low temps, but a small amount of un-ignited propane will still be "dribbling" through the line. (Although I would think a trailer heater would have some sort of pressure check valve to prevent that. Perhaps more informed minds can comment.)

Our home stove top is propane. We experience the same phenomenon below freezing, but of course we turn the burner off and get out the electric fry pan.

Okay, now your explanation makes sense. I use gas in my home, but it’s natural gas, not propane. Thank you for replying.