What Sets off a Hard-Wired Smoke Detector?

Dirty Detectors

• You need to keep your smoke detectors clean since dust and other debris building up on the detector can cause it to give a false alarm. Pay close attention to the vents on the detector since they are how the detector measures any smoke in the air. Insects that climb into the detector can also set it off. You can remove dust or insects using a vacuum, restoring the detector to its normal operating state.

Low Batteries

• Even though wired smoke detectors receive their power from the building's electrical system, they still have batteries installed as a backup in case the power to the building is interrupted. When the detector senses the batteries are low or have completely failed, the detector will let off a short alarm or chirp, alerting you of the situation. If you do not like hearing this warning, swap out the batteries in your smoke detectors every six months. The batteries in your detector may be good, but if they are loose, the detector will still go off.

Electrical Problems

• An interruption of the flow of electricity will cause a smoke detector to sound off, which may occur when the building loses power or you flip the breaker switches in the building's electrical box. Loose wire connections to the detector will also cause an alarm as the electrical power to the detector comes and goes.

Misplacement

• Smoke detectors cannot be placed just anywhere in a building since some locations will actually cause the detector to go off when there is no fire. Do not place the detector near a cooking area where smoke may waft through the air. Unfinished rooms in a building will have too much dust in the air, causing problems with the detector's sensors. Placing a detector on an uninsulated wall will cause the batteries to experience extremes in hot and cold, wearing the batteries out prematurely. Placing the detector in drafty areas, such as near air returns or windows, can also cause the detector to become clogged with dust. Also avoid placing the detector within 10 feet of any humid areas of the house, such as a bathroom.