How Do You Stay Safe From Carbon Monoxide and Propane Leaks in an RV?

An RV packs a stove, a furnace, a water heater, often a fridge on propane, and sometimes a generator into a small space. Each can be safe when it works and is used as the manual says. The risk is that you can’t see or smell carbon monoxide.

Why is carbon monoxide so dangerous?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says CO is called the “Invisible Killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. CPSC says more than 200 people in the U.S. die every year from accidental non-fire CO poisoning associated with consumer products, and more than 100 of those deaths are linked to portable generators.

What are the symptoms?

CPSC lists these symptoms of CO poisoning: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, sleepiness and confusion. If you suspect CO poisoning, CPSC says to get outside to fresh air immediately, and then call 911.

What should you check before each trip?

• CO alarm: press the test button. CPSC recommends CO alarms with battery backup.
• Propane (LP) leak detector: press its test button too, and check the manual for how often to replace it.
• Smoke alarm: test it.
• Propane shutoff: know where the tank valve is and how to close it.
• Vents: look for blocked furnace and water-heater vents outside.

If a rental’s alarm doesn’t sound when tested, ask for it to be fixed or for a different RV.

How should you run a generator?

CPSC says never to use portable generators inside homes or garages, even with doors and windows open, and to use them outside only, at least 20 feet away from homes with the exhaust facing away. Apply the same idea to the RV and to neighbors’ RVs: don’t run a portable generator inside the RV or in an enclosed space. For a built-in generator, follow the RV manual, keep the exhaust area clear, and don’t run it while parked where exhaust can collect (for example, against a snowbank or wall).

What should you do if an alarm sounds?

1. Get everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air immediately.
2. Then call 911.
3. For a propane alarm, don’t operate switches or create sparks; close the propane tank valve if it’s safe to do so.
4. Don’t go back in until responders or a qualified technician says it’s safe.

Which standard covers RV propane systems?

NFPA 1192, the Standard on Recreational Vehicles (current edition 2026), establishes fire and life safety criteria for RVs to provide protection from loss of life from fire and explosion. RVIA says it inspects member-built RVs against more than 500 safety-related requirements. Your owner’s manual is the guide for your RV’s appliances.

For CO alarms at home, see our sister site Wise Home Comfort. Back to the first-rental checklist.

What is a quick safety checklist for each trip?

1. Press the test button on the CO, propane (LP) and smoke alarms.
2. Check the date on each alarm and replace any past its replacement date.
3. Know where the propane shutoff valve is, and how to close it.
4. Look for the fire extinguisher and check its gauge.
5. Plan where the generator exhaust will point at each campsite, away from your RV and your neighbors’.
6. Make sure every person on the trip knows the alarm sounds and to get outside first.

What should renters ask at pickup?

• When the alarms were last tested or replaced.
• Where the propane shutoff and the generator controls are.
• Whether the alarm runs on the RV battery and what happens if the battery runs low.
• Who to call if an alarm keeps sounding.

What are the common mistakes?

• Disconnecting or silencing an alarm instead of finding the cause.
• Running a generator close to an open window, door or vent.
• Using a gas stove or oven to heat the RV.
• Ignoring symptoms such as headache or dizziness because nobody smells anything; CO has no smell.

How do you cook safely in an RV?

Open a window or roof vent and run the range hood fan while you cook with propane, and never leave burners on unattended. Turn off the stove and oven when you finish. Keep the CO and propane alarms powered whenever someone is inside.