Ask Dave: Is a combination LP and CO detector effective?

Hi, Dave,
My truck camper has separate LP and CO detectors, with the CO detector mounted high and the LP detector mounted near the floor. This makes sense to me, since CO is just slightly lighter than air and LP is much heavier than air. I know that there are detectors that combine both CO and LP detectors in one unit. Is that really a good idea? Or is this just another example of the RV industry prioritizing profits over customer safety? I don’t understand how one detector mounted at medium height can be as good as two separate detectors mounted where their detected gases are most likely to accumulate. —Arn, 2004 Palomino Maverick

Hi, Arn,
Great question. I was familiar with LP being heavier than air and settling, so it made sense to mount the LP leak detector down at floor level.

About carbon monoxide (CO)

However, I was not familiar with what carbon monoxide (CO) does. I did a little research and found that CO is a colorless and odorless gas that can be found in fumes produced by any LP appliance such as your heater, stove top, or water heater. It sends over 50,000 people to the emergency room each year and causes over 400 deaths, so it is important to have a CO detector.

I also found that CO disperses evenly throughout a room. That means it can be placed anywhere and will be efficient when combined with the LP leak detector and placed in a lower level.

I recently viewed several rigs at the shows where I have been conducting seminars. I found this type used the most often and placed down by the floor. Some of the fifth wheel units had it placed on the wall along the steps to the bedroom, which also makes sense.

Smoke detectors are required to be placed 6” from the ceiling, as smoke rises in a room. I do not recall seeing any combination LP and smoke detectors.

It is recommended that you test all types of detectors once a month; most have a test button. Keep them clean from dust and dander. Replace the batteries, if so equipped, every year. It is common to replace them when switching to or from daylight saving time, as a reminder. Adjust your clocks and change your detector batteries at the same time. It is also recommended to replace the detector after 10 years.

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Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

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