Never take for granted that your detectors are good in your travel trailer. This not only means fire detectors but also your propane detector. Unlike your fire detector you don’t need to change batteries in your propane detector. The Propane detector gets it’s power from your RV battery, as long as it is charged above 8 volts.

Propane Detectors serve multiple purposes. The main purpose is to detect the presence of propane. It will give an audible alert if this is the case. This alarm could save your life if you are sleeping and a propane leak occurs. Likewise, if you return from being gone and you hear it, it will prevent you from entering an explosive situation.

It is mounted low to the floor of your RV, usually conveniently located in the kitchen area, where most propane fittings exist. The reason it is mounted near the floor is that propane is heavier than air.

The Propane Detector – Note that Alarms have specific Red/Green Flashing Combinations
Note Date of Manufacture on Back of Unit.

Now the important thing to know about the propane detector is that it has a shelf life. Many people do not realize that fact. Now, the reason it has a shelf life is that the sensor of your propane detector is only good for five years. Well you may be asking “How would I know how old it is”? Well the date of manufacture is stamped on the back side of the detector (see picture above). that date is something you need to know, and plan for. So if you don’t know the date, I would highly recommend that you remove the detector, turn it over, and write that date down. Then replace it before it reaches its expiration date.

Most have an end of life alarm, but would you really want to count on that? Plus if you are on the road camping and the alarm goes off…well now you have other things to be concerned about. Also remember that propane detectors should be tested regularly just like your smoke alarms.

Now, as I mentioned the Detector has another purpose as well. It can detect a wiring fault in the system. It did that on our travel trailer when the power converter failed. I was glad we got an alert at 2:00 AM that there was a problem, the dogs were less impressed.

Now, if you should hear your Propane alarm you should immediately leave the trailer and turn off the propane. One the trailer has aired out you can investigate the root cause of the issue. Of course none of this is possible if you have a unit that can no longer detect propane because it has exceeded it’s shelf life.

So please check your date and add five years to it and then replace it if necessary. As Sister Peter Mary used to say “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Stay Safe!