As the season approaches, I want to share a story with everyone. Don't worry, it has a happy ending. :-)Last summer our combination LP Gas/CO detector malfunctioned and would alarm for no reason (No gas turned on, no fuel burning appliances running). The trailer was from 1996, so I just assumed that the detector was faulty and installed a new one.Then, the next weekend, we had an especially bad wind from one direction that caused the exhaust from the hot water tank to be blown inside the trailer. Normally this wouldn't happen as they should be sealed, but in our case it looked like the tank had been removed and not properly replaced (it only had four screws instead of eight, and the seal looked like it was removed and not replaced). Anyhow, the new detector did it's job and got us out of the trailer.For the night I just shut off the propane and decided I would deal with it in the daylight. We opened up the windows and ran a couple fans for an hour to clear out any remaining CO. The next morning I sealed the area around the tank and tightened everything up. I fired up the hot water tank and let it run as we normally would, and the alarm did not go off again.This is a reminder to everyone: check your smoke/CO/LP Gas detectors and make sure they aren't expired and that they have fresh batteries (if battery powered). Don't let faulty equipment end your camping season in tragedy.

Good Advice! Question(maybe I should know this but I don't)Are all LP gas detectors also CO detectors? I assumed my LP gas detector only detected propane.

Not all. I have three separate detectors: CO, LP and smoke.

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:Good Advice! Question(maybe I should know this but I don't)Are all LP gas detectors also CO detectors? I assumed my LP gas detector only detected propane.Take a look at it. If it says CO on it then it will be. Otherwise I suggest you get a CO detector ASAP. It's one of those safety items that people forget about until it's too late.If it's older, you can replace it with a combo unit to save space. Or, even if it's not older and you want you can.

All CO detector's sensors have an expiration date which is around 5 years from the time they are put into service.

Kidde makes a nice one with a digital readout so you know immediately how much CO is in the air. But even an alarm only unit is better than none. I had one save my life when the oil furnace malfunctioned at home years ago and wouldn't even think of being without one. Like said "Stay safe"

CO Story -- Stay safe everyone | Good Sam Community

canadiankid
Explorer
May 04, 2013
Good advice and I am glad that you and your family got saved from your smart decision to replace.

Don.
workhardplayha1
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Dtaylor wrote:
Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:
Good Advice! Question(maybe I should know this but I don't)Are all LP gas detectors also CO detectors? I assumed my LP gas detector only detected propane.

An LP gas detector should be mounted as low as possible since LP gas is heavier than air. (sinks to lower levels)
A carbon MONOXIDE detector should be mounted at ceiling level since it is lighter than air, therefore rising to the upper levels.
Smoke detector should be mounted at ceiling level since the products of combustion are lighter than air.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-gravities-gases-d_334.html

Technically you are correct. The weight of CO is lighter than air but not by much (1and .9xx) and the weight of air varies as it is a mixture. Any movement from people, drafts or fans would prevent the CO from staying at the top of a room.
Most RVs have the LP and CO detector as one unit which is sufficient. There is no need to install another unit unless it helps you sleep at night.
mlts22
Explorer
May 02, 2013
I added an additional combination detector. Most likely one wouldn't go out, but it gives peace of mind.
bmupton
Explorer
May 02, 2013
Gdetrailer wrote:
Great advice, not only for the Summer camping season but for ALL seasons including at Home.

No kidding. My in-laws are on the farm and burn wood for heat. Up until a few years ago they didn't have CO detection. Told them we wouldn't be visiting overnight with the kids until they had.

Ended up bringing a detector with us one trip.

CO: It's really not worth dying over!
opnspaces
Navigator II
May 02, 2013
Dtaylor wrote:
Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:
Good Advice! Question(maybe I should know this but I don't)Are all LP gas detectors also CO detectors? I assumed my LP gas detector only detected propane.

An LP gas detector should be mounted as low as possible since LP gas is heavier than air. (sinks to lower levels)
A carbon MONOXIDE detector should be mounted at ceiling level since it is lighter than air, therefore rising to the upper levels.
Smoke detector should be mounted at ceiling level since the products of combustion are lighter than air.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-gravities-gases-d_334.html

From First alert place it at any level

From Homesafe third paragraph from webpage below.

When considering where to place a carbon monoxide detector, keep in mind that although carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air (carbon monoxide's specific gravity is 0.9657, as stated by the EPA; the National Resource Council lists the specific gravity of air as one), it may be contained in warm air coming from combustion appliances such as home heating equipment. If this is the case, carbon monoxide will rise with the warmer air

Then some sites say not to mount on ceiling.

From Getting the right height

The specific gravity of Carbon Monoxide is 0.9657 (with normal air being 1.0), this means that it will float up towards the ceiling because it is lighter than regular air. However, when a build up of dangerous levels of CO gas is taking place, this is nearly always due to a heat source that is not burning its fuel correctly (motor vehicle exhaust fumes are an exception). This heated air can form a layer near your ceiling which can prevent the Carbon Monoxide from reaching a ceiling detector.

From usinspect.com Mount wall or ceiling.

That was the first four hits from a google search "co detector placement"

Personally I mount mine about 3 - 4 feet off the floor.
HeyJude
Explorer
May 02, 2013
Very good advice. We just bought our TT, but who knows how good the batteries are that are in there now? First thing next week to be done.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
May 02, 2013
bmupton wrote:
As the season approaches, I want to share a story with everyone. Don't worry, it has a happy ending. :-)

Last summer our combination LP Gas/CO detector malfunctioned and would alarm for no reason (No gas turned on, no fuel burning appliances running). The trailer was from 1996, so I just assumed that the detector was faulty and installed a new one.

Then, the next weekend, we had an especially bad wind from one direction that caused the exhaust from the hot water tank to be blown inside the trailer. Normally this wouldn't happen as they should be sealed, but in our case it looked like the tank had been removed and not properly replaced (it only had four screws instead of eight, and the seal looked like it was removed and not replaced). Anyhow, the new detector did it's job and got us out of the trailer.

For the night I just shut off the propane and decided I would deal with it in the daylight. We opened up the windows and ran a couple fans for an hour to clear out any remaining CO. The next morning I sealed the area around the tank and tightened everything up. I fired up the hot water tank and let it run as we normally would, and the alarm did not go off again.

This is a reminder to everyone: check your smoke/CO/LP Gas detectors and make sure they aren't expired and that they have fresh batteries (if battery powered). Don't let faulty equipment end your camping season in tragedy.

Great advice, not only for the Summer camping season but for ALL seasons including at Home.

I keep a battery powered one in my camper and at home I have two (one is line powered only and the other is Line and battery backup. Both are digital readouts (digitals are sweet since they often SHOW a reading way before there is enough to fire off the alarm).

Can't be too careful at my home since I use a wood furnace for most of my Winter heating and have a natural gas furnace for backup and a natural gas water heater...

To think that there IS folks out there camping in the Winter using unvented propane heating devices that claim burning propane and inhaling the exhaust is a safe thing to do :E

Doesn't take much CO to not wake up in the morning...
69_Avion
Explorer
May 01, 2013
Good advice from the OP. Just think, it hasn't been that many years ago they didn't even have CO or LP detectors.
tomkaren13
Explorer
May 01, 2013
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Bonefish wrote:
All CO detector's sensors have an expiration date which is around 5 years from the time they are put into service.

Not just the CO detectors......

LP detectors also have a 'self life' of 5-7 yrs.
Check the backside for date.

These self life dates can not be stressed enough. Many people do not even know or think about them!!!
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 01, 2013
Bonefish wrote:
All CO detector's sensors have an expiration date which is around 5 years from the time they are put into service.

Not just the CO detectors......

LP detectors also have a 'self life' of 5-7 yrs.
Check the backside for date.