Propane problems in RV! Does anybody have any ideas?

[Bearkat]

Got to my rv last Friday night and turned everything on including the heater and everything worked great. Saturday night I fixed supper on the stove turned on hot water heater and had hot water. I later noticed it was getting cooler in the trailer, so I placed my hand over the vent and it was blowing cold air. I went outside and the outside exhaust was blowing cold also. Both bottles are full and the indicator was showing green. I cut the heater off and restarted it. It would ignite and then go out and start blowing cold. I could hear it clicking trying to ignite but couldn't. Had my dad watched the propane indicator and it would turn red every time I would cycle the heater. After the initial light and it goes out, the indicator turns back green. Also, noticed that the stove burner would only burn at about 1/4-1/2 it's normal height when nothing else is on. I switch bottles with the valve, I switched bottles to the opposite hose, wiggled the valve, hammered the regulator, etc. and nothing fixed it. Everything worked the night before.

It seems to me that it is just not getting enough gas either from the bottles, regulator or valve. I could never get gas from the bottle on the left hose. I have had trouble before with the built in valves in bottles on my grill, but both bottles are doing the same thing. It does not seem to be a heater problem because it is doing everything it is suppose to. And with the stove not burning correctly it seems to have to be in the propane system.

Anybody have any ideas or have the happen to you? Any testing ideas? Can the valve and/or regulator go bad?

[Swooshski]

I've seen bad gas cause these types of symptoms. The problem is that the gas is too 'wet' and contains contaminates that over time will eventually clog the line/orifices in the different applicances. I'd pick the easiest device to get to, clean it, and see if it makes a difference before I started spending money on RV parts.

Also, I'd try a completely different bottle that you know has a good valve on it.

[cjkozik]

On the heater, if you haven't done so yet, try blowing the vent tube out, sometimes you can get a spider web in there and it will not ignite the heater..

[RatherBhuntin]

I had a similar issue with the stove was working fine then the next day only getting a partial flame. I did not try the heater at the time because it was warm out. Changed out the regulator and that solved the issue.

[Philip-TX]

I've had dirt dabbers cause problems before by setting up residence in the burn tube.
Causing the heater to shut off.

Actually did it two years ago so I got one of the little screen covers. But it happened again this year. Just pulled the heater out this weekend to fix it again.



If other appliances are effected it is probably the regulator, though.

[Bearkat]

Thanks for the ideas. It will give me a place to start looking. Right now I am thinking regulator or the valve. I brought the whole assembly home so I can tear it apart and try to test it. It will have to be after next week because I leave Friday for 8 day hunt in Kansas!

[txdukklr]

I've had that happen a couple of times and mice nests or dirt dobbers were the culprit.

I think the heater has a feature that will kill the gas if it can't safely ignite it . . . . . but the blower continues blowing.

[Todd-ty729]

I had a similar issue with the stove was working fine then the next day only getting a partial flame. I did not try the heater at the time because it was warm out. Changed out the regulator and that solved the issue.

This is more likely the issue!

Since the stove is also acting funny I would not be ready to blame it on the furnace unit yet.

Try replacing the regulator assembly dealio at the 2 tanks and see how everything works.



Also make dang sure you have gas in your tanks. Sometimes they may feel like they have gas in them but actually be empty.

[coker737]

Question
Does the furnace take more gas that say the stove or the Water heater?

This sounds like what I have but I pointed to the Furnace as guilty your honor.