Hab Check/Maintenance Needs Advice Please, for Refillable Gas System (Fridge & Water Heater)

[marchie]

We had a Gaslow Refillable LPG (2 x 11kg bottles) fitted 13 months ago at Auto Leisure in Thirsk. Works well, except for a 3-5 seconds delay with the fridge igniter clicking away, until the gas reaches the fridge. It sounds as air is trapped somewhere in the system, and I cannot clear it, even keeping the fridge turned off whilst I ignite all 3 hob burners for 20 to 30 seconds, checking that the hob burners are producing pure blue flames before I start the fridge

We have had 2 lengthy trips to France and Spain over the last 4 months (almost 150 days) and have been using lpg for fridge and cooking, plus occasional heating during this time. Truma say to have the gas system checked and cleaned 'more regularly' if the gas system is being used so often.

My questions are: 1. Will a hab check sort the problems out, or just point out the air blockage?
2. Would it be better to replace the Hab Check with a specific gas system check, including a trace of the apparent air pocket and clearance thereof, followed by a Truma system check and a removal of flue soot and debris well before the planned Winter trip to Spain and finding out on the first chilly night that the heating system needs attention!

3. Any other thoughts or interventions suggested? All advice appreciated!

Steve

 

[THULL]

We had a Gaslow Refillable LPG (2 x 11kg bottles) fitted 13 months ago at Auto Leisure in Thirsk. Works well, except for a 3-5 seconds delay with the fridge igniter clicking away, until the gas reaches the fridge. It sounds as air is trapped somewhere in the system, and I cannot clear it, even keeping the fridge turned off whilst I ignite all 3 hob burners for 20 to 30 seconds, checking that the hob burners are producing pure blue flames before I start the fridge

We have had 2 lengthy trips to France and Spain over the last 4 months (almost 150 days) and have been using lpg for fridge and cooking, plus occasional heating during this time. Truma say to have the gas system checked and cleaned 'more regularly' if the gas system is being used so often.

My questions are: 1. Will a hab check sort the problems out, or just point out the air blockage?
2. Would it be better to replace the Hab Check with a specific gas system check, including a trace of the apparent air pocket and clearance thereof, followed by a Truma system check and a removal of flue soot and debris well before the planned Winter trip to Spain and finding out on the first chilly night that the heating system needs attention!

3. Any other thoughts or interventions suggested? All advice appreciated!

Steve

Following you as we are thinking of having the Gaslow Refillable LPG (2x11kg bottles fitted to our unit awaiting delivery, and interested in the solution if this is a regular issue.. Can we ask approx cost for supplying and fitting at Auto Leisure ? is there an alternative system perhaps Thanks T

 

[dhall26]

Never had that problem. But when I fitted a new LPG tank I had ignition problems for some time because the LPG had been slightly 'diluted' by the air in the completely empty tank. So perhaps a top up may help.
Regarding the cleaning of fridge burner , this is quite simple to do by removing the lower outside and carefully with use of a soft brush and vacuum cleaner cleaning the burner . It's usually a small brass dome with holes or slots in it

 

[RoaminRog]

Do you have an external BBQ point Steve?

 

[nabsim]

Give Charlie a ring (Autogas Leisure) and see what he says Steve, you are probably passing them on your way home. Hab check does nothing it’s checks.

As someone who only uses gas to cook, why do you have to keep relighting the fridge?

 

[marchie]

Following you as we are thinking of having the Gaslow Refillable LPG (2x11kg bottles fitted to our unit awaiting delivery, and interested in the solution if this is a regular issue.. Can we ask approx cost for supplying and fitting at Auto Leisure ? is there an alternative system perhaps Thanks T

I paid £747.83 for the full installation plus a hose and connection to be able to use a non refillable bottle in an emergency (just shy of £20 iirc), a set of European adapters for France, Germany and Spain, and a carbon monoxide detector. The basic kit, excluding the extras mentioned was around £700 from memory

Since the installation, we have purchased around 140 litres of lpg at an average of about 70p per litre, total cost about £97 to date. Just before I had the refillable system fitted, I bought a 6Kg exchange bottle for £26.75 ...

Steve

 

[marchie]

Do you have an external BBQ point Steve?

No, Roger, just a hose that I can connect to an exchangeable pre filled Gas bottle

 

[marchie]

Give Charlie a ring (Autogas Leisure) and see what he says Steve, you are probably passing them on your way home. Hab check does nothing it’s checks.

As someone who only uses gas to cook, why do you have to keep relighting the fridge?

Thanks, Neil. The fridge switches to 12v when we're travelling, and it's on switchover to gas that the clicking for a few seconds occurs. I had it almost eliminated at one stage, but it's back to about 4 or 5 seconds each time it tries to fire up to lower the fridge temperature

Steve

 

[Costers]

We had ours done in May with 2 11kg bottles. Works fine. Not noticed any delay when anything starts up. Steve- if the fridge has always fired up after 4 to 5 seconds, is it a problem? It may just be a characteristic of the fridge.

 

[saxonborg]

If I haven’t used the van for some time it always takes a few attempts to get the fridge going, I usually light the cooker which is above the fridge to pull the gas through, I thought this was normal. I have a shut off valve close to the fridge which would probably prevent loss of gas and make ignition easier but I just persevere with the old method.

 

[Wrighpm]

I have a two bottle Gaslow system and do not have this issue. I doubt the Gaslow has anything to do with it.
On first ignition of our fridge (Dometic 3 way) after a period of shutdown (2 or more weeks) I occasionally have to cycle the fridge on/off twice for first ignition. (LED amber first then green second attempt). After this it lights and re-lights normally on gas I don't hear the ticking but think
Forget the hab check - remove the external vent panel, then the flame shield (if fitted), light the fridge and watch what happens at pilot.
The flame should be a decent bluish flame playing onto the flame detection probe.
If cleaning the probe and jet doesn't help, as suggested in an earlier post, get a technician to look at it.
(easier to see the flame in the shade or dark)
Good luck

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Following you as we are thinking of having the Gaslow Refillable LPG (2x11kg bottles fitted to our unit awaiting delivery, and interested in the solution if this is a regular issue.. Can we ask approx cost for supplying and fitting at Auto Leisure ? is there an alternative system perhaps Thanks T

I have always gone for the Gait system you get 5% discount via the forum too, if you have any decent DIY skills it is pretty easy to fit your own if you are having cylinders, hardest part is placing the fill point and the deep breath before going for it, but it's a simple kit and very obvious how it all goes in they even have a youtube channel and happy to answer questions.

I did a brief (awful) video of mine.

 

[nabsim]

As I keep saying I only use gas to cook but it never seems to lose the gas in the pipes so when I come to light a hob or oven/grill it does it immediately. If you are only talking a few hours and it takes a lot of attempts I would suspect a slight leak somewhere BUT I am only thinking aloud so could well be wrong.
If you do go to Charlie he can test for leaks with a manometer (think that’s what it is) which will show if pressure is dropping. May be at gas locker end and you can smell it as it wouldn’t need to be much.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We had a Gaslow Refillable LPG (2 x 11kg bottles) fitted 13 months ago at Auto Leisure in Thirsk. Works well, except for a 3-5 seconds delay with the fridge igniter clicking away, until the gas reaches the fridge. It sounds as air is trapped somewhere in the system, and I cannot clear it, even keeping the fridge turned off whilst I ignite all 3 hob burners for 20 to 30 seconds, checking that the hob burners are producing pure blue flames before I start the fridge

We have had 2 lengthy trips to France and Spain over the last 4 months (almost 150 days) and have been using lpg for fridge and cooking, plus occasional heating during this time. Truma say to have the gas system checked and cleaned 'more regularly' if the gas system is being used so often.

My questions are: 1. Will a hab check sort the problems out, or just point out the air blockage?
2. Would it be better to replace the Hab Check with a specific gas system check, including a trace of the apparent air pocket and clearance thereof, followed by a Truma system check and a removal of flue soot and debris well before the planned Winter trip to Spain and finding out on the first chilly night that the heating system needs attention!

3. Any other thoughts or interventions suggested? All advice appreciated!

Steve

I think it might be that the actual fridge valve is on top of the fridge so if you turn it off for whatever reason the pipe is open to air and as LPG is heavier than air it simply falls out of the pipe so you need to refill it, with a hob the valve is inches away and most people will have the ignitor button pressed before turning the gas on so the delay is a split second.

And no, a hab check will only point out problems, assuming that actually do the job properly, some checkers do not have a gas certificate so cannot fix them, I just do my own checks each time I prepare the van and if I think I have a problem I get someone to fix it if I'm not capable.

 

[wildebus]

Thanks, Neil. The fridge switches to 12v when we're travelling, and it's on switchover to gas that the clicking for a few seconds occurs. I had it almost eliminated at one stage, but it's back to about 4 or 5 seconds each time it tries to fire up to lower the fridge temperature

Steve

I had a problem with the gas not reliably lighting when the fridge tried to autostart. I found the igniter was not quite close enough to the burner outlet. Physically moved it slightly and the problem went away.

IIRC, I eliminated the problem being a gas supply one by simply taking the vent cover off, and using a gas lighter as soon as the clicking started and it lit immediately each time, so must have been the clicker-igniter as the problem. And as I could see a spark on each click, that must have been working. So purely a positioning problem.
No idea if that will be of any use, but never know!

 

[jagmanx]

A hab check will maybe identify the problem and not fix.
Go to a gas specialist just for the gas.
Hab checks are a waste of money.
Buy a decent damp meter !
However you might need an official hab check to keep any warranty.
Get the gasman to check stove and heating and replace any dodgy items.
It may be that the fridge gas valve or the main regulator are failing

 

[Val54]

We also have two Alugas cylinder system fitted by Charlie and occasionally get the delayed start up on the fridge, normally after a lay up for a couple weeks or so. Never considered it to be a problem but interested to hear what he says.

 

[GMJ]

As mentioned Steve, the Hab Check will identify the problem but they wont just fix it without checking with you. They may have the solution though if they are Gas Safe (or whatever the term is) so if you do have it in for a Hab Check perhaps they could ring you if they can see what the problem is and can provide a solution... and then you could get it fixed whilst the MH was in (to save you another journey).

Failing that then as also mentioned, I'd look for a local MH/Caravan gas expert

 

[Geek]

I would start by watching the burner as the fridge starts to light: how many clicks before the burner lights, how many clicks after?

I suggest checking that the jet and burner are clean and that there is no dirt buildup on the igniter probe.

Sometimes a bit of muck makes the spark zap in the wrong direction, or the ceramic insulator is dirty and the voltage tracks to earth.

I doubt it is a problem with the gas system.

 

[nabsim]

We also have two Alugas cylinder system fitted by Charlie and occasionally get the delayed start up on the fridge, normally after a lay up for a couple weeks or so. Never considered it to be a problem but interested to hear what he says.

I think from what Steve is saying he is getting it while using the van when moving around between sites, so after a few hours. I do know there is a problem with some new fridges but I don’t think Steve’s is new. Well new compared to mine but not brand new lol