topic Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder in Community Chat

Smoke Detector- Reminder

Krimpette — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:15:10 GMT

I'm sure most of you are already aware (though I didn't seem to be) that smoke detectors need to be cleaned periodically. Mine went off over the weekend at 6:00AM on Saturday. I pressed the reset button and it stopped for a bit. But then went off again. To be safe, I then called the fire department. They came, checked things out, and said that it was probably due to dust or steam from the shower. The next day, it went off again (this time at 4:30AM). When I took it down (ready to premanently disarm it, the directions on the UNDERSIDE said the unit should be cleaned periodically ( I believe it said annually). Got out my container of canned air and hopefully cleaned it thoroughly, as it did not go off this morning. (My unit is one of those combo smoke/CO detectors, with a 10-year sealed battery).

Anyway, if your detectors goes off periodically, maybe all it needs is to be freed of dust particles. I do wish that the manufacturers would place a sticker or something on the OUTSIDE of the unit reminding that they need to be cleaned periodically.

As indicated, most of you are probably, but maybe this info will help someone who isn't. (The fire department didn't even suggest that I clean it.)

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

millieshops — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:26:48 GMT

@Krimpette That's more than a reminder - it's totally new info for me. I've never hit that problem, but if I did it could well be because my detectors have never seen a duster.TY

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

Krimpette — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 11:30:01 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@Krimpette That's more than a reminder - it's totally new info for me. I've never hit that problem, but if I did it could well be because my detectors have never seen a duster.TY

It got me wondering a bit. I was thinking I might be needing a new detector yesterday, so I was perusing them on Amazon. Most all of them complained about going off periodically, thus giving them a poorer rating. Made me wonder (especially since you said you were not aware)...wonder if some of those people did not know of the need to clean them. I also wish the firemen that came to my house emphasized that to me.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

SahmIam — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 12:05:24 GMT

I may be wrong but isn't September or October "change your smoke detectors' battery" month? I get something from my sons' school each year with this reminder.

All I know is I've bought batteries already and will be changing them this week. I've lived through the alarm going off due to a low battery and it's ALWAYS at 2-3AM and terrifying to everyone. So, every year a new battery goes in.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

sidsmom — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 12:26:13 GMT

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

SeaMaiden — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 12:30:01 GMT

Thank-you for the reminder... we replaced our old smoke detectors with new ones this year with a 10 year battery life... then you just replace the whole detector when the time is up. No more having to worry about year to year battery changes like with the old ones. Much better I think!

I still check them every month to be sure that they are working right, You are so right with dusting them off every so often. My old ones use to go off in the winter when the heat from the furnace was blowing around.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

ValuSkr — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:41:19 GMT

Thank you for the reminder. The cynic in me says manufacturers may not emphasize the point because they don't mind if you think yours is broken and consequently buy another.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

Krimpette — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:53:32 GMT

@ValuSkr You're probably correct. However, if so, they should wake up and realize that folks give their product negative reviews because of the alarm going off sporadically. Thus, if they decide to buy new, they might decide to try another brand. (However, it does seem like Kidde and First Alert monopolize this product line.)

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

bri20 — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 14:05:47 GMT

I had no idea. I guess it makes sense - if it's clogged or plugged with dust, it won't function properly.

Ours are hardwired into the alarm system, but I'm going to make sure I dust them every once in a while.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

Krimpette — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 15:12:13 GMT

@bri20 What the fireman told me was that a speck of dust or steam from the shower can also cause the alarm to go off I have one hard-wired detector and two battery operated (in case of a power failure). I took my can of air and blew air into all the openings, with the hope that I've cleared out any dust that might have gotten inside. Guess I have to pay attention and save the directions next time I replace a smoke detector!!!! I had no idea!

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

chrystaltree — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 17:32:19 GMT

We're in a condo and they upgraded the smoke detectors a couple of years ago. They are electronic and don't require batteries. So, that's one thing we don't have concern ourselves with anymore.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

SeaMaiden — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 17:55:51 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
We're in a condo and they upgraded the smoke detectors a couple of years ago. They are electronic and don't require batteries. So, that's one thing we don't have concern ourselves with anymore.

@chrystaltree What would happen if your power was out for an extended length of time? That is where batteries come in useful.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

sunshine45 — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 20:20:34 GMT

the fire department will come out and check your smoke detectors? i have never heard of that before!

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

itiswhatitis — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:06:12 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
I'm sure most of you are already aware (though I didn't seem to be) that smoke detectors need to be cleaned periodically. Mine went off over the weekend at 6:00AM on Saturday. I pressed the reset button and it stopped for a bit. But then went off again. To be safe, I then called the fire department. They came, checked things out, and said that it was probably due to dust or steam from the shower. The next day, it went off again (this time at 4:30AM). When I took it down (ready to premanently disarm it, the directions on the UNDERSIDE said the unit should be cleaned periodically ( I believe it said annually). Got out my container of canned air and hopefully cleaned it thoroughly, as it did not go off this morning. (My unit is one of those combo smoke/CO detectors, with a 10-year sealed battery).

Anyway, if your detectors goes off periodically, maybe all it needs is to be freed of dust particles. I do wish that the manufacturers would place a sticker or something on the OUTSIDE of the unit reminding that they need to be cleaned periodically.

As indicated, most of you are probably, but maybe this info will help someone who isn't. (The fire department didn't even suggest that I clean it.)

Good advice. Mine typically need a new battery when it starts to "beep." Mine doesn't go off unless there is too much smoke in a confined area.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

JustJazzmom — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:33:18 GMT

I put on the bottom of the detectors smoke and CO a piece of masking tape with the date I put the device into use and another piece of masking tape over the battery chamber with the date I changed out the battery. Yes, they truly last about 10 years.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

Yardlie — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:50:29 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@chrystaltree wrote:
We're in a condo and they upgraded the smoke detectors a couple of years ago. They are electronic and don't require batteries. So, that's one thing we don't have concern ourselves with anymore.
@chrystaltree What would happen if your power was out for an extended length of time? That is where batteries come in useful.

We have a similar type of smoke detectors, but ours also have battery backup in case of a power outage. We change those, along with our CO2 detectors, twice a year.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

Shorty2U — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:05:26 GMT

What a great reminder. DH cleans and switches batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when we change clocks whether the batteries are still good or not.

We used to have electric smoke detectors (put in when DH had this house built in 1995, before i met him) but they malfunctioned. So they have long been replaced with batttery smoke and carbon monixide detectors.

Re: Smoke Detector- Reminder

ChynnaBlue — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:31:55 GMT

It might help to think of smoke detectors as particulate detectors.

They beep when particulates get in there, whether that be smoke, dust, or steam. (That's why they don't put smoke detectors in the bathroom where the shower is.) They don't do a chemical analysis of the particulate and only beep if it's smoke. If you don't dust them (or they get really dusty and then you agitate that dust with a duster), they will sense the particulates and go off.

I grew up with an engineer, so he was always explaining how things work to me.