What Can Trigger A Smoke Detector Into A False Alarm?
There’s no doubt about it: Smoke alarms are life-saving devices. They give people a chance to escape homes and other buildings before they’re harmed by fire, smoke, or toxic gas. And, naturally, these warnings are especially important when people are sleeping.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a nonprofit safety organization, working smoke alarms in a home can reduce a person’s risk of dying in a fire by 50%. For that reason, you should test your smoke alarms once a month. And you should change their batteries at least once a year, if not every six months.
At the same time, smoke alarms can sometimes cause problems. When there is a false alarm, it can frighten people, especially young children, and it can terrify pets as well. Worse yet, people can hurt themselves when they’re fleeing from a home, particularly if it’s dark or if they have mobility issues.
Plus, when firefighters are called to a location where there’s no actual fire, it could divert them from fighting a real fire somewhere else. On top of all that, there’s the issue of smoke alarm fatigue. That is, when people keep hearing false smoke alarms, they might eventually ignore their smoke alarms altogether — especially late at night.
But what brings about a false alarm?
Well, here are some of the most common causes — and some solutions as well:
1. Burned Food
Some smoke alarms will go off whenever people overcook or burn their meals and snacks. In fact, even if food items are just a little bit overdone, they could set off a false alarm. Sometimes, a smoke detector is simply oversensitive. Other times, an alarm is positioned too close to a toaster, stove, oven, waffle maker, or similar appliance.
For example, if you left popcorn in your microwave just a little too long, it could release a trace amount of smoke into the air. But it might be enough smoke for your smoke alarm to notice and trigger a false alarm.
Thus, replacing or moving your smoke alarm could help. For instance, if you have a smoke detector near your stove, you could move it to a hallway just outside your kitchen.
2. Dirt and Dust
It’s easy for dust and dirt particles to settle inside your smoke alarms, especially after an interior renovation, a spring cleaning, or a similar event. And yes, these particles can definitely lead to a false alarm.
The answer here is simple: You could open your smoke detector and clean it with a vacuum brush or other cleaning tool. Just be careful and gentle whenever you’re handling this device!
3. Steam and Humidity
Humidity can be problematic for a false alarm in smoke detectors. That’s because humid air is packed with water particles. And those particles can settle inside a smoke detector and trigger a false alarm just as smoke would. A dehumidifier could solve this issue, however.
In the same way, steam can set off smoke alarms. As a result, if you have a smoke detector that’s too close to your shower, the hot water might set it off. In that case, try moving the alarm farther away from your bathroom.
4. Fireplaces
For sure, a fireplace can make a room warmer, cozier, and more appealing. On the other hand, it can make a home smokier. When you’re starting a fire, tiny smoke particles can shoot across the room. And the same thing could happen when you throw an extra log onto the fire or when a gust of wind blows through your home.
If your fireplace keeps triggering a false alarm in your smoke detectors, you could try opening your fireplace damper wider whenever a fire’s going. (Your damper should be open all the way when there’s a fire and closed when there’s no fire.) Also, you could move your smoke alarm farther from the fireplace. However, it shouldn’t be more than 10 feet away. That’s because, if a real fire started near your fireplace, you’d want your smoke detector to go off as soon as possible.
5. Insects
Once bugs enter your home, they can take up residence in all sorts of unlikely places. In particular, tiny critters seek out dark, isolated places in which to live. And the small interior chambers of a smoke detector would definitely fit the bill.
A smoke detector’s sensors can pick up the presence of insects, triggering the false alarm. The solution here is to open up your smoke alarm and look for bugs. If you see any, clean out the device. You could use a damp cloth, an air compressor, a vacuum attachment, or an aerosol cleaner to do so.
How Mister Sparky Can Help
In the end, the safest, quickest, easiest, and most effective way to deal with a malfunctioning smoke detector is to hire a qualified pro to fix it.
That’s also true if you’d like a smoke alarm inspection, installation, or replacement, or if you’d like to move a smoke alarm. Fortunately, if you live in or near Sarasota, Fla., Mister Sparky can handle all of your smoke detector needs. Our licensed technicians are experts in smoke alarms and how they operate. And they make sure that homes are as protected from fires as they could be.
Not to mention, our team members are friendly, experienced, efficient, and always on time. They make us proud to declare: “Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky.” For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call us anytime. After all, when Mister Sparky’s on the job, a smoke detector problem is nothing to get alarmed about.
