I don't use my trailer very much in the winter, but a few days ago when I did, the heater was putting off a smell I'm sure was caused by plugged vent. It even set the gas monitor off one time. I turned it off and used an electric heater to take the chill off. Needless to say, at 17* and windy, it got pretty cool in there.

I have a cover over the outside vent, but I'm sure dirt dobbers or wasps made their way in there. Before I start tearing it apart, what am I getting in to? Can the vent be cleaned from the outside or will I have to try and get to the burner box on the inside?

Thanks,

 

Could be mud daubers from outside or a rat's nest from inside, Charlie... either way, you should be able to clear it easily enough (except for this nasty weather!).

 

Haven't seen any signs of rodents on the inside, so I'm betting dobbers. It's suppose to be around 70* this weekend, so maybe I'll have a chance to look at it.

 

I went to camping world and got some screens for all my external vents. Very easy to install with hooks and it will kepp them all out. Maybe you could install these after you get all cleaned out..

 

A RV heater is a sealed combustion chamber with intake & exhaust vents to the exterior. A plugged vent should trip overheat sensors in the furnace. If your gas detector is going off, I would look for other problems.

Internal smell is usually from inernal problems. Don't you have pets? They and humans deposit a lot of hair that finds the way to the heater.

 

Thanks for the insight on the system. I guess the intake is the opening on the side of the trailer and the exhaust must be on top. I'll check them out this weekend.

I'm the only pet that uses the trailer. 99% of the time, I'm the only one in there. The trailer is a 26 ft, and the smell comes from the bedroom, which is in the back, separated by the bathroom and lavatory. At least that's where the smell is strongest.

 

OK, here's what I found....or didn't find. The exhaust vent on the side was blowing strong and the air was hot. I ran a piece of baling wire up the vent for a couple of feet and nothing was blocking it. I forgot that I had taken my ladder to my daughter, so I couldn't check the top vent.

Just for kicks, I switched propane bottles. After it ran for a few minutes, the smell was 99% gone......? Can propane go bad? I don't remember which one, but I know one of the bottles is at least two years old.

 

if the propane bottle is low(just about empty)they will vent off a little and give you a propane odor and set off the sensor.
Clark

 

Must be what happened. Thanks...........

 

Where is your regulator? They will burp a bit with lower tank pressure and the mercapton always seems to smell worse on the bottom of the tank.

My truck camper has a tank compartment and I started smelling gas last fall. Found out someone use silicone to seal around the gas lines and it pilled away from the opening. I picked up a roll of butyl tape to seal it properly, but the temps dropped before I got to it.

edit: Finish post before pushing send

 

The tanks are on the outside and on the opposite end of where the smell was strongest. I guess, maybe it was the low tank with old gas.