How to, General gas checks

Gas systems in Motorhomes can be a great help on holidays, cooking your food and keeping

you warm. However, it is vital that your gas systems are maintained carefully in order to prevent them from being dangerous, or even fatal.

Motorhomes have a mobile gas system, meaning that the gas tank serves multiple different

appliances which can increase the risk of potential gas leaks. It is vital that you service any gas appliances regularly to check for any damage to valves or the appliances themselves.

It is also important that you ensure your motorhome is well-ventilated.

It is now mandatory for motorhomes to have ventilation panels fitted, which are designed to allow a constant flow of air into the caravan and allow fumes to exit the caravan. These may seem unnecessary and it may be tempting, especially in windy conditions, to block them up. However, they are crucial to the ventilation of the motorhome, so you must keep them open.

There are a number of basic checks you can do between annual habitation checks in order to help you spot any potential problems.

Visual checks - Simply look at the pipes, the joints and the valves. It is also important you look

at the connection between the regulator and the gas bottle. Bending the rubber tubing and

applying a little pressure can reveal any cracks which will need replacing.

Tubing check - If you think you are using gas more quickly than you should be you can check by turning the gas on, getting a cup of soapy water and applying it to the joints in the caravan. If you have a gas leak, then bubbles will form. If this is the case, turn off the gas and contact an expert engineer.

The simplest way to check whether your motorhome gas is burning as it should be is to look at the flame on the hob. A healthy flame should be a large blue flame, whereas a yellow flame would suggest that it's not burning properly and could potentially be leaking carbon monoxide. If you notice a yellow flame it's worth getting the gas system checked by an expert to be on the safe side.

The only way you can really check a gas fridge yourself is to check the vent on the outside of

your caravan. If you notice a black mark, which would suggest a build-up of carbon, it may be a sign that the gas isn't burning properly, and you should get it checked out.

Ensuring that your motorhome gas system works well is not only good practice, it is vital to

ensure the safety of you and your family. If you have any doubts about your motorhome gas

system, it is worth checking with an expert - better to be safe than sorry.