my smoke detecters are hard wired, and they all continued to go off?

Question

I could not figure out what was wrong so I tried taking the badderies out and changing them, that did not work, i finally took all batteries out, now the onlt time they go off is when I open the basement door, and they do not stop until it has been closed for a bit, does this mean the detecter in the basement is the problem

Answer 1

First, I am surprised that a detector with no battery doesn't chirp at you every so often. That's the way they should work.

One smoke alarm (I say smoke alarm rather than smoke detector, because that is the terminology for this device.) sounds different from the others when one operates. The different one caused the alarm. Switch it with another and see if the trouble follows the detector. If it does, you have found the culprit. Try cleaning it in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If that doesn't do it, you need a new one.

If the detector now in the position of the one that first operated operates, you have a condition at that location. It could be cooking odors, steam (as from a shower), unburned fumes from a gas furnace, and for some smoke alarms a strong gust of air.

If the basement smoke alarm is the troublesome one, I would suspect a leak in your furnace. When the door to the basement opens, air in the vicinity of the furnace could be wafted past the smoke alarm and set it off. It could be that warm moist air could be drawn over a cool detector. This could result in condensation.

If you have to replace a smoke alarm, I strongly recommend the photoelectric type, rather than the ionization type. The photoelectrics are far superior to ionization types for the typical home fire.

Answer 2

You did say that your smoke detectors are hard wired with a battery back up,Correct? Are they smoke and carbon detectors?If it on goes off when you open your basement door you might be getting a back draft from you furnace or water heater flue pipe. If that is so you are getting carbon back when you open your basement door. You can call your gas company and they will do a free inspection. Your may need to get the chimney cleaned.

Answer 3

Your detectors are sensing smoke. Do you smoke cigs, pot, cigars???? This will make it go buzz or ring. Smoke detectors are very sensitive as they should be. Figure out where the smoke is coming from and you solve your problem.

Answer 4

gotta be some kind of electrical surge...check with a volt meter.