It had been a while since our last RV adventure, so we were excited to head up to Michigan for a weekend getaway. Everything was meticulously planned, including a brand new electric fridge to ensure we had all the comforts of home on the road. After setting up camp, I went through my usual checklist to ensure everything was properly connected and secure – a necessary precaution, especially with a teenage son whose attention to detail isn’t always laser-focused.
I methodically checked the power and water lines, and then moved on to the gas system. Propane tank? Open. Valve direction? Correct. Furnace? Clear. Water heater? Functioning perfectly. Feeling confident, I did one last walk around outside. That’s when I noticed it – near the fridge area, close to the tire, an unfamiliar gas connection line. It wasn’t labeled, nothing to indicate its purpose. Upon closer inspection, the valve was open. “Huh,” I thought, “I don’t remember seeing that before.”
This valve was quite inconspicuous, easily overlooked. We decided to close the valve and, on a whim, I went inside to check the fridge. After about five anxious minutes, to my surprise, the refrigerator was running!
To confirm my suspicion that this mysterious valve was indeed the source of our refrigerator problem, I reopened it. Almost immediately, the fridge shut off. It was conclusive.
Now, the confusing part was the valve’s placement. It appeared to be positioned after the fridge connection point. However, the ‘T’ fitting underneath revealed the actual configuration: the valve was situated on a line branching off before the fridge. This meant the refrigerator was at the true end of the gas line. Therefore, when we opened this mystery valve, it was diverting the propane supply, effectively starving the fridge.
My best guess is that this unlabeled valve is intended for an external propane appliance, perhaps a grill or outdoor kitchen setup. Has anyone else encountered a similar hidden gas valve on their RV, particularly on a Pioneer Bh270 or comparable model? Any insights or thoughts on its intended purpose would be greatly appreciated!
– John
