We have a smoke alarm in the hallway. It has never been this sensitive before. Every time we cook, the steam sets it off, and we have to waft it to get it to stop. Tonight it just kept going and going, taking longer and longer to stop, and then starting up again. It's not humid (we're in the UK, where it's pretty cool right now). Tonight I had to take out the batteries altogether, cause even with windows open and the extractor fan going in the kitchen, it still picks up on the slightest bit of steam.
Any ideas?
2007-10-12 06:39:56 · 7 answers · asked by Banana Ray David 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Ours does it when it needs to be cleaned. Lint, dust and grease accumulate on the little grills that let in the air and cause it to go off with the slightest heat (or by the bathroom steam from the shower). Mine are hard wired, with back up batteries, so I always clean out the cover and insides when I replace the batteries. First, I vacuum it out and then use a damp cloth sprayed with a non-detergent or residue leaving cleaner (they will make dust and dirt attract to it faster) but has a de-greaser (like even straight vinegar works) or Simple Green. Dry it thoroughly and put it back together and it stops doing it.
2007-10-12 06:44:22 · answer #1 · answered by eskie lover 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can get specially-made kitchen alarms which are less sensitive to the usual kitchen "fumes". With regard to the others, it may simply be dust or fluff built up on the sensor inside - in our case it was a tiny spider crawling around inside which kept setting the thing off! You could try gently cleaning them and see if that makes any difference, or it may be simpler in the long run to buy some new ones and then you'll know where you are. When our kids were younger and herself was grilling them some burgers, it was standard practice to send one to stand under the detector on the landing ready to flap a towel at it, 'cos as soon as you opened the kitchen door it would go off. Guaranteed. And it was only burgers for some reason.
2016-05-22 02:25:00 · answer #2 · answered by cammie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We rented one house, where the smoke detector was [ permanently ] installed across from the oven. Every time I opened the hot oven, it went off [ no, I wasn't burning things. ]
My boys, who were 2 and 6 atthe time, knew if the alarm went off, they should open the kitchen door, and wave towels!
One time, it went off when I was scrubbing the floor [ oven hadn't been on for days!]
My neighbors would laugh, and say, "Oh, it must be 6 o'clock, Susan is taking dinner out of the oven!'"
1] Clean it
2] get a new one
2007-10-12 06:52:15 · answer #3 · answered by Nurse Susan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The cells in them do wear out, it may be time for a new one and quit burning the toast.
In reality it looks at the opacity and detects impurities in the air, so if it isn't dirty buy a new one.
2007-10-12 06:48:13 · answer #4 · answered by Uncle Red 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They're fairly reasonable in price, buy a new one, this one is maybe dirty,or need fresh batteries. Splurge, it may save your life,
2007-10-12 06:47:33 · answer #5 · answered by fuzzykitty 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
try replacing the batteries with a new set!
2007-10-12 06:47:50 · answer #6 · answered by Melissa V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is it? Seems like it needs to be cleaned to me
2007-10-12 06:48:07 · answer #7 · answered by cedusey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋