Carbon monoxide detector going off in camper

Originally Published in Trailer Life Magazine

Q:My wife and I live in our RV (we move around with our work) and have been for the last 10 months. Sometimes the carbon monoxide sensor/alarm goes off, apparently for no reason, usually in the middle of the night. I get up and check everything and turn off the propane tanks, bleed the lines and go back to bed, only to have it go off again. My opinion is that since the RV is closed at the time, with no windows or roof vents open and neither the heater nor air conditioner is on, (it happens when the temperature doesn’t require either of the units to be on), it must be that the carbon monoxide accumulation from our combined breath reaches the level of concentration to activate the alarm. This is the only explanation I can reason. Please give me your thoughts about it.

– Ted Harrod | Via email

A: Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that is a silent killer. It is the result of incomplete combustion from sources such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters, propane refrigerators, engine and generator exhausts, etc. Humans don’t emit carbon monoxide during respiration; they expel carbon dioxide. Therefore, it can’t be triggering the alarm. Never assume that a detector is faulty and ignore it. If all the sources you noted here were off and the propane was shut off, it could be a faulty sensor. The sensors have a limited lifespan and go bad after a while, and most have expiration dates. However, you might want to have a certified RV technician review your RV before placing all the blame on the sensor and replacing it with a new unit. Play it safe; find out what’s going on before using your rig.

– Ken Freund

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Carbon monoxide detectors keep going off without explanation. Various factors are to blame.

These reasons will be outlined for you today. Low battery power and the expiration of the detector’s lifespan are common causes of carbon monoxide detector failure. After a few seconds, he will sound the alarm if the battery on your carbon monoxide detector is low.

Related: RV Propane Detector Keeps Going Off (What to Do)

Let’s read the other reasons with an explanation.

• What is Carbon Monoxide?
• Can Carbon Monoxide Cause Serious Health Problems in Your RV?
• Why Does My RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Keep Going Off?
  • Reason 1: Contains Carbon Monoxide
  • Reason 2: Malfunctioning Alarm
  • Reason 3: Dirt on the Detector
  • Reason 4: CO Detector Battery is Low
  • Reason 5: End of Lifespan:
• FAQs
• Final Thoughts

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer (nearly 400 people die in the US every year). Because this gas has no smell, no color, and is odorless.

While CO does not have an odor, it is often mixed with gases that you can smell, such as CO, which can be inhaled without realizing that they are gases.

Can Carbon Monoxide Cause Serious Health Problems in Your RV?

Because CO picks up oxygen faster than it can pick up carbon monoxide, it’s so dangerous. The body replaces the oxygen in our blood with carbon monoxide when we inhale carbon monoxide, and high amounts of carboxylic acid can result in poisoning.

Because of this, potentially lethal levels of the gas can build up inside RVs and trailers and you may not know until you become ill that it has done so.

CO present at large concentrations can overwhelm a person in seconds, leaving them unconscious and suffocating. When enclosed or badly ventilated spaces accumulate carbon monoxide, they can poison the people inside.

These are some of the symptoms of CO poisoning:

• Diaphoresis;
• Having headaches;
• You have vomited;
• Breathing problems;
• It may be confusing;
• Symptoms of influenza

Carbon monoxide doesn’t seem serious to you? Over 50,000 emergency room visits are attributed to CO poisoning every year in the United States.

It may be that the carbon monoxide detector is faulty or that it is going off frequently. These detectors can be exceptionally sensitive and may trigger if you spray your home with too much bug spray. Similarly, old RV batteries that have been drained of their hydrogen can trigger an alarm. Therefore, these two harmless reasons can set off your detector.

It will be triggered when a gas detector, such as a pet gas detector, is attached to your detector. If moisture or condensation forms on the detector, it may also trip. Take the warning seriously! Let’s check these reasons:

Reason 1: Contains Carbon Monoxide

If you have real CO in your RV, the CO detectors should flash solid red or remain solid red while you should hear four beeps. In this case, assume your RV is filled with carbon monoxide and follow these steps:

1. The detector should be set to Test/Mute.
2. Everyone should exit the RV as quickly as possible. Make sure everyone is not experiencing any symptoms of CO poisoning when they are outside the RV, including headache, vomiting, and fainting. It is safe to enter the RV again once it has been aired out completely and the detector has resumed working.
3. You must turn off all carbon monoxide devices in your RV. This refers to appliances, such as boilers, fridges, stoves, generators, and gas-powered generators.
4. Make sure your vehicle’s appliances are checked out by a certified expert.

There are several reasons why carbon monoxide will beep every 15 to 30 seconds.

Reason 2: Malfunctioning Alarm

The light on a malfunctioning alarm alternates between red and green every 30 seconds while it beeps every 30 seconds.

To fix this, you can do one of the following:

1. If you have questions about your RV detector, please contact customer support
2. Battery voltage should be checked
3. Units must be changed

Reason 3: Dirt on the Detector

When the battery is not drained and the voltage is normal, it is recommended that the battery be replaced as soon as possible. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk by putting them in danger. Your safety must always come first. Contact customer support to get a refund if your warranty is still active.

MTI Industries’ Safe-T-Alert 35-742-BL Dual LP/CO Alarm can replace your old carbon monoxide/propane detector.

You may also have an erroneous alarm if your carbon monoxide detector is dirty. Designed to be maintenance-free, they still require these steps for them to function properly:

1. Your CO alarm should be tested weekly.
2. Every month, vacuum the detector cover.
3. A cotton cloth piece is used to wash the detector cover.

Reason 4: CO Detector Battery is Low

The CO detector in your RV typically chirps every 30 seconds when its battery is running low. By observing the number and frequency of chirps, it may be possible to discern whether the vibrations are associated with low batteries or end-of-life. It’s important to read the manufacturer’s specifications.

Batteries that are running low on your alarm and it is within their warranty period should be replaced as soon as possible. Even if you do not have a working CO alarm for one night, you and your family could become at risk.

Reason 5: End of Lifespan:

It is possible that the CO detector in your RV is at the end of its lifespan if it is continually going off and making an infrequent “beep” sound every thirty seconds or so.

Carbon monoxide warnings commonly use a loud and continuous “Beep” sound instead of a soft and low-frequency beeping sound.

CO detectors typically last between five and seven years (although some last up to ten years). A warning signal that indicates that a CO alarm should be replaced is installed on all CO alarms manufactured after August 1, 2009.

You waste your money by changing your carbon monoxide detector’s battery when the carbon monoxide detector is near the end of its lifespan.

An alarm at the end of its life-cycle may display an “ERR” “EOL” or “END” display.

Note: These are the common steps for how to replace an RV carbon monoxide detector. Your RV CO detector could be different. If you are using a combo of carbon monoxide and propane detectors, you must follow the installation instructions from the manufacturer.

Note: You should install a CO detector on the ceiling or the wall if you are installing it in a new place and it should be a minimum of 4 inches above the floor. Don’t install it in the distance of 12 inches or 5 ft near your kitchen. You should install it outside of the camper bedroom for your safety. Check out our guide on where to mount a carbon monoxide detector in an RV for further details.

FAQs

How do I stop my camper carbon monoxide from beeping?

You can stop it by changing the batteries. Mostly carbon monoxide beeping indicates that the power is running low. You can check your detector lifespan. Lifespan is also the second issue of beeping.

What gives off carbon monoxide in an RV?

Anything that does not produce carbon monoxide will remain carbon monoxide detector off. Such as Water heater, refrigerator, Generator and much more.

Final Thoughts

We can see this beautiful world by traveling. If we save our life then we can see this world. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. If your carbon monoxide keeps going off then you must check the lifespan and battery power. If both are good then call the expert technician and stay away from RV.

Why does my carbon monoxide detector keep going off in my camper?

What would cause carbon monoxide in a camper?

Can a carbon monoxide detector go off falsely?

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from propane in a camper?