Suburban gas hot water heaters - serious

Mike Harding · Guru

Suburban gas hot water heaters - serious

shanem · Veteran Member

thanks Mike.

Phillipn · Guru

Question, Why don`t gas stoves in caravans create the same issue? They burn the same gas.

Possum3 · Guru

Phillipn wrote:
Question, Why don`t gas stoves in caravans create the same issue? They burn the same gas.

The problem detected in the Suburban units is that the flue duct doesn't effectively remove noxious gasses produced. Note all gas appliances in caravans (or homes for that matter) must only be used with adequate ventilation. Strongly suggest that all caravans be fitted with a carbon monoxide detector and alarm, note that is additional to smoke alarm (which won't detect Carbon Monoxide).

Phillipn · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Phillipn wrote:
Question, Why don`t gas stoves in caravans create the same issue? They burn the same gas.
The problem detected in the Suburban units is that the flue duct doesn't effectively remove noxious gasses produced. Note all gas appliances in caravans (or homes for that matter) must only be used with adequate ventilation. Strongly suggest that all caravans be fitted with a carbon monoxide detector and alarm, note that is additional to smoke alarm (which won't detect Carbon Monoxide).

The Australian Gas Association [ AGA] are rather slow doing their tests to find the problem with the Suburban hot water systems. I have phoned them several times and the only answer I get is 'tests are being done".

I purchased a carbon monoxide detector and put it in the cabinet beside the hot water system and ran the system on gas. The detector went to 40 ppm and I turned it off. On searching the unit I found that the grommet through which the gas pipe goes to the hot water system had been "butchered" when the HWS was installed.

I sealed the grommet up with high temperature sealer and let it curer for a day or two. Then I started the system up on gas, the detector did not record any carbon monoxide, the water heated and the unit switched itself off as normal.

This has been repeated about 10 times with a second detector in the cabinet and their is no reading on either detector.

I sent an Email to AGA and told them and asked for some one to check my system, as expected they have not replied.

I know of a caravan with a Suburban hot water system that was fitted years before this problem was raised and the grommet has been "butchered", looks like the fitting on the gas pipe is put on the pipe prior to the pipe being put through the grommet.

Another earlier van that belongs to a friend has the gas pipe fitted properly. The grommet fits tight around the gas pipe.

I informed the people who installed my hot water system and told them what I did, they are conspicuous by their silence.

Phillipn · Guru

Phillipn wrote:
Possum3 wrote:
Phillipn wrote:
Question, Why don`t gas stoves in caravans create the same issue? They burn the same gas.
The problem detected in the Suburban units is that the flue duct doesn't effectively remove noxious gasses produced. Note all gas appliances in caravans (or homes for that matter) must only be used with adequate ventilation. Strongly suggest that all caravans be fitted with a carbon monoxide detector and alarm, note that is additional to smoke alarm (which won't detect Carbon Monoxide).
The Australian Gas Association [ AGA] are rather slow doing their tests to find the problem with the Suburban hot water systems. I have phoned them several times and the only answer I get is 'tests are being done".
I purchased a carbon monoxide detector and put it in the cabinet beside the hot water system and ran the system on gas. The detector went to 40 ppm and I turned it off. On searching the unit I found that the grommet through which the gas pipe goes to the hot water system had been "butchered" when the HWS was installed.
I sealed the grommet up with high temperature sealer and let it curer for a day or two. Then I started the system up on gas, the detector did not record any carbon monoxide, the water heated and the unit switched itself off as normal.
This has been repeated about 10 times with a second detector in the cabinet and their is no reading on either detector.
I sent an Email to AGA and told them and asked for some one to check my system, as expected they have not replied.
I know of a caravan with a Suburban hot water system that was fitted years before this problem was raised and the grommet has been "butchered", looks like the fitting on the gas pipe is put on the pipe prior to the pipe being put through the grommet.
Another earlier van that belongs to a friend has the gas pipe fitted properly. The grommet fits tight around the gas pipe.
I informed the people who installed my hot water system and told them what I did, they are conspicuous by their silence.

Page 4 from instruction manual, note reference to sealing of the grommet.