Dirty Gas

[Jon Stewart]

No I haven't got a CO alarm the hob is only used to boil the kettle and one pan cooking, we always open the window or roof light.

What about your fridge and heating system?

 

[Pausim]

Gas detectors detect combustible gases. If you have one you need to make sure it detects the type of combustible gas you are trying to protect yourself from. They do not detect carbon monoxide.

CO alarms detect carbon monoxide which is not a combustible gas and therefore will not be detected by a gas detector. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion where the lack of oxygen in the air/fuel mix means there is not enough O to make the usual CO2 and CO is formed instead. CO is highly poisonous, invisible and does not smell. It has been known to kill people sleeping in tents and awnings. My advice is think how much less draughty a motorhome is than a tent or an awning before deciding whether you need a CO alarm.

 

[Reallyretired]

I had a gas alarm in my last van. A flatulent dog set it off. SWMBO is very sensitive to the smell of gas so I haven't bothered in the current van, however I have a CO detector, a smoke detector and a heat detector in the kitchen area.
SWMBO regularly tests the smoke alarm when frying.

 

[Minxy]

One of our hob supports get very black. I think it’s because the frying pan is just a bit too wide, so restricts air. Works ok.

That won't help but part of the reason is that there will be miniscule particles of fat/oil etc going over the edge of the pan onto the supports themselves and being 'burnt' thus causing the blackening, we get the same thing at home.

The bottom of the kettle does get a slight yellow deposit when you wipe it but no black. The sooty black deposit is only on the ends of the hob supports. It only becomes apparent when either is wiped.

As above, they are the parts of the supports that are most exposed to the particles coming out of the pans, you rarely get this on the centre of the supports as they are covered by the pans.

 

[manners]

To put the risk in perspective there was 53 deaths last year attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales the van has forced ventilation and the appliances designed to be used without killing the occupants.

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[meanders]

To put the risk in perspective there was 53 deaths last year attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales the van has forced ventilation and the appliances designed to be used without killing the occupants.

And how many of those 53 would be alive today but for someone spending around £20 -30 every 3-4 years?

Why wouldn't you. I have one in the van and two at home in the kitchen and the room with la og burner.

 

[Pausim]

To put the risk in perspective there was 53 deaths last year attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales the van has forced ventilation and the appliances designed to be used without killing the occupants.

The 53 are just the ones who died. What about the long term damage it can cause which includes neurological and psychiatric disorders including memory loss, cognitive impairment, emotional changes, and movement disorders. Bear in mind that without a detector you may never know you are being poisoned or what has caused your problems.

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

That won't help but part of the reason is that there will be miniscule particles of fat/oil etc going over the edge of the pan onto the supports themselves and being 'burnt' thus causing the blackening, we get the same thing at home.

I'm intrigued because whilst we get a yellowing, visible on the underside of saucepans, all our frying is done on the induction hob. (Easier to keep clean).

All saucepans used on the gas hob are boiling peas or potatoes or poaching eggs.

I can think of no way, other than dirty or improper combustion, for them to go yellow. Yet, we have it 'serviced' every 6 months by a gas guy and the flames are lovely and blue.

 

[Basildog]

To put the risk in perspective there was 53 deaths last year attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales the van has forced ventilation and the appliances designed to be used without killing the occupants.

Forced ventilation in a Motorhome ?

Google Search

 

[manners]

Forced ventilation in a Motorhome ?

Google Search

My bad I meant permanent ventilation, but thanks for not sharing your vast professional knowledge and instead joining in with the passive aggressive bullying that this thread seems to of ignited.

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[Markman]

My bad I meant permanent ventilation, but thanks for not sharing your vast professional knowledge and instead joining in with the passive aggressive bullying that this thread seems to of ignited.

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It isn't meant to be bullying. It's just that we cannot understand your reluctance to spend £20 or so, on a CO detector to reduce (fully agree) small risk of illness or death to even smaller risk. You wear a seat belt, I presume, to reduce the small risk injury in a crash to an even smaller risk of injury in a crash. Why not follow the same logic with a CO detector?