Electrical to Propane RV Fire

[Donna D.]

Interesting. I've never switched over... but, based on this I might have a fire extinguisher real handy. There's really not enough meat in the story to say precisely why it happened...

Woman, 86, rescued from Vancouver RV fire

Y'all stay safe!

[Greg H]

Well I was going to say she was old, but now I suspect faulty fridge. Anyway we had a old lady out here in the desert that almost blew up because she tried to light a cigarette with the stove in her fifth wheel, it didn't light but the gas filled the rv and she was loopy when the nurse from Nurses Unlimited arrived for her visit. All is well but the lady now resides in an adult care facility.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Interesting. I've never switched over... but, based on this I might have a fire extinguisher real handy. There's really not enough meat in the story to say precisely why it happened...

Woman, 86, rescued from Vancouver RV fire

Y'all stay safe!

If you haven't used your refrigerator on propane for some time spiders will build a nest in the flame orifice blocking it. Propane will then come out where the air is mixed in and burn at that point. If the propane doesn't ignite right away it could build up and go boom. If it does light but burning in the wrong place things that aren't supposed to burn will catch on fire.

I suspect that she kept trying to light it with a spider's nest in the way.

My experience -- when left last Jan for our winter trip I couldn't get the refrigerator to run on propane. Mine requires a manual lighting outside. I noticed that flame was coming form the mixing port and not the burner. Some $85.00 later the tech at Camping World in Henderson, NV removed the spider's nest.

The same thing happens with your propane bar-b-q grill.

[Carol H]

Byron would poking a pipe cleaner into all the openings before using have helped at all with your problem? Just wondering what the best way is to avoid the problem. ;-)

[Alf S.]

Hi: All... Poss. a vaccuum cleaner to the exterior pipes behind the fridge to keep it clean and dust/rust and spider free??? Also it doesn't hurt to start the fridge on propane every once in a while...but keep an eye on it at all times!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Carol H

Byron would poking a pipe cleaner into all the openings before using have helped at all with your problem? Just wondering what the best way is to avoid the problem. ;-)

The burner is hard to get to. Poking anything in the burner or gas port will damage the orifices. Then they would have to be replaced. You can do yourself by removing some of the shields and using a long reach air nozzle. I chose to spend the money to let somebody that's been in there do it.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Alf S.

Hi: All... Poss. a vaccuum cleaner to the exterior pipes behind the fridge to keep it clean and dust/rust and spider free??? Also it doesn't hurt to start the fridge on propane every once in a while...but keep an eye on it at all times!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

Two things I've found that help reduce spider nests in the burner is spider spray every month and keeping the fridge running all the time. I keep it running electricity when at home. Last fall I thought I had the refrigerator running electricity and discovered I didn't flip the switch when I pulled it out to leave. It's running now and about time repray for spiders.
You can't get to the burner area with a vacuum cleaner. It's when they get into the burner that the problems begin. Spider webs in the exhaust area will inhibit are flow also.

[Rob and Linda]

Would an air compressor with a nozzle be useful in keeping the burner clean?

[Bill K]

Air will not normally remove spider webs.

Bill K

Originally Posted by Rob and Linda

Would an air compressor with a nozzle be useful in keeping the burner clean?

[Greg H]

No but it will piss the spider off, I've got a Black Widow living under my curbside wheel well.

[Bill K]

Better you than me. Good luck !!!

Bill K

Originally Posted by Greg H

No but it will piss the spider off, I've got a Black Widow living under my curbside wheel well.

[Greg H]

I saw her last night, I'll get her tonight.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Two things I've found that help reduce spider nests in the burner is spider spray every month and keeping the fridge running all the time. I keep it running electricity when at home.

Byron how does that work - in so far as keeping spiders out of the gas section? Also if your running your fridge all the time will that not have a serious negitive impact on your battery. I know your running it on electricity but is the fridge not actually running off the battery and the electricty just keeping the battery charged up - or does it depend on how your system is set up?