# How to Deactivate a Smoke Alarm
While it's best to leave your smoke detectors enabled and ready at all times, situations sometimes arise that call for disabling them. If you're doing a lot of baking or frying and your alarms are particularly sensitive, if you're having a party and a lot of your guests are smokers, or if you're planning a long, hot shower in a location that typically sets off your alarm, you may want to disable it. Disabling the detector for a short period of time only takes a minute of your time and you'll be free from annoying false alarms.
Things You'll Need
- Plastic bag
- Tape
Instructions
-
Battery Removal
-
1
Open the door that houses the battery of your smoke detector.
-
2
Remove the battery.
-
3
Leave the door open to remind you to replace the battery.
Air Deprivation
-
4
Locate a plastic baggie or trash bag, or cut a piece of plastic sheeting large enough to cover the smoke alarm.
-
5
Cut several pieces of tape -- enough to cover the perimeter of the plastic.
-
6
Place the plastic over the smoke alarm and tape the edges to the sealing. This will cut off air to the alarm and prevent it from sounding.
-
7
Remove the plastic and tape when you want your alarms to reactivate.
Power Source Cut Off
-
8
Open your household fuse box.
-
9
Locate the fuse or switch that controls your smoke alarms. One switch is usually wired to all the alarms.
-
10
Remove the fuse or flip the switch to deactivate the alarms.
-
11
Turn the switch back on or replace the fuse when your need for deactivation is complete.
-
1
- How to Avoid Setting Off Smoke Alarms
- How to Silence a Smoke Alarm
- How to Check Smoke Alarms
- How to Reconnect Interconnected Smoke Alarms
- How to Install Interconnected Smoke Alarms
- How to Turn Off Smoke Alarms
- How to Install Residential Smoke Alarms
- How to Troubleshoot Smoke Alarms
- How to Test Kidde Smoke Alarms
- How to Interconnect Smoke Alarms
- How to Dispose of Smoke Alarms in Missouri
- How to Replace Smoke Alarms
