CO Alarm post winterization

[St8ofbeing]

This is the 2nd year in a row we have had CO alarm from the alarm under the dinette in the first few days following winterization.  Last year I called Oliver and they sent out a new RVCOLP-2 unit and I replaced it.  No more issue till today after we winterized on Sunday.  

My thoughts for troubleshooting are to order a handheld CO detector from amazon and put the CO unit back in.  Once it alarms test using the handheld.  Could this be caused by AntiFreeze smell coming from the toilet?  Do we need to air out the trailer post winterization?

Any other thoughts?  Is there a better CO detector I can buy and install? 

Thanks in advance. 

[St8ofbeing]

BTW we have a 2023 Oliver Elite II Hull #1340

[topgun2]

The first thing I would do (if I were you) is to actually use the "search" function at the top of this page by typing in "carbon monoxide".

With the 119 results you will get - about 5 down the page is a detector that John Davies put in and it just may be the solution for you.

However, note that these detectors do not seem to be the most reliable of devices - read a bunch of the other posts that the search gives you.

Good luck!

Bill

[St8ofbeing]

Thank you Bill

[Patriot]

@St8ofbeing

I will save you a search on the forum. 

Last year we had to replace our RV Safe LP detector while on a 42 day 6000 mile trip. I purchased the detector at Humphrey RV, in Montrose, CO and it was a fast simple install. We got home and winterized and the new detector I had just installed alarmed and would not reset. So I called RV Safe and explained the issue and long story short they sent me a replacement. The gal was really nice and also sent a prepaid return envelope for the faulty detector. The gal I spoke at RV Safe said well RV anti freeze should not set the alarm off but anything is possible. We had no LP turned on, no leaks and the alarm only sounded after winterizing. I admit the RV AF order was quite strong inside our Oliver. I just don’t understand why the antifreeze odor would set it off.

Fast forward - I just winterized last week after an 48 day, 7400 mile trip out west and the LP alarm went off and would not reset after winterizing. So I will be calling RV Safe again explaining what happened and requesting a replacement. If you contact RV safe make sure you specify a white trim replacement. They also come in black. I would caution against adding an on off switch to your LP detector. I opted not to as it could be deadly if one forgets to turn it on. 

 

https://rvsafealarm.com/contact/

Edit and update -

I just spoke with Andrea she is the Customer Service Rep and is sending me a replacement. I will return the existing detector.

 

Patriot🇺🇸

Edited October 23 by Patriot

[Rolind]

In our experience ethanol fumes whether spilled near the sensor or dissipated by  respiration after a few drinks is enough to trigger the CO alarm if the trailer is closed up.  I’m sure the ethanol in the antifreeze would also be enough to trigger the alarm.

[ADKCamper]

Seems to be a recurring theme... same thing happened to our unit yesterday. Just replaced the original Atwood detector with an RV-Safe detector in April due to the Atwood repeatedly false-alarming. Worked fine all season. Shortly after winterization (maybe an hour?) it went into (CO) alarm and would not stop. Tried 'reset' twice and it began to alarm again shortly after the reset each time. Propane turned off for 2 weeks, no appliances running, RV anti-freeze in the toilet, traps and water lines.

Fortunately we are done camping for this season, so I pulled the fuse and visibly tagged the detector as "OFF". If we had had to winterize at elevation this month while still camping, this would be a bigger issue. Sounds like a design flaw???

Edited October 23 by ADKCamper

[Patriot]

On 10/23/2024 at 2:38 PM, ADKCamper said:

Seems to be a recurring theme... same thing happened to our unit yesterday. Just replaced the original Atwood detector with an RV-Safe detector in April due to the Atwood repeatedly false-alarming. Worked fine all season. Shortly after winterization (maybe an hour?) it went into (CO) alarm and would not stop. Tried 'reset' twice and it began to alarm again shortly after the reset each time. Propane turned off for 2 weeks, no appliances running, RV anti-freeze in the toilet, traps and water lines.

Fortunately we are done camping for this season, so I pulled the fuse and visibly tagged the detector as "OFF". If we had had to winterize at elevation this month while still camping, this would be a bigger issue. Sounds like a design flaw???

Yes, a design flaw for sure. The rep that I spoke with said here in California we don’t winterize our campers. 🙄 I suggested that they place a cup of RV anti freeze in a cardboard box with the detector inside wait for it to alarm and consider recalibration. She seemed to think that was a good idea. We’ll see if that happens. 

Edited October 29 by Patriot

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Patriot said:

Yes, a design flaw for sure.

Maybe. We’d have to be chemists to be sure. I don’t use the pink stuff, but if it’s ethanol based, I would think it could react with brass or other plumbing components to produce the simple but deadly compound CO.

[Patriot]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Maybe. We’d have to be chemists to be sure. I don’t use the pink stuff, but if it’s ethanol based, I would think it could react with brass or other plumbing components to produce the simple but deadly compound CO.

No chemist here ha! The customer service rep said their company would replicate the RV anti freeze odor and determine if that’s causing the detector to alarm. She said they have had several calls after people have winterized and immediately there after their CO/LP alarm sounded. I guess we will wait and see what the experts come up with. This is the second time around for me. It was interesting to hear her say they have had multiple calls this week on this exact same issue. 

 

Edited October 24 by Patriot

[St8ofbeing]

I really appreciate all the replies. Very helpful. Last year i did not link the winterization to the alarm. But two years in a row seems like a trend. 

[John Dorrer]

Not happened to us, so now that I have said that wait until 11/1 when I winterize and watch it happen.

 

RV Anti-freeze is non-toxic, and you would think it wouldn't cause the CO sector to go off, but apparently it has.

Keep us posted. Very strange.

 

[Zodd]

I used this RecPro RV Antifreeze -50°F Protection Non-Toxic which is Ethonal-free, assuming it is the Ehtonal that triggers this. So far, knock on wood, no alarming for me. And I have had it alarm a few times with three of us sleeping. It still has propylene glycol in it. It seems ethylene glycol, which some types of antifreeze use, can produce carbon monoxide when it decomposes at high temperatures. 

[topgun2]

That stuff sure ain't cheap! 🤑

[Patriot]

17 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

That stuff sure ain't cheap! 🤑

This is what I use and I usually get it on sale.  It has strong reviews and has worked well for us with the exception of setting off our LP/CO alarm. 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/SPLASH-Non-Toxic-50-50-Antifreeze-Cooling-Fluid-1-Gallon-For-RVs-Boats-Pools-Ethyl-Alcohol-50F-Burst-Protection/1001303072?store=612&cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-hdw-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_LIA_HDW_Online_C-D-_-1001303072-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W9hRI4Nvwfs2K7-hTSUpLL-r&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4Oe4BhCcARIsADQ0csloYKcIQ04k3NO6UEfmyjY02U09-6gIeVxeIl5hbVkoZO4zZ16R5bkaApkAEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Edited October 24 by Patriot

[jd1923]

4 hours ago, Zodd said:

I used this RecPro RV Antifreeze -50°F Protection Non-Toxic which is Ethonal-free, assuming it is the Ehtonal that triggers this.

This may be the answer!

[John Dorrer]

Well, I winterized this morning, and then the CO Detector went off 3 times. Most of the RV antifreeze I used was from last year and I opened a new one that was different, bought from same Ace Hardware. I left a window open. Very strange. First 2 times no issues.

Edited Friday at 09:21 PM by John Dorrer
Typo

[John Dorrer]

This what we have been using and never had the alarm go off until this year.

[SeaDawg]

Some cheaper rv antifreeze is , from what I've been told, reclaimed/recycled de-icing glycol.

That said, we've not had alarms go off worh the "cheap" stuff from Walmart, etc. 

Those of you have had the issue, did you also blow out the piping before adding rv antifreeze?

 

[jd1923]

15 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

That said, we've not had alarms go off worh the "cheap" stuff from Walmart

A little aside on this post. Walmart house brand Super Tech is pretty good stuff. I started using this in all our gas vehicles. A gallon for $20 full synthetic rated for 20K miles! Although I would never go over 10K miles on a change. We have 3 trucks, 2 cars, and a Goldwing so none of them get high miles. I'm comfortable running this for 1-2 years between changes.

Super Tech Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil SAE 5W-30, 5 Quarts - Walmart.com

[ADKCamper]

17 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

Some cheaper rv antifreeze is , from what I've been told, reclaimed/recycled de-icing glycol.

That said, we've not had alarms go off worh the "cheap" stuff from Walmart, etc. 

Those of you have had the issue, did you also blow out the piping before adding rv antifreeze?

 

Yes, blew out all lines, inlets and outlets with low pressure air prior to introducing RV antifreeze. The difference this year was I left some antifreeze in the toilet bowl. Usually I drain the antifreeze from the bowl into the black tank and leave toilet valve lubricant in the bottom of the bowl. There was likely more "antifreeze fumes" than usual in the air with what was left in the toilet bowl.

Our RV antifreeze this year was also the "Champion" brand from Camping World, as shown above...

Edited Sunday at 06:16 PM by ADKCamper

[topgun2]

25 minutes ago, ADKCamper said:

The difference this year was I left some antifreeze in the toilet bowl.

I always do this but I then take Saran Wrap and cover the top of the toilet bowl so that the antifreeze doesn't evaporate over the winter.  Perhaps this also serves to lessen the "fumes".

Bill

[John Dorrer]

Well, this isn't funny anymore🙃. Winterized 3 days ago, anti-freeze poured in both sink traps, floor drain with back flush closed, and toilet.

 

Left window open 2"-3" and no issues. Rain forecast so I closed the window. We were gone 3 hours and when we returned it was going off. Had to place a small USB fan in front of the detector. Took 5 minutes to get the green light. 

 

Going to try the wrap.  This sucks.

[Patriot]

On 11/1/2024 at 5:21 PM, John Dorrer said:

Well, I winterized this morning, and then the CO Detector went off 3 times. Most of the RV antifreeze I used was from last year and I opened a new one that was different, bought from same Ace Hardware. I left a window open. Very strange. First 2 times no issues.

John,

I stepped in XPLOR this afternoon and checked on our dehumidifier. While inside I noticed that the strong odor of the antifreeze we used to winterize has greatly diminished. I could still detect a slight odor but nothing like it was. So after inserting ear plugs as the alarm as you know is ear piercing and I decided to reattach the RV Safe LP/CO detector. The green light came on in normal and the detector did not go off. 🤞🏻 Our Ollie is parked in our Hangar in the backyard allows us to actually hear the detector if it alarms. I also took @topgun2 suggestion and covered the porcelain throne with Saran Wrap and I also covered grey water drains with a little painters tape. I will let you know if our alarm goes off again as this is week 3 after winterizing. I think leaving two windows open even with our cover on really helped disparate the antifreeze odor. 

- David

Edited Sunday at 08:50 PM by Patriot

[Zodd]

On the topic of humidity when winterized in the trailer what all do you target and use? I figured I could do <50 using damprid but using that has hardly had much effect and humidity is staying at about 72% which feels too high. I put a second damprid in thinking maybe it just needs two but no impact. The trailer is covered with vents closed. Maybe I need to open vents?  Just figured with it being covered opening vents would not do much and maybe even make it worse living in the inland northwest.