Check your smoke alarm

[Gman1372]

This post is geared more towards the new or first time owner. Don't assume your smoke alarm is fully functional when you take delivery of your new RV. It's easily missed during PDI. Open the cover and check for the plastic tab at the 9v battery. (See pic below) Make sure it's removed. I would also suggest replacing the battery every spring when your getting prepared for the season. Maybe a moderator could Sticky this for the benefit of the first timers

 

[abarkl]

Test the detector each week and before each trip as the sticker posted at the detector clearly states.

 

[2nOZ]

I have to remove the battery when we are using the TT. If the stove or oven is in use, even if there is no visible smoke, it goes off. Very sensitive and annoying.

 

[abarkl]

I have to remove the battery when we are using the TT. If the stove or oven is in use, even if there is no visible smoke, it goes off. Very sensitive and annoying.

Replace it.

Detectors of all types in an RV should be replaced every 5-10 years regardless of operation or condition.

We replaced all ours CO, Smoke, Propane, this year in our new to us 2008.

 

[2nOZ]

It's only 3 months old as is the new TT. Bought the TT new in Sept. and it went off on our first outing. The wife's a pretty good cook too.

 

[mike837go]

Ours gets tested at every meal.


"Smoke Detector" AKA "Kitchen Timer"

 

[shadester]

I've actually added one in both bedrooms. I rather have more protection than less especially when your a heavy sleeper.

 

[oldmanAZ]

Ours gets tested at every meal.


"Smoke Detector" AKA "Kitchen Timer"

Ours too! Our "Smoke Detector" AKA "Toast Detector"

Ours also falls off the ceiling when going down the road. Of course the slide is in when it falls so it ends up on top of the slide when it falls. Of course the first few times we missed it so it ended up outside or wedged into the slide seal. We now put it in a drawer as part of our departure SOP and putting it up part of our arrival SOP.

 

[bankr63]

I replaced ours with a model designed for kitchens. It is a little less sensitive to smoke but more to flame and has a silence button when it does go off that shuts it up for 5-10 minutes unless it senses another big increase in danger.

It hasn't (yet) gone off since I replaced it, but I'm not sure we've made toast inside since then either. We prefer cooking on the outdoor stove.

 

[dewey02]

I replaced ours with a model designed for kitchens. It is a little less sensitive to smoke but more to flame and has a silence button when it does go off that shuts it up for 5-10 minutes unless it senses another big increase in danger.

It hasn't (yet) gone off since I replaced it, but I'm not sure we've made toast inside since then either. We prefer cooking on the outdoor stove.

I've always wondered why they don't put that type of smoke detector in RVs - the ones with the 5 minute pause button. Ours ALWAYS goes off when making toast. If there was a pause button, you push it and it silences the detector for
5 minutes or so and then it re-engages.

 

[Vaquero]

You made me look.
Sure enough, the plastic tab was still there.
Took delivery in January 2016.

Good thread.

 

[BuddyRay]

I also wonder why nobody makes a smoke detector for RV's, like the CO detectors, that are 12v powered so we don't have to worry about batteries.

Such smoke detectors exist - they are designed to work with 12v and 24v commercial alarm systems. A few models come with sounders built in the unit so they should stand alone. Problem is, being commercial products, they ain't cheap.

I know someone is going to say "What's the big deal, you just check the battery once a year." But safety equipment should be as fool proof as possible and hardwiring to the 12v system (with a small LiIo rechargable battery backup for during power failures) would just make sense. As would an end of live indication to replace after 5 years of use.

 

[NCMFFD]

DW checked the smoke alarm cooking a gourmet dinner for me last night. It works just fine.

 

[RogerR]

Forgot to take the battery out before winter cover-up and storage. Listened to it beep for dead battery until we could clear off enough snow to get inside (it was a popup). Annoyed us and on quiet nights, our neighbors. We now take out the battery and leave the little door/lid open so we don't forget to put in a new one in the spring.

PS those used batteries are fine as backup batteries for our clocks.

 

[bdreinv]

Funny just checked mine after two years no battery from factory!lol

 

[Jagiven]

Forgot to take the battery out before winter cover-up and storage. Listened to it beep for dead battery until we could clear off enough snow to get inside (it was a popup). Annoyed us and on quiet nights, our neighbors. We now take out the battery and leave the little door/lid open so we don't forget to put in a new one in the spring.

PS those used batteries are fine as backup batteries for our clocks.

I too take the battery out, and leave the door open.

Don't forget to check the ones in the house too. Did that with the kid last week, and two of our new, less than a year old hardwired, with a 10 year Li battery, would not signal an alarm.

 

[John7349]

Smoke Alarm Battery

About eight months after we bought the Jayco, I was looking in the "Jayco blue bag" and discovered a 9V battery in it.... Great dealer prep...
(Shame on me!)

 

[Bassdogs]

I have to remove the battery when we are using the TT. If the stove or oven is in use, even if there is no visible smoke, it goes off. Very sensitive and annoying.

There is an old but still active thread about people's dumbest rv moves. You need to list this one under your name. Replace it, it is there for a reason. Use the exhaust fan when cooking, that might help.

Here is a true story. A few years ago after renting a houseboat here on Dale Hollow Lake a couple was found by others on a friends boat next to them. One died later of CO poisoning. The family sue the marina that rented the boat. During a deposition ahead of the trial, they were ask about the CO detector that is on all rental boats. The survivor stated that they had removed the battery because it kept going off. That law suit did not go forward.

I know this is about a smoke detector, but the end result could easily be the same.

 

[Murff]

RE: CO detector; as the story goes, an RVer returned his new rig to the selling dealer complaining to the service manager that every time the went camping, the CO detector would go off.

The service techs checked the CO detector and could find no problem with it. The service manager asked the customer exactly when the detector would go off. The man thought about it for a few minutes and said it was always on Saturday night about an hour or two after dinner. The service manager asked what they had for dinner those Saturdays and the customer stated, "steak, we always grill a steak on Saturday night when we camp."

The service manager asked what they did right after dinner and he said he threw the steak bone to his black lab and then usually took a walk before he settled down for TV or reading a book. The service manager thought for a minute and asked where the dog's bed was located in the rig. The man replied, "right next to the CO detector, why do you ask?"

I think y'all know the answer here; doggy methane!

Murff

 

[MaxFalls44]

Good AAdvice!