Forum Discussion

HuckFinn410's avatar
HuckFinn410
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014

Factory installed CO Detector life span

My trailer is coming up on 10 years old. Does that mean that my factory installed CO detector has reached the end of its reliable lifespan? Thought that I read that somewhere. Is it any different than the battery model that I also use for redundancy in my camper? Does it also detect leaking propane?

A couple of years ago, we accidentally bumped one of the stovetop knobs and released propane. We all just thought that it was a smelly black tank…..glad we discovered the leaking propane before something bad happened. No alarms went off. I now turn off my propane tanks when not in use…..scared us…

Buy a new OEM type CO detector or just use the store bought ones? If store bought, do I just disconnected the factory unit?

Thank you
Seeking Advice
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    Apr 10, 2014
    Just buy one that works. The CO detector only detects CO unless otherwise stated by the maker. The CO detector in my TT was good for 7 years and went into a warning chirp when that was reached that was different from the normal test alarm. Look at the back of the unit and it should have an expiration date on it. Bought a new one at Lowe's for a few dollars and installed it.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,115 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 27, 2025