Gas smell from refrigerator

[gjmaker95]

Whenever we run the refrigerator on gas mode, a strong odor from the exhaust of the burning propane permeates the camper. Obviously this is not ideal. The fridge works great, and the smell is reduced by about half when I remove the upper vent/access panel on the outside of the camper, but is still noticeable even with the camper windows open. Everything inside the access panel looks good, no loose connections that I can see. The smell in the cabin is most pronounced around the three cover plates installed in the upper portion of the fridge cabinet next to the couch.

Has anyone else ever had a problem like this? What do you suggest as to possible solutions? Thanks in advance.

[tentcamper]

The smell you notice is burnt propane or raw un burnt propane??

Strange you are getting that much smell from the refrig on propane. Even on high the flame is not much bigger than the pilot light in the average oven. I’d check the burner flue / exhaust? what ever it’s called, and see if it may be blocked with debris or a dead critter. Use compressed air to clean it out. Using the refrig. fan should keep the odor from entering the TM. No matter, I would not use it again until I found out what the problem was and had it fixed.

[gjmaker95]

Originally Posted by tentcamper

The smell you notice is burnt propane or raw un burnt propane??

It definitely smells like exhaust.

[gjmaker95]

Originally Posted by Digger

Strange you are getting that much smell from the refrig on propane. Even on high the flame is not much bigger than the pilot light in the average oven. I’d check the burner flue / exhaust? what ever it’s called, and see if it may be blocked with debris or a dead critter. Use compressed air to clean it out. Using the refrig. fan should keep the odor from entering the TM. No matter, I would not use it again until I found out what the problem was and had it fixed.

I agree I shouldn't use it before fixing this issue. I'll double check the exhaust and give it a blow out with the compressor. I also thought about trying to seal up the outlet plates described above, as well as the compartment that separates the fridge box from the outside facing components. Maybe with some non-expanding spray foam...thoughts?

[tentcamper]

It sounds like there is a path into the camper for the exhaust. I would open both vents and stuff fiber glass insulation around the fridge and the side wall and counter. Maybe when someone added the radio or worked on the fridge they knocked the insulation out of place or remove the board.

On my unit I have piece of thin plywood that mounts from the fridge to the bottom of the counter where there is a board on the underside of counter. My board was missing a screw and the DW felt the counter was warm. I tighten up the board and all well now.

Propane combustion should have very little odor, assuming the air/fuel ratio is normal.

If you are seeing soot, the burner orifice might be plugged. I had a bad gas solenoid that caused soot. It will cause some odor as well.

Check the exhaust stack, using a mirror if necessary. Insects can build nests and block the stack. (Already mentioned in a previous post)

The smell concerns me, so I would also check that there are no loose wires in contact with any hot parts. Scorched insulation will create an odor.

Adding foam to stop a problem you haven't solved yet doesn't strike me as a good idea.

[Bill]

To follow up on Mr P's response, I agree that a properly-burning propane flame should make virtually no detectable exhaust smell. This makes me think that the flame may be misadjusted. A flame that is running too rich (too much propane for the amount of air available) will stink, and will make soot (as Mr P observed). It will also have a distinct yellow color, as opposed to the pure blue of a properly-burning flame.

After you have done the cleaning suggested by others - and you should start there - take a look at the flame. If it is yellow, get out the manual for the refrig. Look for the section on recognizing a proper flame, and adjusting the propane-air mixture to get the proper flame. The adjustment is simple.

Bill

[tentcamper]

Bottom line you should not be smelling any exhaust inside the camper, it should be venting outside through the vents. You have a leak into the camper or a venting issue.

You may also have a frige burner issue or dirty flue, but that's a secondary issue. The bad gases "CO & HC" should be vented outside.

[gjmaker95]

First off, thanks a million for all of your responses. On closer inspection, I discovered the exhaust pipe coming up from the combustion chamber. It is partially hidden by a black pipe rising from the combustion chamber. Turns out that some of the fiberglass insulation was touching the top of the exhaust pipe and the paper facing of the insulation was scorched. I moved that insulation against the wall of the compartment, started up the fridge and let it run for an hour with the windows in the camper closed. No detectable odor in the camper, but when I sniffed carefully at the outlet plate mounted in the fridge cabinet next to the couch I could still smell exhaust. Next job is to check and make sure there's no path to the inside for the exhaust to move, plus check the flame to be sure it's true blue and not running rich. I'll let y'all know what I find out.