How to Troubleshoot Propane in a Motorhome

Your motor home relies on propane to provide the gas needed to run the stove and in some cases the fridge when you are not plugged into an electrical outlet. A faulty propane system could, at best, cause you to run out of propane before you actually use it and, at worst, could fill your motor home with explosive gases. Before heading out on any trip, you should troubleshoot the propane system to ensure it is in good working condition.

Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect the physical appearance of the tank and regulator, looking for any potential cracks or other signs that they should be replaced. Apply leak test liquid to the regulator valve and where it connects to the tank with a brush and look for any bubbles that would indicate that there is slow leak.

    • 2

      Turn the propane stove on in the motor home precisely following the lighting instructions and make sure both burners are working at the same capacity and that there is no additional smell of propane in the motor home. If one burner appears to have a smaller flame at the same setting, turn both burners off, allow them to cool and then remove the burners and inspect the gas line for any possible obstructions. With the burners removed, inspect as much of the visible gas line as possible for signs of cracks.

    • 3

      Test the propane gas detectors in your motor home. The detectors are usually found near the floor mounted on a wall. Observe the detector to see that there is power going to the detector. If the detector is powered by the RV, test the detector by pressing the "Test" button. If the detector is powered by its own battery, remove and test the battery, replacing it if it is low. This should be done at the start of every camping season.