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Topic: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector (Read 1823 times) previous topic - next topic
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Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
I officially "Summer-ized" Ophelia now that the weather is improving. When I took her to Wyoming for Easter I kept her water systems "Winterized" 
I turned on my hot water heater to make sure it was working properly and was outside my rig cleaning up my mess. When I went back inside the Carbon Monoxide detector was going off! I quicky turned off the hot water heater and turned the fans to air her out.
Tired 2 other times with same thing happening!
There is a smell I can't describe (according to my "other-half" I have a bionic nose) that comes on rather quickly and is actually strongest in the bathroom!
Help!
Juanita
Ps.
Possible blockage maybe? There was no soot before I tired to light it!
Juanita's Thoughts
2005 30' TB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #1 –
Are you sure there is water in the heater? You said it was winterized...

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #2 –
Many other agents besides Propane will trigger your alarm. Things like Hair Spray, deodorants, etc. Take a look in the bath for a leaking aerosol can... or a sniff!   ;D 
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Steve  - 
Are you sure there is water in the heater? You said it was winterized...

Steve
Yes, I flushed it out good after I got all the antifreeze out of the lines. Added pictures to post.
Juanita's Thoughts
2005 30' TB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Lazy Bones  - 
Many other agents besides Propane will trigger your alarm. Things like Hair Spray, deodorants, etc. Take a look in the bath for a leaking aerosol can... or a sniff!   ;D 

I did a clean sweep just to make sure. Nothing in there to cause it.
Juanita's Thoughts
2005 30' TB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #5 –
Just a thought, what does the flame look like on the water heater? Is it a lazy yellow like a camp fire or a nice blue with only an occasional yellow tip on the end of the blue flames? A lazy yellow indicates an air problem with discoloration on the exhaust of the water heater. Is there a door or window open in the area of the WH exhaust with an interior exhaust fan running? Carbon monoxide dectors have a life span too.

Sorry, I completely missed your pictures. Maybe gas pressure issues or the air is closed down to much. Funny it would change all of a sudden. Gas pressure?

Jon
1994 MB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #6 –
Quote from: JonS  - 
Just a thought, what does the flame look like on the water heater? Is it a lazy yellow like a camp fire or a nice blue with only an occasional yellow tip on the end of the blue flames? A lazy yellow indicates an air problem with discoloration on the exhaust of the water heater. Is there a door or window open in the area of the WH exhaust with an interior exhaust fan running? Carbon monoxide dectors have a life span too.

Sorry, I completely missed your pictures.

Jon
I will check in my records book to see when detector was purchased. I will also enlist my (other-half) to help me check out the flame as well. I am thinking trouble shooting is gonna be a two person job! Lol
Juanita's Thoughts
2005 30' TB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #7 –
Your water hater's exhaust is very black, inidcating the frame is running rich. It may be something from the past but who knows, I would chech and adjust the flame air/fuel adjustment for proper color and sound. Are you leaving the door or window open, near the water heater?
Do you know how old the Carbon Monoxide detector is?
They have a life of about five years before either they stop working or start having false alarms, due to the sensor getting dirty.
Ours recently starting alarming over nothing, repacing it cured the issue.
Remove the detector and look at the rear of it, it should have a manufactured date.

If the detector is OK, there's a good chance the water heater has burned through its heat exchanger or burner area and is dumping carbon monoxide into the interior.
When in normal operating condition, air is drawn in from the outside, burned with gas and expelled back outside, it's a sealed sysem.
Water heater burn-thoughs are uncommon but in a 15 year old rig, nothing is should be unexpected.
It may be time to see the RV tech.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #8 –
Hi Juanita. The soot just formed, and the CO alarm just goes off just when you tried to light the water heater. That sounds like a mis adjusted or partially plugged air adjustment on the burner flame.  I'm including a picture of my water heater.  The silver pipe with slots in it, at the bottom of the picture, allows air into the pipe, to mix with the jet of propane being emitted from the orifice just inside the pipe near those slots. The propane enters with enough force to cause turbulence, to mix with the air, come out of the burner tube where the igniter is.  Not enough air leaves too much propane unburned, and results in soot coming out of that screen.  There is a screw holding the slotted pipe in place in a slot. That allows you to slide the pipe in and out to adjust for high altitude. Thinner air, needs more air. Less at sea level.  You didn't say what altitude you are at, but I've been up to 7000 feet and didn't need to adjust the flame. (I've been higher, but not camped).
     More likely is something has gotten into that pipe and partly plugged it up, or the pipe shifted. Usually there are marks in the aluminum pipe where the screw digs in, to show where it may have moved.  Less likely there may be too much propane, if your regulator isn't working correctly.  A properly adjusted flame sounds like a miniature jet engine, actually louder than you would expect. Inside my TK, I can hear the flame light off from inside. A 'rushing' sound. Check a burner on your stovetop, to see if the flame is correct.
     Run the hot water at your sink, to make sure there is only the proper air cushion in the tank. It is probably good.
     Leave the WH door open and light it. Bright sunlight makes it hard to see the flame. As others have said, it should be mostly clear, a light blue, fairly large and with yellow tips.   I suspect some obstruction in the air mixing area, or pipe running up to the spark igniter. It might be burned up by now, but residue will mess it up.   That smell hopefully isn't your wiring!
     Let us know, RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #9 –
Update!
Took it apart where the gas goes into the igniter and cleaned out what appeared to be the remains of a spider and it's nest.
And also adjusted the airflow for Colorado, previous owner lived in Washington state.
Thankfully it now has the familiar jet sound that my travel trailer hot water heater has! And no more tripping the detector!

Thank you, EVERYONE, for once again coming to my rescue and saving me some "greenbacks" for more road trip fuel!
Juanita
Juanita's Thoughts
2005 30' TB
Re: Hot water heater setting off Carbon Monoxide Detector
Reply #10 –
Check the stove burners and see if they seem like they are burning high enough and blue. If your regulator pressure was too low then your air mixtures would be off to. Funny it happened all of a sudden. A spider web inside that burner tube could cause problems too.

Great, you beat me to it...

Jon
1994 MB