C02 detector woes: Does anyone else’s go off (hopefully) for no reason?

[StreaminNP]

I’ve been living in my 2022 PB for 4 months now and it’s been great. One of the only concerns I’ve had thus far is my C02 detector. It has gone off three times since I’ve been full-timing. Each time, I’ve silenced it and opened up a window and turned on the fan located in the main cabin. And that has been enough to keep it from blaring again following the alarm silence (monitor goes back to green status where it is working/detecting normally).

Thing is, two of these occurrences were when I wasn’t using or hadn’t used any propane at all. My fridge is 12 volt and other than the stove and water heater, I hadn’t used any appliances or my gas furnace.

I used to own a Basecamp and remember the same thing happening.

Anyone else?

[idoco]

CO2 detectors will also go off with other gasses. I've set off CO2 detectors with hydrogen sulfide gas while performing equalization charging on lead acid batteries.

[Saluda372]

Not us, you.re under warranty. I'd have it checked but wouldn't ignore the warnings until you know for sure.

[SSquared]

I think you are talking about the propane detector. These can be triggered by a variety of gasses. One cause that has been reported on the forum previously is when a dog is lying on the kitchen floor and passes gas. I think there was also a case of a bad converter overcharging and boiling the trailer batteries, causing fumes that got inside.

There is a chance you have a slight leak in the gas line connection to one of your appliances. This would set of the alarm regardless of whether you were using the appliance.

My only alarm problem was the carbon monoxide detector, which went into constant alarm state for no reason. We simply replaced it.

[Doc Foster]

Your unit is still under warranty, so call Jackson Center or your dealer. Make sure which detector your are asking about, your should have a smoke detector, a CO (carbon monoxide) detector and an LP (propane detector). The first 2 should be mounted on the ceiling and the LP mounted on the wall near the floor. If possible, try keeping windows open for 24 hours to make sure there is no CO or LP buildup.
Check the batteries in the CO and smoke detectors, maybe they used old batteries?

[starlite29]

Until you resolve this [dealer!] I would suggest buying or borrowing a second battery-powered CO detector with an actual LCD readout. This would help verify that the unit is working or faulty and will provide you (and us here on the forums) with some additional peace of mind.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

I have never / ever seen a CO2 detector in a trailer, not ever. Propane detectors are mandatory items if the trailer has a propane tank on it. Smoke detectors are also something you see a lot of.

Just like in your home, carbon monoxide detectors ( CO detectors ) may or may not be part of your smoke detector. Typically they are a separate item.

Bob

[starlite29]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Just like in your home, carbon monoxide detectors ( CO detectors ) may or may not be part of your smoke detector. Typically they are a separate item.

OP's model (2022 PB) has a combined propane/CO detector. Page 2-4 of owner's manual below.

https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...ers-Manual.pdf

Bob might be making that point that CO2 is carbon dioxide, not carbon monoxide which is CO and which is the potentially-lethal byproduct of combustion in question. Carbon dioxide (CO2) detectors exist for residential use but they are to monitor air quality etc and are not standard equipment on recreational vehicles.

[smmckean]

Run your vacuum across it, it does go off from dust accumulating.

[corvettes]

Originally Posted by StreaminNP

I’ve been living in my 2022 PB for 4 months now and it’s been great. One of the only concerns I’ve had thus far is my C02 detector. It has gone off three times since I’ve been full-timing. Each time, I’ve silenced it and opened up a window and turned on the fan located in the main cabin. And that has been enough to keep it from blaring again following the alarm silence (monitor goes back to green status where it is working/detecting normally).

Thing is, two of these occurrences were when I wasn’t using or hadn’t used any propane at all. My fridge is 12 volt and other than the stove and water heater, I hadn’t used any appliances or my gas furnace.

I used to own a Basecamp and remember the same thing happening.

Anyone else?

Unfortuneately mine did not go off when you could smell the propane in the cabin, airstream found a leak to the heater. I had them replace it unreluctently.

[tnbillyboy]

I have discovered that aerosol air fresheners (fabreze, lysol, etc.) will set off the CO2 detector as well.

[Turbulence]

We've had it go off when deep cleaning with Clorox spray.

Scotty

[idoco]

Originally Posted by idoco

CO2 detectors will also go off with other gasses. I've set off CO2 detectors with hydrogen sulfide gas while performing equalization charging on lead acid batteries.

I meant CO (Carbon Monoxide) detector....

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by starlite29

Until you resolve this [dealer!] I would suggest buying or borrowing a second battery-powered CO detector with an actual LCD readout. This would help verify that the unit is working or faulty and will provide you (and us here on the forums) with some additional peace of mind.

Yes
CO detectors have history of nuisance alarms. Likely a failing sensor. Agree to borrowing one that gives a read out so you can see if there really is a problem
BTW CO detectors should be mounted at about half way up the wall, not on the ceiling. CO is about the same density as air but leaks usually come from lower down on the room so wall mounting gives a warning sooner than the ceiling mounted unit

[Kentbrookin]

Lysol spray. Hairspray and room deodorizers I’ll have the ability to set it off.

[StreaminNP]

Thank you everyone!!!

Sorry my mistake- CO detector (not CO2). In the PB, it’s located on the side of the dinette bench down by the floor. It is a combination LPG and carbon monoxide detector.

[Wayne&Sam]

Does it give different beeps for CO and LP? It also says it can warn of low voltage. It might be good to figure out which warning it's giving you.

[tommyboy34]

As crazy as it sounds, the CO detector in our 2012 23D was set off by our tv remote! Found out on carefully reading the detector paper work. We moved the detector around a corner and no false alarms since then.

[bweybright]

Do double check your battery voltage. I have had a number chirp in my boat when battery voltage got low, as well as in the trailer in early years of camping 20 years ago. (and replaced the unit to find out it was the low voltage). It might be a sign that you need to look at battery storage, care, and age....etc. Lots of things for you to check out and figure out. Good luck. Let us know what you find, please. We all like to know resolution of the problem.
Good luck.

[StreaminNP]

Again- thank you all for your replies. The beeps are indeed different so that next time it goes off, I will be able to see if it’s the CO detector or the LPG detector. If it’s the CO, I plan on buying a plug-in CO monitor to see if that goes off as well when this one does. If it’s the LPG detector, then I’ll need to take it in to check for propane leaks.
I don’t think it has anything to do with battery voltage seeing as how I have been hooked up to shore power since buying the trailer.

I will keep you all updated as to what I find!