# What Happens When Smoke Detectors Go Off for No Reason?
Smoke detectors always sound alarms for a reason; however, the alarm does not always sound due to smoke or fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers not to disconnect their smoke detectors because of nuisance alarms.
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Steam
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Smoke detectors can mistake the steam from a hot shower or cooking as smoke or fire, triggering the alarm to sound. U.S. Inspect advises owners to simply fan away the small particles causing the smoke detector alarm to sound.
Additional Causes
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According to the City of Tucson Fire Department, paint fumes, dust, proximity to fluorescent lighting fixtures and extreme temperatures can cause the alarm to initiate when no smoke or fire exists. First Alert -- a manufacturer of smoke detectors -- suggests vacuuming the smoke alarm periodically with a soft brush attachment to keep it free of dust.
Defective Units
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Some smoke detector units have an audible prompt as a safety feature in the event the unit shows signs of malfunction. The prompt usually has a characteristic such as a distinct number of beeps or a different tone that differentiates it from the emergency alert tone. Consult your smoke detector's manual to see if your unit offers this feature.
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