Why Does My Smoke Alarm Go Off at Random Times? | SERVPRO® of East Mecklenburg/Matthews

6/25/2021 (Permalink)

Fire safety is of utmost importance, especially in the home. You know this, of course—nobody wants to see their home damaged or destroyed by a destructive blaze.

That’s why the proliferation of smoke detectors and home fire alarms in the last  a game changer. alarms are getting smarter,And whihalf-century has been suchle yes, smoke alarms are getting smarter, and we have more ways to interact with them, they may still periodically produce a false alarm in the night, waking you from that dream you love so much—you know the one.

So what causes these false, “nuisance” alarms?

Traditional alarms have several causes of false triggers, from the organic to the electrical.

Several of these involve the sensor being covered by one thing or another. Dust from drywall, construction or seasonal use of the furnace can cover the sensor and trigger an alarm—even insects can get into the sensor chamber and cause an alert.

Power interruptions or loose electrical connections can also send your smoke alarm into temporary emergency mode, as can applying a large electrical load to the circuit in which the alarm resides (that’s why the alarm goes off while you vacuum or dry your hair).

Finally, poor location can trigger alarms—if your alarm is too near a bathroom, a cold air return or heat-producing appliances like ovens and furnaces, it may occasionally cry wolf because of humidity or combustion particles.

The bottom line of all this is that, while you may occasionally experience a false or nuisance alarm at your home, the benefit of knowing you have a singularly focused technology working for you at all times to prevent fire loss far outweighs the annoyance of an infrequent beep in the night.

Maintain your fire and smoke alarms, upgrade to newer technology, keep the batteries fresh and rest easy at night—most nights, anyway.

At SERVPRO, we know not every disaster can be avoided, even with the best preparation or technology. Call or click whenever you need us.