A Few Simple Tips Will Keep Your LP Experience a Safe One

Propane (LP) gas has been the RVers friend for decades. Heating water and interiors, cooking food, and operating generators, what would we do without the stuff. But like a lot of things, LP makes a much better servant than a master. ‘Let the genie out of the bottle,’ as they say, and that colorless stuff can really bring you to grief.

For old hands, these may seem like old news, but it’s never too much to make a quick review of a few LP safety tips.

First, get an LP detector. Most–if not all–new RVs come with an LP detector, mounted near floor level, as LP being heavier than air, sinks to floor level. Don’t disconnect it, and if you hear it, don’t disregard it. Get thee out of the rig fast, and don’t flip light switches or try and make a call on your ‘celli’ on the way.

Next, just in case your LP detector conks, know the good old, rotten eggs odor that comes from leaky LP. If you smell it, don’t wait around, get out of the rig and get help.

Keep in circulation: While it’s always smart to run the range hood when cooking, cracking a window helps too. That’s especially true when operating a non-vented LP heater, like a catalytic heater. While the propane end of the system may be safe, non-vented heaters burn oxygen–and too tight an RV can lead to you not having enough 0-2 for yourself. And as your mommy might have told you, don’t heat your RV with stove top burners, nor prop open the oven door for a little warmth.

Don’t bring the ‘barbee” inside to cook. Propane fired grills are designed to be used outside the RV–not in. Leave the propane containers outside. An LP cylinder can leak, and in the right proportion with oxygen, LP still goes boom.

Have your rig checked by a competent RV technician if you have any qualms about your rig’s LP system. Up north in British Columbia, the government mandates an inspection of all RVs prior to sale, confirming the LP system meets safety standards. A blue decal confirms the inspection, and a renewal of the decal is called for every two years.

When fueling (either the LP containers or motor fuel) make sure the LP system is shut off. Don’t just “shut off” the tanks, also switch off any non-pilot light LP using device–refrigerators and hot water heaters can use an ignitor system that operates with an electric spark. Gasoline or LP fumes coming into the presence of a working ignitor can also cause issues–some requiring the services of a mortician.

It’s wise to check the LP cylinder connection after refueling, particularly on older truck campers. Many of the existing LP cylinders on truck campers are of the old-style POL valve. For some reason they are really fussy about being tightened securely. Yes, soap and water bubble solutions will show you if you have a leak at the connection, but it’s cleaner and easier to use a propane sniffer. Click this link to check out our story on one such detector you can buy.