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Carbon Monoxide

With the Ohio family apparently all found dead from Carbon Monoxide a couple of days ago, we wanted to share our thoughts on detectors.

As you know CO is odorless and can be deadly, so we all need detectors that will alarm when CO levels reach above a minimal level.

These detectors are not optional, they are required.  We think that the bedroom must have them as no one wants us to wake up dead.

Because life saving detectors are not expensive and could fail, bedrooms need two independent detectors.

While awake in other parts of the house, one could be aware of high CO levels by feeling sleepy or sick, etc, but when sleeping the symptoms are a deeper sleep.  Detectors are needed on each level, each bedroom & other parts of the home.

Since gasoline engines produce CO (that may be converted by catylitic converter), we carry a CO detector in our Jeep.  Ford recently had recalls from CO leaking into police cruisers.

We are also aware that everything could be operating ok in our RV or home, but a neighbor or nearby appliance may be a CO source that affects us.  In a campground, a neighbor's generator exhaust has found its way into another RV. 

We prefer battery operated CO detectors that have a display showing numerical level of CO.  Current models often are powered with a 10-year non-changable battery. And some have wifi connectivity.

Combining CO detector with a smoke detector is not recommended as each has a preferred wall mounting height and a failure would take out two important detectors.  No reason to comprimize on this.  BTW, for smoke detectors, we only recommend combined ionization (products of combustion) and photoelectric (smoke) types.

Some reference information:
The 10 Best Carbon Monoxide Detectors of 2019 | Safety.com
Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement: Where to Place CO Alarms | Safety.com
The 6 Best Carbon Monoxide Alarms of 2019

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #1 –
And replace CO detectors every 6 to 7 years - from date of manufacture.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #2 –

Thanks for this thread.  Picked up this combo propane/carbon monoxide unit for our bedroom.

Nighthawk Plug-in Carbon Monoxide & Explosive Gas Detector Alarm with...

And this one for smoke:

First Alert SA3210 Dual Sensor Smoke and Fire Alarm, 1 Pack - - Amazon.com

Not sure if the alarms in our 19 year old coach have ever been changed and thought bedroom was most important room to alarm.  Not sure why alarming kitchen was done since we're awake in these rooms more that in bedroom.

Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"
Follow Us: Login • Instagram  Camping for the Rest of Life – It does not matter how slowly you go so long you don't stop

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #3 –
Nothing to worry much about with diesel engines as CO production is very low but some Atwood furnaces have been recalled because of CO and others will use a unvented propane heater inside or even turn on the stovetop for heat in really cold weather. If you are going to use an unvented heater inside the coach, use a catalytic heater like this one: Camco Olympian RV Wave-8 LP Gas Catalytic Safety Heater, Adjustable 4200 to...
They also produce very little CO and can be wall mounted plus they are very efficient. No fan so no drain from the batteries.

Note that VF (vent free) heaters are not legal in Canada, California and other areas of the U.S. See map at: Ventless Products State by State Code Information

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –

Note that VF (vent free) heaters are not legal in Canada, California and other areas of the U.S. See map at: Ventless Products State by State Code Information

Pierce

Sort of. They are illegal to SELL or INSTALL. If you install it in say....New Mexico....it is not illegal in other states.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Twig –
Sort of. They are illegal to SELL or INSTALL. If you install it in say....New Mexico....it is not illegal in other states.
There is a reason they are illegal to sell and install.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #6 –
X2 on mounting location CO is heavier than air and should be mounted below bed (sleeping) level. I have seen CO detectors mounted 4 or 5 ft up on a wall never made sense to me, you would be dead before it went off!!
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: Carbon Monoxide

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Chris m lang –
X2 on mounting location CO is heavier than air and should be mounted below bed (sleeping) level. I have seen CO detectors mounted 4 or 5 ft up on a wall never made sense to me, you would be dead before it went off!!
Chris
For many years, the thought was that CO is heavier than air and we were not allowed to go into basements after putting a fire out without our breathing apparatus on. It's actually very slightly lighter than air and since it's produced as a result of incomplete combustion, it will rise up will the heated air. In a major fire, after the burning material is put out, the remaining amount is usually on the ground floor or basement where it continues to produce CO. This is where the worry about CO came from.

Here is a quote: CO has a molar mass of 28.0, and air has an average molar mass of 28.8. The difference is so slight that CO is found to evenly distribute itself indoors. It is worth mentioning that CO indoors is usually generated from incomplete combustion (heat source) and therefore traveling in a warm air stream. Warm air is more buoyant and does rise. Coupling this fact with the knowledge that CO is lighter than air end quote.

Here is a good site explaining how a test was done: Should the placement of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors be influenced by CO's...

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)