Why Does My RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Keep Beeping?

RV carbon monoxide detectors are important for safety but can also be pesky when they keep beeping. There can be many reasons for this.

RVs come with a lot of gadgets and gizmos. In the excitement of hitting the open road with your family, it is easy to let interior maintenance fall by the wayside. Your RV’s detector for CO is one of the most important safety features. It is very important to read the owner’s manual for your device and learn how to use it properly.

If an RV detector for CO starts beeping, there are a few possible explanations. The detector could be out of battery, malfunctioning at the end of its life, or detect unsafe levels of carbon monoxide. Error codes and the type of noise can help determine why the detector is beeping.

Every model of RV detector for CO is a little bit different. The best way to figure out why your model is beeping is to read the user manual. In general, detectors will chirp rather than beep if they are out of battery or at the end of their life. Frequent, loud beeping is a strong indicator that there is carbon monoxide. Detectors may also have a screen that will display short error codes to help you understand what the device needs.

Sources include The OSHA Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet, the Tennessee Department of Health, The Camper Advisor, CamperFAQs.com, Living Pioneer, and Begin RV.

‍Why Is it Important to Have a Detector for CO in an RV?

Carbon monoxide, abbreviated as CO, is a poisonous gas that is unsafe to breathe. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to death if you are exposed to dangerous levels of CO within a confined space. On its own, carbon monoxide does not have a smell or taste, and it is invisible to the naked eye. In order to make the gas easier to detect, it is frequently mixed with other gasses to make it smell like eggs.

Carbon monoxide is produced by engines, generators, gas stoves, portable heaters, and any appliance that uses natural gas. Because RVs contain many of these appliances and are small, confined spaces, RV owners must be especially cautious to protect themselves against CO.

How To Keep Your Family Safe From CO Poisoning in an RV

Before an RV detector for CO starts beeping, there are several things that you can do to keep your RV safe. In fact, when the detector starts making noise, that is your final warning that the unit needs maintenance. The best way to keep your family safe in an RV is to do proper CO safety maintenance before every trip.

Here are 7 steps your family should take to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide:

1. Inspect your RV’s exhaust system, stove, and heating equipment. If anything is not functioning properly, take it to a repair person as soon as possible.

2. Before every large trip, test the detector for CO. All units should have a “test” button on them to check their functionality. If needed, replace the batteries or the entire unit.

3. Never burn charcoal or use a camping stove inside the RV.

4. If your RV has a generator that uses gas, don’t turn it on if your RV is parked in a confined space, such as a garage. Always ensure that your generator has adequate ventilation.

5. Never use your RV’s oven or stove for heating the inside of the RV. Instead, use an RV-safe portable heater or add extra insulation to your rig.

6. When you park near other vehicles and RVs, position your rig so that the exhaust from the other vehicles and their generators blow away from you.

7. Use common sense. Ventilate your RV when you use the stove or oven. Don’t procrastinate on detector maintenance or turn it off when the beeping gets annoying.

Why Is My RV Detector for CO Beeping?

There are 4 main reasons why the detector for CO is beeping at you.

1. The detector needs new batteries
2. The detector for CO is malfunctioning
3. The detector is EOL (end of life) and needs to be replaced
4. There is carbon monoxide in your RV

Each model is different, so there will be slight variation in the clues that tell you what your detector for CO needs. If the detector for CO has a small screen on it, then it may display error codes. For example, if a detector needs new batteries, it may display “Batt” or some variation of the word. If the screen is displaying “Err” or “Error” that is a sign that the unit has a serious malfunction or is at the end of its life. In most cases, when you see this error message, the entire detector must be replaced.

Most detectors for CO also have a light on them; this light can be red, green, or both. If the light is continuously on, that is normally an indication that the unit is working properly. If the light flashes either red or green while it beeps, this could indicate that there is CO in your RV. If the light is flashing a single color as the detector chirps, this means that the unit is either low on battery or needs to be replaced. If the unit has a serious malfunction, then most models will flash both red and green to alert you of the problem.

How Do I Know if My Detector For CO Needs New Batteries?

Regardless of the model, all RV detectors for carbon monoxide will notify you if they need new batteries. If your unit is chirping once every 15-30 seconds, then you will likely have to replace the batteries.

The chirping sound is a lot like the noise that smoke detectors in homes make when they need new batteries. This sound will be softer than the beep that the unit makes when it detects CO.

Changing the batteries in the detector for CO is easy. Once it starts chirping, all you have to do is locate the unit, slide off the battery cover, take out the old batteries, and insert new ones. Whenever you change the batteries, you should also dust off the unit. In some cases, dust can interfere with the unit’s CO sensors and make the detector less effective.

You will only need to change the detector for CO’s batteries every 6 to 12 months. Because it is an infrequent chore, it can be easy to forget how to do it. Experienced RV travelers recommend changing the batteries with the daylight savings time change or to keep the user manual handy for when the unit starts chirping on its own.

After you change the batteries, you will need to press the Reset button on the detector for CO. If you don’t reset the unit, the chirping may continue even after it has new batteries.

RV detector for CO Malfunctioning

The signs that a detector for CO is malfunctioning are very similar to the signs that it has a low battery. If you tried replacing the batteries and resetting the unit, but the noises continue, there is a chance that the unit has a different problem.

The most common signs that a unit is malfunctioning are:

• Multiple chirps every 20-30 seconds
• The light flashes red and green
• The screen has an error message
• Other troubleshooting, like changing the batteries, is not fixing the problem

If your unit is malfunctioning, the first thing you should do is call the manufacturer. When you call the manufacturer, you will receive guidance on how to troubleshoot your detector. For some problems, there is an easy solution, such as the unit not having the right battery voltage or the unit being improperly installed in the first place.

If your malfunctioning detector cannot be adequately fixed, you must replace the entire unit in order to ensure your family’s safety.

How do I Tell if MY RV Detector for CO Needs to Be Replaced?

All appliances and devices will have an end-of-life, or EOL, period. This means that the device is too old to function properly and must be replaced. Most detectors for CO are only designed to last between 4 and 5 years. Some models can last up to 7, while others should be replaced after 3. The information for your model can be found in the user manual for the detector for CO.

When a detector reaches the end of its life, it can sound very similar to what a malfunction or needing new batteries sounds like. Your detector for CO will either beep or chirp at 30 second intervals. The light on the unit will also flash either red or green. The key difference between the chirping for low battery and the chirping for EOL is how long it will chirp. When a detector has low battery, it will normally stop chirping after a month. However, if the unit is EOL, then the chirping will not stop until the unit is removed and replaced.

The best way to determine if your detector is EOL is to figure out how long it has been in the RV. You can also try replacing the batteries and resetting the unit to be sure. If the detector has been in the unit for several years without replacement and if changing the batteries does not fix the problem, then the unit probably needs to be replaced entirely.

Carbon Monoxide Leaks in an RV

The final reason why a detector for CO is beeping is that there is a leak in your RV. It is very easy to tell the difference between a real CO emergency and a false alarm. When there is CO, the detector will make a loud beeping noise that is frequent and easy to distinguish from the maintenance chirp. The light on the unit may also flash.

If your detector for CO begins beeping, you should assume that it is not a false alarm and act accordingly.

First, you should evacuate your family and pets from the RV. Have everyone stand a safe distance away and monitor for signs of illness.

To stop the beeping, you can hit the Test or Mute button; different models have different terms for this button.

The best way to make the RV safe again is to stop the accumulation of carbon monoxide. You should start by ventilating the RV. Open all the windows and turn on any electric fans you have to help move the carbon monoxide outside.

When a detector for CO goes off in an RV, the most common cause is a valve leak somewhere. While you air out the RV, you should turn off the gas line and disable all appliances that might give off CO, such as generators, furnaces, water heaters, the stove, and the oven.

Once the RV is adequately aired out, the detector should stop beeping. However, just because the noise has stopped doesn’t mean that your family is immediately safe to resume your adventure. After a real CO scare, you should take your RV to an expert to find out if your rig has a leak. If leaks do not get fixed, your family will be in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If the detector for CO goes off multiple times and you can’t find any leaks, you should test if the unit is working properly. If the unit is detachable, the best way to do this is to take it outside, away from cars and buildings, and see if it continues beeping. You can also call the manufacturer to report the problem and see if there is another explanation for the false alarms.

Even if your RV is experiencing false alarms, it is still very important to be cautious when your detector does go off. Your family is better safe than sorry when it comes to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. The safest thing to do is to replace the detector if there are any doubts about its functionality and to frequently check your RV’s exhaust and gas line to prevent leaks.