Check your detectors

[Bruce C]

With so many RV's being purchased early in the season and this time of the year many people and new owners overlook the detectors in their units. Used units may be sold by dealers and private sellers with detectors which may have reached and passed there effective life span. This can be a serious safety issue and I advise anyone with doubt to check the replacement date on your detector. It can save a life. Safe travels.

[CampDaven]

Mine does not have a replacement date.

?

[Dr4Film]

The expiration date OR manufacturing date is normally stamped on the back of the unit.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[CampDaven]

Confused.

I had 2 rigs that I traded at about 15 years old. The alarms always worked, and we tested it regularly.

I would even test it with an unlit propane torch on occasion.

Yeah, confused.
Never heard of one failing.
You?

[Gorlininc]

When I bought my 2001 diplomat l changed my Lp and CO alarms. They have a 5 year life on them. They both worked but for a few dollars, I'll follow the manufactures expiration date.

[bdickson]

I think Bruce C is talking primarily about CO and smoke detectors. The hard wired LP detectors don't have an expiration date, but regular testing is a great suggestion.

Another thing is the number and location of detectors. My 38 foot Thor Challenger came out of the factory with just one smoke detector all the way at the front of the coach. I added two more combination smoke/CO alarms, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. These detectors (Kidde brand) have a 5 year expiration date on the label.

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by bdickson

I think Bruce C is talking primarily about CO and smoke detectors. The hard wired LP detectors don't have an expiration date, but regular testing is a great suggestion.

Another thing is the number and location of detectors. My 38 foot Thor Challenger came out of the factory with just one smoke detector all the way at the front of the coach. I added two more combination smoke/CO alarms, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. These detectors (Kidde brand) have a 5 year expiration date on the label.

My LP and smoke/CO detectors are mid-ship on my 33 foot. I'm okay, I guess, as they are all within 10 feet of any normal ignition/gas source. Yes?

[Bruce C]

Originally Posted by bdickson

I think Bruce C is talking primarily about CO and smoke detectors. The hard wired LP detectors don't have an expiration date, but regular testing is a great suggestion.

Another thing is the number and location of detectors. My 38 foot Thor Challenger came out of the factory with just one smoke detector all the way at the front of the coach. I added two more combination smoke/CO alarms, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom. These detectors (Kidde brand) have a 5 year expiration date on the label.

Exactly ^^^. These do fail and when they fail they will sound, they can be reset but it will sound prematurely at any time, day or night. This was posted for the people that are unaware that expiration dates are on the back or in some cases on the side. Certainly worth checking. When in doubt replace, it's a small price to pay for safety. You can never have enough smoke detectors as far as I'm concerned. It could save someone.

[Gorlininc]

My CO and LP alarms are hard wired in my rig.
Both are made by safe-t-alert. I just changed both because they expired in May 2012. The new ones are good for 5 years. It says all this on the back of the units.

[bdickson]

Originally Posted by CampDaven

My LP and smoke/CO detectors are mid-ship on my 33 foot. I'm okay, I guess, as they are all within 10 feet of any normal ignition/gas source. Yes?

Dave, I think it depends how fast they will react. I tested alarms in my stick&brick by lighting some newspaper in a tin can and timing how long before the alarm triggered. A fire 10 feet from an alarm could get a good hold before the warning sounded. I felt that 50 bucks for a couple of extra alarms was a good investment. I used combination CO alarms because the furnace is in the bathroom below the washer/dryer cabinet and that is right next to the bedroom. I wanted an alarm that would scream in my ear if anything went wrong. I was also not happy about the original combo LP CO detector that Thor installed at floor level. LP gas is heavier than air, but CO is lighter so that alarm needs to be on the ceiling. A combination for those two gases made no sense.

[NLOVNIT]

Our Bounder came w/only 1 smoke detector near the stove. It was replaced last year when we purchased 2 more & put the 2nd in the cockpit & the 3rd in our bedroom. Can't have too many, IMO, as these things can go up in a heartbeat.

Now if could just stop the kitchen one from going off everytime I make toast, that'd be great....& no I don't burn the toast, just light brown & it STILL goes off.

Lori

[historyljc]

I've replaced the smoke alarm in the main cabin and added one in the bedroom. Replaced the lp detector a couple of years ago and the CO detector a couple of months ago. It came within one week of its stated lifespan.