Carbon monoxide inside our trailer

Momabear · 07-23-2019, 08:02 AM

We have a 2016 white hawk. Lately when we drive down the road we get carbon dioxide inside our trailer. All windows, and vents are closed. The only thing we have on is the propane for our frig. Does anyone know what is causing this?please help

us71na · 07-23-2019, 08:18 AM

Check the vent on your refrigerator to see if it is clogged, preventing the flue gasses from get out.

Route 66 Traveler · 07-23-2019, 08:20 AM

Must be from heavy breathing....

I think you mean Carbon Monoxide which comes from burning fossil fuel.

RetiredOne · 07-23-2019, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momabear

Lately when we drive down the road we get carbon dioxide inside our trailer. All windows, and vents are closed. The only thing we have on is the propane for our frig. Does anyone know what is causing this?please help

How do you know this? CO is odorless and colorless?

Is your CO detector going off? Could be a faulty detector too?

JimD · 07-23-2019, 09:50 AM

If it only happens while driving, you could be sucking in exhaust fumes. If so, check for some sort of air leak from the outside.

Momabear · 07-23-2019, 10:17 AM

JimD. Thank you. Yes the carbon monoxide gets in only while driving. Can you help me with some places it could be coming in from? I’ve checked the windows,stove and bathroom vents
Fry

rockaw · 07-23-2019, 11:09 AM

Run with the frig off and see if you get the warning, if not, it might be the frig, if you still get the warning, I'd lean to TV exhaust fumes getting in.

ALJO · 07-23-2019, 12:06 PM

It is usual the gap around the inside case of the fridge (seal with the appropriate silicone) even ones which have a pantry besides them.

GHen · 07-23-2019, 12:40 PM

It could be that the windows and vents are creating a vacuum that sucks the CO2 in, from the fridge or the Truck. After trying suggestions above, change your window/vent configuration. Close what’s open, open what’s closed. Maybe you can create some pressure rather than vacuum.

RogerR · 07-23-2019, 05:25 PM

CO is a killer. Take it to a muffler shop that will put it up on a rack and look for a leak somewhere.

If not , than maybe vacuum sucking exhaust in while going down the road. You might consider adding a few inches to the pipe if it does not stick up. You will of course always know it is there via your shin metal detector.

Tunce the traveler · 07-23-2019, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momabear

We have a 2016 white hawk. Lately when we drive down the road we get carbon dioxide inside our trailer.

You said “Lately” and you’ve had the trailer for 3+years now so what changed in your traveling?
Traveling with the wind lately
A new truck
Truck bed loaded differently
Missing a window seal

ShawnR · 07-25-2019, 07:20 AM

Are you putting anything near the detector when you travel? Sometimes it can detect “fumes” from items nearby. A dog bed, laundry, vacuum cleaner, etc.

JimD · 07-25-2019, 09:53 AM

I once sprayed some Lysol disinfectant inside my motor home and it caused the propane alarm to keep going off first thing in the morning for weeks.

I had to greatly air out the thing PLUS do a power disconnect for a couple of days and that finally stopped the alarm.

Is your detector a dual propane/co2 type or just co2?

bankr63 · 07-25-2019, 10:50 AM

The one other possibility I can think of for this to crop up randomly is your battery charge. The LP/CO detectors are probably the best indicator of low battery state and will sound as soon as the voltage drops much below 12V. If plugging into shore power (restores full 12+V via converter), then I would suspect that my house battery might not be charging from the tow vehicle, and is too weak to hold a charge that long (really two different problems).

As suggested, easiest test though is to run another trip with the fridge and propane shut off. If it is still going off I would test the battery output to see if it has dropped below 12v (another easy test). If those two tests don't point to a source, then I would suspect CO from the tow vehicle exhaust is entering into the TT somehow.

poohbear · 07-25-2019, 07:35 PM

It's probably just time to replace the CO ( carbon monoxide ) detector as it's probably aged out. Owner has had it 3 yrs + no idea how long it sat on a shelf or how long the rv sat on a lot after delivery. I had to replace ours after about 3 years.

**JFlightRisk** · 07-25-2019, 07:54 PM

The OP never did say if it was a combo LP/CO detector, or not.
How's this scenario: It IS a combo detector, and now that it's closed up while they're travelling, There's a small propane leak, and the gas is collecting enough to set off the LP side of the detector. Hmmm?

Keetters · 07-31-2019, 12:20 PM

Had a CO detector alarm at random after turning power on. Removed the detector and checked the manufacturer date and it was more than 5 years old. Replaced the detector and had no more issues.

GraftonGuns · 07-31-2019, 01:19 PM

Carbon Monoxide? I'd check to make sure you are not getting it through an open window or through a vent...........Carbon Dioxide makes beer or soda fizz

Super Eagle · 08-01-2019, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momabear

We have a 2016 white hawk. Lately when we drive down the road we get carbon dioxide inside our trailer. All windows, and vents are closed. The only thing we have on is the propane for our frig. Does anyone know what is causing this?please help

How do you know you’re getting carbon monoxide in your trailer? Is the detector in the trailer going off? And how would you hear it when you’re driving?
You cannot smell carbon monoxide, you can only detect it with the right instruments. Could it be that you’re getting exhaust fumes in your trailer?

RetiredOne · 08-01-2019, 08:34 AM

Where did the OP go??

Did she get overcome by the fumes from the Carbon Dioxide?

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