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Another point here is that as far as I am aware, both Propane and Butane are heavier than air so any "leaks" of uncombusted gas would gravitate downwards and exit through ventilation holes (a good reason for not blocking them.  It is this tendency for the gas to flow downwards in air that leads to marine explosions where the gas has pooled in the bottom of the boat.

Don't use the gas heater at night,but do keep the cylinder switched on.

Paul

Should you or shouldn't you is a matter for yourselves and I deliberately only stated the facts and kept my opinion out of it for that reason.

Berties point says it all though, I'm alright I know but if your in any doubt £35 is sod all to pay for piece of mind. Mind you if your not going to use gas then it's a waste of money!!

Thanks for your comments, Gary.  I apologise if it appears that I was being cynical.  Unfortunately, bad workmanship does happen in all industries, and in this instance it would seem that this is the only way in which danger could arise.  The piece of mind comment has been appreciated and noted.

Our daughter was recently made to feel ill by her C.H. boiler,; a room-sealed condensing type.  It was brand new, fitted by British Gas, and only a week or two old.  Apparently, a union had been left loose.

I know it isn't in a caravan, but the principle is the same.  Hope this explains my critical attitude.

Bertie.

We switch all gas off  with quick acting switches inside the caravan at night. If it's cold we use the electric option on the heater overnight. We do not switch off gas in front locker though so we can quickly fire things up in the morning.

Mark

Thanks for your comments, Gary.  I apologise if it appears that I was being cynical

please do not apologise in my book you cannot be too careful, we have the smoke alarm and the Co detector fitted. as a precaution we switch off all gas fires and water heaters and use electric ones.

I didn't for one moment think it cynical, as I said I don't need to rely on others to keep me safe..you lot do.

What I have found is these appliances give plenty of warning of something amiss before a real problem appears, even then it's just going to be letting you down when you need it rarther suddenly becoming dangerous.

So if the fire is not lighting quite as quickly as you remember, or the water heater pops from time to time as it lights up, then don't ignore it...their telling you their due for a service.

But if your going to ignore a perished hose until it leaks then sure as egg's is egg's nothing else is being watched, and that puts people around at risk not just themselves.

I'm not getting at your friend Path20, I'm illustrating a point, but from what you say it also backs up Bertie's concerns? The fact in your friends case appears to be it was missed at a 'proper' service, that's simply unforgivable and should be impossible?.

Hose life in general depends on it's varied use, some always inside others outside and some a mixture of both, some are used just for a few days each year!! 

It is said it's best to change the cheap black stuff every year and three has been mentioned on here, I would go one better and not use it at all and for a few extra pence get the orange HP hose. The orange has an inner hose then webbing and a further outer protection sheath, this will last far longer at the minimal pressure it has to cope with.

Apart from getting stiff which makes the hose that much more difficult to actually use, it's this stiffness that leads to cracks mostly around the two end fittings particularly the regulator end.                                                                              At a 'proper' service apart from visually checking the hose, the regulator will have been removed so the system can be 'pumped up' and checked for leaks at higher than working pressure. The easy and quickest way of doing this is to cut the regulator off and then on replacement it has the automatic advantage of connecting the regulator onto a fresh end of hose. If it's found to be difficult to replace the reg because the hose is so stiff then the hose is simply replaced. Date wise most service centre's will change HP hose after three years regardless, but I do believe seven is mentioned in the regulation.  

By any definition then Path20's friend didn't get what he paid for, do the the job right in the first place and you cannot make that stupid mistake??

Beyond that premature damage is very often down to over tightening the jubilee clips, theres no need to crush the hose it will seal without a clip!!  Just tight enough to grip the hose firmly is sufficient and then it's impossible for the hose to expand and get back over the fat end of the connector.

So how long can an orange high pressure hose last with care and regular inspection?