Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
My caravan is eight years old and I've never changed the detectors. (I've changed the batteries annually of course)
My smoke detector "died" a while back though as far as I could tell the CO alarm was still working.
I've never seen any information on how often you should change these for a new unit but as they do not cost a fortune I would have thought changing the units every 5-7 years would seem about right.
Has anyone any views? Is anything written up anywhere?
Regards,
Bob D.
I know commercial CO units do not last for ever and the cell inside has to be changed from time to time.
Comments
-
they should be tested at every service by the caravan engineer. I don't think they need changing and batteries can be tested whenever your in the van. my home ones have never been changed in 12 years but I do hoover then every 12 months as advised and test the batteries every month by pressing the test button. you can buy cans of gasses to test both co2 alarm and smoke alarm. Mine where fitted by the fire brigade and they never said anything about an age limit of the unit.
0 -
As far as I know the battery in ours can't be replace. It has I think about a 10 year life. So I suppose when the battery charge light no longer shows a periodic flashing LED, it is time to get a new one.
Or of course if it doesn't work on testing.
0 -
We have only got to give our smoke a 'dirty look' to set it off. It is far too sensitive. Any recommendations on a good reliable one please? (Apologies to the OP for slightly stepping on your toes but you, I and more may learn something about an important issue).
0 -
Somebody does make a 'toast proof' smoke alarm which I saw demonstrated on a you tube channel.
Tested here during a self build.
0 -
As a guide if the alarm goes off and 'you cant see anything', as in there is no smoke visible, the chances are it is an ionizing detector. These are designed to detect the 'invisible products of combustion' so are doing exactly what they are supposed to however, this can be very inconvenient/annoying and has sometimes lead to them being rendered inoperable by persons so affected removing all the protection they are designed to give.
You need to use an optical device which will still give a rapid alarm but reduce the unwanted fire signals.
0 -
I replaced our CO alarm at home when it started going off for no obvious reason (i.e. wood-burning stove wasn't even lit). Looking through the internet, it seems most have a 7 year life - so at 6+ years old it probably was duff.
Replaced it with a digital one from Screwfix which gives a readout of CO concentration plus room temperature which is great except it's so high up I can't see it without standing on a chair!!
Cost about £15, I think - and a small price to pay for safety.
0 -
Thanks all. Apologies to Ealing Bob for pushing in.
0 -
Looking on Amazon, FireaAngel toast proof alarms seem to have a maximum battery life of 10 yrs. They are on sale for about £10 although there are some older ones, with 8 yrs battery life left, for £8
0 -
Never managed to find the life of the CO2 alarm on the last caravan as my wife stood up too quickly and headed it causing the mountings to fail and a new one needed. They are a useful safety device as you are unlikely to detect CO2 your self if there is a problem.
Personally I am not convinced that a smoke alarm is that vital as I find it difficult to believe we would not spot a fire quickly although I may be wrong. The one on our new caravan has never gone off despite cooking that would have set off previous ones so I am beginning to wonder if it does work.
0 -
Smoke and CO alarms.
Having thought about the issue a little more I think testing and long term disposal and replacement are much the same as for caravan tyres i.e. you check and test the tyre pressures regularly and replace the tyres every 5/7 years. So in future I'm going to dispose of and replace my smoke and CO alarm every 7 years. The "non-replaceable" battery types of detectors with a "life" of seven years seem a good idea.
Any comments?
0 -
I know that they are there for safety but the location of most smoke detectors so close to the kitchen means that they can activate whenever you cook. We took the battery out on our caravan but the detector in the motorhome seems OK. Maybe that’s because we BBQ outside?
0
