Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: turbojack on October 01, 2015, 01:34:48 pm

Title: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: turbojack on October 01, 2015, 01:34:48 pm
If so, you need to replace it.  They are cheaper then about anything else you buy for your coach.  Only in the last few years have manufactures started saying that you need to replace your smoke detectors if it older then 10 years.  Last night as I was going to get hair dryer out of bedroom I looked up at mine and realized it was over 18 years old.  I have been replacing batteries when it chirped and have been hitting the test button to see if sounded after I replaced the battery but have never thought about replacing the complete detector.  There are good smoke and CO2 detectors on the market now so no reason not to get a new one.  Here is a NFPA link on the two different types. I think I like the photoelectric ones better if only having one.  After reading this I might get one of each.  Might save a life and it might be my own.

NFPA.org (http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/fire-and-safety-equipment/smoke-alarms/ionization-vs-photoelectric)
Title: Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: Dub on October 01, 2015, 02:08:18 pm
Smoke detectors are very inexpensive for what they do.
Title: Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: Michelle on October 01, 2015, 02:23:59 pm
LP and CO detectors as well - those have a shorter lifespan, something like 7 years, depending on model. 

If your coach is older than a 2009 and/or you've  owned the coach longer than 7 years and don't recall changing them out, might want to put them on "the list".
Title: Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: FormerU320Family on October 01, 2015, 02:56:07 pm
We replaced the smoke detector and asked the previous owner to replace the LP detector (which he did) when we purchased the coach in May 2015.  Sounds like we need to do our carbon monoxide detector now!

Are many owners also using carbon dioxide detectors?  I remember reading a thread that included a Foretravel owner who wouldn't sleep without one because, as I remember, the logic was that diesel combustion gives off more CO2 than CO.  Maybe I have it wrong?

At the time, I checked and CO2 detectors are a good bit more expensive than smoke detectors. Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: turbojack on October 01, 2015, 03:54:10 pm
At the time, I checked and CO2 detectors are a good bit more expensive than smoke detectors. Any thoughts?

Home Depot Kidde Battery Smoke (ionization) and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Voice Alert  $38.97+ tax 

Home Depot Smoke & Carbon Monoxide alarm (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kidde-Intelligent-Battery-Operated-Combination-Smoke-and-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarm-with-Voice-Alert-KN-COSM-XTR-BA/202026789)

First Alarm with Photo Smoke & carbon monoxide alarm with voice  $37.97

Home Depot First Alert (http://www.homedepot.com/p/First-Alert-Battery-Operated-Smoke-and-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarm-with-Voice-Alert-SCO7CN/202433892)

No reason to not get either one or both.
Title: Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: Barry & Cindy on October 04, 2015, 12:22:13 am
We only use dual sensor battery models with both ionization and photo electric.
We have two on ceilings and several in electronic areas like behind TV, under bed, under couch.
All old ones get put somewhere like in a bay, etc.
Title: Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?
Post by: kb0zke on October 05, 2015, 04:53:42 pm
Ours failed to test with new batteries, so we replaced it. We also replaced the CO detector (new one was not the same size or shape as the old one). Now I'm eyeing the upper group of sensors. One of them doesn't like it if I get too close while doing dishes.