RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Keeps Beeping? – Fix Guide

RV carbon monoxide detector keeps beeping – what to do?

You can easily mute the detector but this is not a solution to the problem!

When an RV carbon monoxide detector starts to beep, this could be a prime indication of the poisoning gas presence. The other possibility would be a low backup battery which may simply need a few hours to recharge or be replaced.

Why Does My RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Keep Beeping?

Users admit that if all your RV camper systems are functioning correctly, the beeping of the carbon monoxide detector is most likely related to a low battery issue.

Besides the battery, there are other causes for the problem so let’s take a quick look at the possibilities:

Carbon Monoxide Is Detected

There’s a chance that the carbon monoxide detector has actually detected the poisoning gas in the vehicle and the alarm has been activated.

There can be a carbon monoxide leak or something on fire inside your camper so do not ignore the beep in case it appears rarely.

An Issue With The CO Detector

An issue with your carbon monoxide detector itself may make the device beep.

Such causes can be a low battery, alarm malfunction, or even a shortage in the wires.

Your CO detector is made to beep without stopping when the gas is detected or the device is not working.

Error Notification/False Alarm

The “error notification”, also known as a false alarm with carbon monoxide detectors, is whenever your RV’s detector goes off, without proper reasoning.

In most cases of false alarms, there are a few extra steps that should be undertaken to prevent further false alerts.

Let’s now learn how to fix the constant beeping of your RV’s carbon monoxide detector:

RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Keeps Beeping – Fixed

When the carbon monoxide detector is beeping all of the time, that could be an alert.

Without further ado let’s jump into the first and most important solution!

Solution #1 Identify Carbon Monoxide Leak

Your first step is to verify whether there is an actual carbon monoxide leak that makes your RV CO detector beep uncontrollably.

You have to make sure that nothing is on fire inside your RV and that there is no chemical leak that can make the detector go off.

Common signs of carbon monoxide leak can be the following:

• A stale smell in your RV
• Yellow-brown spots near the gas leaking appliance
• Carbon monoxide sickness symptoms (headache, dizziness, shortness of breath)
• Soot, smoke, or fumes inside the RV

If any of the following signs are observed inside your RV, exit the vehicle immediately and call 911, since inhaling too much carbon monoxide can be life-threatening.

The CO is released by burning appliances so you should first check whether something is burning.

Tip: Make sure to air out your RV vehicle before exiting to clear out the carbon monoxide as much as possible.

Solution #2 Mute The CO Detector

If you’re certain that the beeping of your carbon monoxide was a false alarm, you can mute the device by pressing a combination of buttons.

Every carbon monoxide detector has the ability to be silenced whenever it is beeping but on different models, the button labels are not the same.

Here’s how to universally mute your RV carbon monoxide detector:

1. Reach the CO detector.
2. Locate the “Hush”, or “Silence” and “TEST” buttons on the device.
3. Press both the “Hush/Silence” and the TEST buttons.
4. Hold both of the buttons down for 10 seconds.
5. This should make your carbon monoxide detector stop beeping.

Note: If your CO detector only has a “Hush” button, by holding it the CO detector should stop beeping.

Solution #3 Hard Reset The Detector

Before attempting a more drastic solution for the beeping of your CO detector, you should attempt a basic approach, such as hard resetting the device.

This method will discharge your device out of any electricity and reset the fault, therefore, stopping the beeping.

Here’s how you can perform a hard reset on your CO detector in easy steps:

1. Grab the bottom panel of the detector.
2. Rotate the panel counterclockwise until it comes off.
3. Once the bottom panel feels loose, gently take it out.
4. Open the battery compartment.
5. Remove the batteries inside of the detector.
6. Wait for 5 minutes.
7. Re-insert the batteries.
8. Check if the beeping is still there.

Note: That would be a good chance to replace the battery if you’ve got fresh units available.

Solution #4 Examine/Replace Loose Wires

Since your RV may not have continuous power at all times, this can cause the detector to beep as a sign of low battery.

Keep in mind that the batteries inside of your RV carbon monoxide are meant to be a backup power supply, in case something happens to the wires.

Here’s how you can identify loose or not-working wires in your RV’s CO detector:

1. Track the wire that comes out of the detector.
2. Examine the body of the AC wire.
3. Reach the end of the wire.
4. Ensure that the wire is connected securely with the RV’s power source.

How To Replace CO Detector Wires?

1. Remove the mounting bracket of the CO detector.
2. Disconnect the attached wires from the harnesses.
3. Pull out the red and white wires.
4. Grab a replacement 12V wire for the RV CO detector.
5. Using the naked end of the wire, attach it to the poles (harnesses) of the CO detector.
6. Make sure that the wires aren’t blocking the mounting bracket.
7. Install the mounting bracket along with your CO detector.
8. Connect the other two ends of the wires to the power source of the RV.
9. Test if the device is going to beep now.

Tip: If you have a hard time tracking the wires and connecting them to the correct sources, you can use the manual that came along with your detector.

Solution #5 Reset The Smoke Detector

If replacing the wires couldn’t solve the issue for you, then it is suggested to perform a reset on the carbon monoxide detector.

This will reset the operating system of the device and most certainly solve the problem with the constant beeping.

Here’s how you can perform a factory reset on your smoke detector in easy steps:

1. Twist the head of the detector to loosen and open the panel.
2. Locate the “Reset” button on the bottom of the panel.
3. Hold the reset button down for 10 seconds.
4. Your CO detector should now be reset.

Note: The carbon monoxide detector LEDs should flash as an indication of a reset.

Solution #6 Replace RV Detector Backup Batteries

Although your CO detector is mainly powered by the RV’s power, you can still replace the backup battery in case this beeping has something to do with an internal fault.

The last move before passing this problem to someone qualified is to replace the backup batteries.

Remember: The RV CO detector uses 2 or 3 9-volt batteries!

How To Replace Backup Batteries In CO Detector?

1. Reach the CO detector.
2. Grab the bottom panel and twist it counterclockwise.
3. Once the bottom panel feels loose, pull it out.
4. Open the battery compartment.
5. Pull out all the old batteries.
6. Unpack the fresh set of batteries.
7. Position them inside the compartment.
8. Close the latch and install the detector’s cover.
9. Test if the RV’s CO detector would still beep.

With fresh batteries, the carbon monoxide detector should not be beeping except if there is a leak of the poisonous gas. 

In case the beeps continue you should either replace the device or call 911 to inspect your vehicle for a CO leak.

Quick Recap:

Hence, the RV carbon monoxide detectors beep when they detect CO in the air. The beeping could also be coming due to low battery so users need to inspect for carbon monoxide leaks and re-charge or entirely replace the batteries.

Wrapping Up:

Now that we know why the RV carbon monoxide detector keeps beeping, we would know how to react in such scenarios.

It’s important to remember that carbon monoxide is dangerous and in some cases lethal so the CO detector beeping should not be ignored.