I was showering with the bathroom door open. My house was a bit cool. The smoke detector right outside the bathroom door started screaming midway through my shower (It had never gone off before). I didn't smell or see any smoke. Could it have possibly been from STEAM?
2006-09-21 06:49:36 · 14 answers · asked by Ana 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Any idea why then it went off?
2006-09-21 06:52:31 · update #1
Lippy1985: Uh..thanks for the info on rabbits. I don't have any rabbits living in my house. Jeeesh...
2006-09-21 06:59:37 · update #2
To All: The batteries may indeed be low, however, it was not "chirping" it was screaming, lol.
2006-09-21 07:00:50 · update #3
KeKe: Good point, maybe it does indeed detect heat--as the steam was probably pretty hot. Hadn't thought about that one...
2006-09-21 07:05:12 · update #4
Yes. Smoke detectors have a small opening between a detector and a very tiny signal source. The signal source can be either a light signal or a radioactive signal. Most modern ones today, use the radioactive source.
When smoke or steam gets between the signal source and the detector, the alarm goes off. The same thing would happen if you had dust contamination. The best way to fix this is to move your smoke detector away the bathroom door.
2006-09-21 13:39:18 · answer #1 · answered by richard Alvarado 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Smoke Detector Steam
2016-12-16 10:40:05 · answer #2 · answered by fearson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Steam can indeed make a smoke detector go off, especially if the batteries are low, or the thing needs cleaning out. Try wiping off the dust from inside it.
2006-09-21 06:58:51 · answer #3 · answered by judy_r8 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, steam will do it. In my last apartment complex this happened in the 4 bedroom units all the time. Apparently the detector was closer to the bathroom door in those than in the smaller apartments. I didn't believe it until the maintenance guys comfirmed it. I've heard of it happening in houses, too.
2006-09-21 07:02:46 · answer #4 · answered by pag2809 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES I used to live in an apartment that did the same thing! Shower with the door closed and when it gets colder out make sure to run the fan before you open the door!
2006-09-21 06:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by Star of Florida 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, hosebunny, i though you are rabbit's best friend, don't you ever know that rabbit can jump 1.5 metres high, wow, i don't think i can do that. anyway, back to the point
most smoke detectors use radioactive compound mainly radium-89, a radioisotope which emitts alpha particles, the emission of alpha particle can act as a circuit, smoke particles are much larger than water molecules which is known as stem in gaseous state. water molecule will not be able to block alpha particles since it's relatively too small, so the electric circuit in the detector will remain complete. the reason why your smoke detector gone off may be due to there are too many rabbits living in your place, so that rabbit hairs got inside the detector and blocks the charged particles and cut off the circuit which lead to the alarm to go off.
2006-09-21 06:51:35 · answer #6 · answered by lippy19850528 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Could it have been one of those units that also detects heat? Mine does, and it will go off with steam or anything over 110 degrees F.
2006-09-21 07:03:16 · answer #7 · answered by Katyana 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it. But many (if not most) smoke detectors will begin to chirp when their batteries are getting low. Good luck.
2006-09-21 06:53:33 · answer #8 · answered by lmnop 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes this happens to me all the time. I have to keep the door closed with the fan on for a while.
2006-09-21 06:58:58 · answer #9 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"It is recommended that smoke detectors should not be placed in kitchens and bathrooms, because the steam would often set them off."
-answers.com
2006-09-21 06:58:16 · answer #10 · answered by Paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋