Gas smell in van

TopCat · Veteran Member

Gas smell in van

Bruce and Bev · Guru

It is likely you have a gas leak from your hot water system given the good description of the problem you have given.

I had the same problem and phoned up the importer (Swift). They posted me out all the parts (other than the water tank) straight away and said to take it into a gas plumber or a caravan repairer who will get a gas plumber who actually knows about RV gas systems.

My van is 19 months old, but is still covered by "implied" warranty under the various consumer protection laws and you will be told by the ACCC or your State consumer protection agency that the implied warranty for hot water systems is for about 3-5 years.

The problem is usually minor and can be anything from a spider web inside the gas jet causing the gas to not burn completely to a dirty jet and a few others as well.

By law you should only have it repaired by a gas plumber, but many handymen nomads will fix the problem themselves.

Tradies aren't cheap in north W.A, so make sure that if you use a gas fitter there, that he knows what he is doing and then set a price that you don't want to go over (which you can then discuss if he wants to charge more but guarantees he will fix it). Its unlikely that you will be able to source parts locally unless there is a caravan repairer in town and that he actually carries parts.

We had a problem with our water heater when the van was only 2 weeks old and we were in Exmouth. The van repairer there didn't have Swift parts but did have a big range of Truma (Jayco) ones - most of which are interchangeable. When he checked the unit out, it was poor installation by the 'van manufacturer, not the product. He fixed it (it wasn't gas related) and then charged Supreme

-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Saturday 2nd of July 2016 12:36:14 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I assume you have gas alarm ? Make sure vents are working . Go over gas joints with soapy water . A few drops of liquid detergent in half a cup of water and brush over joints or any suspect leak. Will show with bubbles .. Must say the gas bottles I bought in South WA did smell of gas when low also . Could just be the odour they add ?? Good luck .

Yuglamron · Guru

As Aus-Kiwi said check the joints and hoses with a weak soapy solution. Check the hose from the bottle as well. The interior lining of braided hoses can deteriorate and leak as well.

One of the few things you can change yourself is the hose. Double check the hose with soapy water as well if you do change it.

-- Edited by Yuglamron on Friday 1st of July 2016 10:46:20 PM

Desert Dweller · Senior Member

I'd be heading for a qualified gas fitter ASAP. Don't try fiddling yourself or it might be a case of BOOM or ZZZZ.

TAJ · Senior Member

TOPCAT do the SWIFT have a anoid if worn would give off a stink

TAJ

Bryan · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
I'd be heading for a qualified gas fitter ASAP. Don't try fiddling yourself or it might be a case of BOOM or ZZZZ.

Very definitely

GerryP · Veteran Member

Hi Topcat,

When you say The last 3 days we have noticed a smell coming from the van especially when we first open the van at our destination. It is bordering on rotten egg gas., does that mean you get the smell when you first open the van after travelling?

If so and assuming you don't travel with your gas bottles open (???), it's unlikely to be gas. The smell you get from batteries venting if overcharged is often likened to "rotten egg gas". Is there a chance your batteries are the problem?

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

^^ Yep good point ^^ Atleast check battery fuid level if lead /acid . Minor checking before running to experts .Or costs blows ya budget ..

kiwijims · Guru

There is one other possibility, Is your fridge working correctly ?

Leaking ammonia can also smell like rotten eggs.

K.J.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Or a cooking battery...

Cheers,
Peter

Raha · Veteran Member

We had the same problem a couple of years ago. We replaced the two gas bottles in case there was a leak and emptied every cupboard in the van in case there was a dead mouse. Eventually found out it was the batteries and as we have three, it was a very expensive exercise replacing three of them. No more smells. Problem solved!

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Replace batteries .. Then CHECK regulator !! Possibly over charging or on wrong setting ?? Either that or some one has eaten too many curried eggs and not owning up! Sometimes grey water can have sulphite smell too ? Notice it in water in West and artisan area up North .

elliemike · Guru

I posted this a few years ago 2011. If you suspect a gas leak doing this will verify it. If it is leaking somewhere, then you (or gas fitter) will need to find the leak.

(From 2011 post Simple Gas Test)

The suspected gas bottle explosion that killed a father and his kids at Timbertops Caravan Park in Mandurah, W.A. had me thinking yesterday.

Just a few months ago I bought one of those "Gasfuse Safety Gauge's" that go on the gas bottle. Yesterday thinking about that incident, I tested the gas bottle valve to make sure they were off.

The Gasfuse gauge on the bottle reminded me of a simple test we used to carry out on gas lines we had just installed. This was in factories for boilers or gas fired process equipment/machinery. Usually 50 to 100 mm dia pipe. And is still used by plumbers for line testing.

We closed all the outlet on the system. Then filled the system with compressed air at a pressure of 35 Kpa (about 5 psi) monitored with a pressure gauge. Closed the compressed air inlet and left the system with pressure in it for a few hours, even overnight. If the pressure had hardly dropped we did not have to go looking for leaks, with soapy water and a brush. The gas inspector did the same test.

So yesterday I realised I could do this with the "Gasfuse Gauge".

To Test Your System

Ensure all your gas appliances are OFF. Fridge, cooker, heaters etc.

This means pilot flames off as well.

OPEN the gas bottle valve and activate the gasfuse, by pressing the gauge down once. This will pressurise the lines/system with gas, and the gauge needle will show the pressure in the yellow or green .

(Be a good thing to test every time a fresh bottle is put on, also after driving for hours over corrugated roads).

CLOSE the gas bottle valve, and observe the needle on the gauge for say two or three minutes.

If the pressure gauge needle drops you possibly might have a gas leak. Get a licenced gas fitter to look at it.

If it remains steady and hold pressure the system can be assumed to be secure.

I also checked the gauge after about an hour and it was still in the same place. But on such a small systems as caravans or motorhomes 2 or 3 minutes would give some indication.

You should get a yearly maintenance gas check done as well.

Regards

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Good idea Mike - though I think the first thing I would do is consult a gas plumber, or caravan repair mob - gas is not something to play around with!!!!

goldfinger · Senior Member

I can vouch from personal experience that leaking gas and pilot lights is a lethal combination... a brand new van, had done 200kms, reached Bordertown...the photos tell the rest....
I was on my ""honeymoon"" with a brand new spouse in 1984....our marriage has endured longer than that new Poptop...however took me quite a while to convince her to get a Headlines in the Border Cronicle Bordertwon S.A 001.jpg Caravan burnt at Bordertown S.A 002.jpg Nearly a Divorce followed the Honeymoon! 001.jpg van......Hoo Roo

kiwijims · Guru

It looks like the Young Couple weren't told the golden rule of caravanning......

NEVER TRAVEL WITH THE FRIDGE GOING ON GAS !!

Caravan burnt at Bordertown S_A 002.jpg

K.J.

elliemike · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Good idea Mike - though I think the first thing I would do is consult a gas plumber, or caravan repair mob - gas is not something to play around with!!!!

Jules I am not actually suggesting playing around with the system. Just verifying if there is a gas leak, then get a gas fitter involved. If they do the same test they may charge a $ +