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Topic: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday? (Read 429 times) previous topic - next topic

Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

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
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

Reply #1 –
Smoke detectors are very inexpensive for what they do.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

Reply #2 –
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".
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

Reply #3 –
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?

The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: LookingWest –
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

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

Home Depot First Alert

No reason to not get either one or both.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

Reply #5 –
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.

Re: Has your Smoke Detector had it's 10th year birthday?

Reply #6 –
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.