To better understand how smoke alarms function, here are a few reasons your smoke detector may randomly go off.
Smoke alarms are incredibly essential in maintaining you and your family safe in case of a fire. But they don’t constantly blare when a fire threatens to spread out in your home. Although smoke detector false alarms happen often, you shouldn’t ignore the sound if you don’t smell or see smoke. To better understand how smoke alarms function, here are a few reasons your smoke detector may randomly go off.
Reasons for Smoke Detector False Alarms
Old Smoke Fire Alarm
Your smoke detector may randomly go off if it’s old. In general, smoke alarms have a lifespan of about ten years. When they arrive at the end of their lifecycle, smoke detector false alarms will happen more often. So, replace your detector right away if it’s older than ten years.
Low Batteries
When low or incorrectly connected smoke alarm batteries, they usually make minor chirping sounds. While that’s not the sound of smoke detection, it’s a warning sign that you must check on your device. Therefore, make sure to replace the batteries twice a year to prevent your smoke detector from randomly going off.
Insects
Minor, annoying bugs enjoy dark crevices in your home so they might crawl into your smoke detectors. Thus, causing a false alarm. If you don’t know what causes an alarm, open the device and inspect for small insects. In addition, utilize pest control sprays around your fire alarms if insects are the culprit.
Dust and Debris
Dust from activities such as remodeling may provoke your smoke detector to randomly go off. To clean your smoke alarm, open it up carefully and analyze the inside for dust or debris. Also, use a vacuum attachment or aerosol cleaner to eliminate dust particles.
High Humidity & Steam
Dense water vapor is similar to humidity when it comes to triggering false fire alarms. When you are showering or boiling water on the stove, you might provoke your smoke detector to randomly go off. So, ensure to ventilate your bathroom and kitchen properly to prevent this.
Remember, smoke fire alarms are meant to be sensitive. If your smoke detector randomly goes off, it doesn’t mean it’s broken. Their goal is to assist you in catching fire before it becomes life-threatening.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480