A new line of RV carbon monoxide and propane alarms announced this week may sound like just another product rollout. But behind it is a bigger story that could matter to a lot of RV owners—especially those with older rigs.
Recreation Safety Products recently introduced new RV safety alarms built to updated UL standards, according to a report from RVBusiness. And one of the more important changes involves something many RVers probably never think about until there is a problem: What happens to the detector if the RV loses power?
A surprising number of RV carbon monoxide alarms depend entirely on the RV’s 12-volt system. Turn off the battery disconnect, blow a fuse, run the batteries down too far or lose wiring power, and the detector itself may stop working.
A lot of RVers assume those alarms are always on. It ain’t necessarily so.
The newer standards are designed to address that problem by requiring backup power capability so the alarm can keep working if the main RV power system goes down.
That may not sound dramatic, but carbon monoxide is one of those dangers RVers cannot see or smell. When there is a problem, the detector is often the only warning you get.
A hidden weak spot in some RV alarm systems
While serious carbon monoxide incidents are relatively uncommon, the situations that can create them are not. Portable generators, a blocked exhaust pipe, running an onboard generator for air conditioning, or even a neighboring RV generator in a crowded campground can potentially create dangerous conditions.
The timing of these new standards also shines a light on another issue many RV owners overlook: RV safety detectors don’t last forever.
In fact, many carbon monoxide and propane alarms are designed with an expected life of around five years. After that, the sensors themselves can become less reliable, even if the unit still lights up and appears to work normally.
That means the original detector in a 2019 or 2020 RV may already be nearing the end of its intended life.
And because these things usually just sit quietly on the wall for years, it’s easy to forget they even exist.
Many RV detectors quietly age out
Unlike residential detectors, RV units also deal with vibration, dust, heat, cold, humidity and constantly changing electrical conditions. RV-specific detectors are designed for that environment, which is one reason RV replacement units are often different from the plug-in alarms people buy for a house.
A few things worth checking before your next trip
For RVers wondering whether it might be time to inspect or replace a detector, there are a few simple things worth checking.
Start with the date on the alarm itself. Many detectors have either a manufacture date or replacement date printed somewhere on the unit.
Next, test it. If the detector chirps randomly, refuses to test properly or just acts odd, it may be trying to tell you something.
It’s also worth checking what happens when the RV battery disconnect is turned off. In some rigs, that may disable the detector completely.
You should also confirm whether they have a combination propane/carbon monoxide alarm or separate units. Older RVs sometimes had propane-only detectors, while others used two separate alarms.
Placement matters, too. Most manufacturers recommend installing carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas where they are most likely to wake occupants if something goes wrong overnight.
None of this means every RVer needs to rush out and buy a new detector tomorrow morning. But these updated standards are a good reminder that safety equipment quietly ages in the background.
A carbon monoxide detector is easy to ignore because most of the time it just sits there silently on the wall.
But when you actually need it, you really need it.
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RVT1263b
Thank you for the news and discussion, Russ and Tina. The carbon monoxide detector in RV #1 began incessantly chirping when it required replacing. I bought a replacement and changed it. Have a great day and safe travels.
The story suggests that the newest models may have an included battery. Does it? If it does, would it require periodic replacement or is it rechargeable and stays charged when exterior power is applied? The illustration shows the detector mounted high above where it would not likely detect propane.
I recall seeing something about a placement conflict. Propane sinks an CO rises? That would make combined units questionable.