Why is my smoke detector going off? We have changed the batteries in all of them.?

Question

It's the same one that keeps triggering the alarms. I unplugged the ones in my kids rooms so that they wouldn't go off while they are sleeping. My husband thinks that this is why it's continuing to go off. BUT, it was going off before I unplugged them. And now it's only going off every hour or so. Any suggestions? Is it a wiring problem?

Answer 1

if you open the cover there is usually a very thin metal strip below the test switch, it may be this has become bent and is constanly in contact with the test circuit. They are simple enough to bend back into shape. If not it may be faulty wiring as you thought.

Answer 2

The most common reason a smoke detector goes off after a change of batteries is because the smoke detectors are never reset. Because you have more than one, they are all hooked together. When one goes off they all go off... this is a security feature. Press the reset button on all the smoke detectors for about 5 seconds and release. Some will beep one or twice a short time later to let you know they were reset and they won't have a problem. If that doesn't work, get new smoke detectors.

Answer 3

I came here with the same issue and then I read a reply from a poster about heat detectors, which caused me to remember something. I changed the batteries in all of my smoke detectors and hit the reset button for all of them. One of them has gone off a couple times since then and I think it might be because the same day I changed the batteries, I also switched my thermostat to "Heat" and within a few hours (and the heat kicking on once), that same smoke detector went off. It happened again the next time the heat came on. Then I remembered that the same thing happened last year. So that might be another possible cause. I don't know why it would happen because the heat isn't overpowering but it might be just enough to trip the alarm into "Danger, Will Robinson!" mode to get my attention, which it did.

Answer 4

Every hour! You must be going mad!!

I don't know. I have two ... I turned off one, the other I put a plastic bag over because they would go off if I just opened the oven door [nothing burning at all].

Maybe you could e-mail/call/write the manufacturer and ask what could be setting them off.

??

[EDIT] In researching your question, I found this (below). Could they be "heat detectors"? (Maybe the thermometer is "off".)

"Heat detectors warn of fire when the temperature in the area around the smoke detector reaches a certain level. Heat detectors do not notice smoke. Some studies show that heat detectors may not provide early enough warning to aid escape from a life-threatening fire. However, a heat detector could be valuable additional protection in areas such as kitchens and attics, where smoke detectors are not recommended. They are not recommended for the use in bedrooms or sleeping areas. There are several types of heat detectors including:

"Rate-of-rise heat detectors: If the temperature sensed by this type of detector increases faster than a specified rate, an alarm will be initiated. A typical rate may be 8.3 degrees Centigrade per minute. In most of these detectors, when the rate of rise element alone has been activated, the detector is self-restoring.

"Fixed-temperature heat detectors: If the temperature at the detector rises to the detector’s rated temperature, an alarm is initiated. Often, when actuated by the fixed temperature element, the detector is non-restorable and must be replaced. A typical set temperature might be 57.2 degrees Centigrade.

"Combined rate-of-rise/fixed-temperature heat detectors: Some heat detectors combine both features, providing warning when the rate-of-rise and/or the absolute temperature is exceeded."

Answer 5

I recently had a detector that was sounding off intermittently. Turns out that it was just under 5 years old and the manufacturer replaced it, no questions asked. Your detector might just be OLD. But, if your detectors are all wired together, you may have to replace all of them, because the common wire between them assumes that they are all compatible.

People lose their sense of smell while asleep. You won't wake up because of the smell of smoke. It would have to be an alarm or someone yelling FIRE. Good idea to get those detectors in the kids rooms working properly again soon.

Answer 6

This happened to a friend of the family and the smoke detectors were right. They changed the batteries many times because they kept going off. Come to find out there were high levels of CO2 in the house and the couple died of CO2 posioning. Get out of that house !!

Answer 7

First off ,did you make sure that the stove's are not cooking,the smoke from cooking rise's,Second, Are you hooked into a computer plugged in device as in a home security ,you might have to reset security. Third , You might have to plug the the smoke detector back in with a new set of batteries just to reset the smoke detector, and for the safety of the children ,never let them sleep un-protected with the smoke alarm not in operation.

Answer 8

I have had that happen occasionally caused by a small bug or spider getting into the alarm. If it is battery operated, take it down and vaccuum it really good. Then maybe put it outside or on the dining room table or something and see if it still goes off. I think cleaning it and not allowing access to smoke or bugs will be a good test.

Please don't disconnect the one in the kids room though, because it does leave them unprotected. We had a son light a candle in his room and cause a nasty fire. Things like that kill people.

Answer 9

No, you can't hire someone yourself and have it billed to the complex. If you do so, they are under no obligation to pay since you don't have the authority to make such a request. That being said, you can call the fire department's NON EMERGENCY number and ask to have a fire inspector drop by to investigate. That will get the batteries changed. Don't call the police, they have nothing to do with this and will most just tell you to call the fire department.

Answer 10

Can you take it outside and see if it goes off out there? If so then it has an internal problem and needs replacement. If not then maybe there's some invisible contaminant in the air that's triggering it and you might have a cause for concern.