Carbon monoxide alarm!

[boxtraveller]

About 4 am this morning this CO alarm went off and gave us both a big fright.
Eventually silenced it and all seemed normal, green light was flashing, test alarm worked as normal..Checked all gas taps firmly off and that vents were open everywhere.
Checked batteries in alarm ok this morning , what else to do? There is a motorhome dealer down the road should I ask him to check for leaks?
We have an underslung Gasit installation so not dead easy to turn gas off.

 

[Stealaway]

Oops

 

[Richard n Ann]

Have a smell of your leisure battery, they can gas and set off the alarm, check if it's warm too

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Where were you parked up, were there any hgv, s about with engines running?

 

[pete4x4]

Whats the date on the alarm, if over 10 years old they need replacing as can false fire apparently

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[boxtraveller]

No HGVs, van just over a year old and so is detector, battery is cold, vent pipe fitted ok and it smells good, thanks for suggestions so far.

 

[daveandsan]

Wouldn’t think it is gas as that will drop. Was the heating or hot water turned on?

 

[buntyb]

A Carbon monoxide alarm doesn’t detect gas leaks but they can be prone to failure as much as any smoke alarm. If in doubt buy a new one from a reputable company, not the unbranded £10 eBay bargain ones. I will mention a recent alarm activation my OH recently dealt with, someone was using gas powered travel hair straighteners, they give off pretty high levels of carbon monoxide if left on and unattended for any length of time

 

[boxtraveller]

Wouldn’t think it is gas as that will drop. Was the heating or hot water turned on?

No, everything off, very warm night here in deepest Norfolk

 

[Arthur01]

We have come across a few alarms in the hot weather which have sounded for no apparent reason - a couple were less than a year old too.
the pic is the most recent showing 36 parts per million whilst the gas analyser shows zero & the replacement alarm is silent.
After your checks confirm no issues I would suggest the alarm is replaced & if less than a year return to the manufacturer who may replace it with another.

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[Richard n Ann]

I replaced ours for the same make but better model with a screen, that way it clips straight onto the existing bracket

 

[boxtraveller]

Spoke to my dealer today and he said next time your in we will test it. He agreed that they can go off in hot weather but had no idea why.1

 

[DavidG58]

I thoroughly recommend getting one with a digital display

That can tell you how to react, they do have a delayed reaction, but if only reading the lower trigger point of normally 35ppm you can rest much more easily than if over 100

This is the one we have, we have three down the length of the MH

Amazon product ASIN B00ABGEL62

cant be too safe with a silent odourless killer

 

[Campervan_man]

Apparently they shouldn't be sited too high in the van as by the time they alarm it's too late.
................................................................................................................................................................................................

Also, I bought a more expensive £19.99 smoke alarm instead of the usual £4.99 etc type and put a smoking match next to it and it didn't alarm so took it back to the shop for a refund and bought a cheaper one instead that worked.

 

[DavidG58]

Apparently they shouldn't be sited too high in the van as by the time they alarm it's too late.
................................................................................................................................................................................................

Also, I bought a more expensive £19.99 smoke alarm instead of the usual £4.99 etc type and put a smoking match next to it and it didn't alarm so took it back to the shop for a refund and bought a cheaper one instead that worked.

Maybe have a read of this, you have been misinformed

I have studied this for safe confined space access for work and out of Interest when my brother committed suicide in his car by gassing back in the 80’s

Carbon Monoxide Levels | Kidde

Carbon monoxide (CO) levels in a home are measured over time and are "time-weighted," which works is by measuring CO buildup in a house as time passes. Learn more.

www.kidde.com

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[Smarty Marty]

Hi from a previous post and thread. https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/gassed-from-my-leisure-battery.216617/

 

[MyrtleGuru]

Ours used to go off randomly if the temperature got very high.

We replaced it with one that has a display that shows you the CO value, so you at least have an idea of what's going one.

 

[Campervan_man]

Ventilation is important in leisure vehicles and people do sometimes block off air vents which is not a good idea.

 

[Campervan_man]

Where to Place a Carbon Monoxide Detector, and How it Works | OVO Energy

Where you place a carbon monoxide detector could be the difference between life and death. Find out all you need to know about this life-saving alarm.

www.ovoenergy.com

Placement of a carbon monoxide detector:-

Make sure the alarm is at head height (breathing level), but it doesn’t have to be fixed on a wall. You could place it on a table, shelf or a bookcase, for example, but don’t put it on the ceiling.

Mid height in a van is a good place to site a CO detector as { breathing level } at night is usually in bed.
Nothing to say a van cannot have more than one detector.
They are not expensive and if a battery fails there is a back up.
Lots of habitation checks batteries are missing or flat and detectors are sometimes placed in cupboards or drawers.

 

[autorouter]

No, everything off, very warm night here in deepest Norfolk

Was the fridge on gas?

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[TerryL]

+1 for the fridge.

 

[boxtraveller]

Was the fridge on gas?

No, running on electric as normal.
Sorry for delay in replying but have been off internet due to lack of internet and 4G signal.
The alarm has been fine since the initial scare and am inclined to go with theory of it being extremely warm at the time.
Going to read the links supplied and probably invest in one with a display for peace of mind.

 

[tonyidle]

cant be too safe with a silent odourless killer

You got a CV19 detector going spare?