Problems with Smoke Detectors in my house - How to troubleshoot?

[cyberia]

I have four smoke detectors in my house that are located in a close proximity to each other (about 5 to 8 feet) but in different rooms. They appear to be interconnected.

Occasionally, they go off with annoying alarming beeps. The alarms *seem* to start in one room and then (almost immediately) spread to other rooms. I am saying *seem* because it is hard to determine because of their proximity.

I tried to replace batteries but it did not help. What else can I do to troubleshoot this problem before I go off to HomeDepot to get 4 new smoke detectors? I bet they are expensive.

Is there a site that specializes in smoke detectors (sale, discussion ets.)

Thanks.

 

[Soybomb]

I'm no smoke detector expert, but they seem like the type of device that if its not working properly its probably best to throw it away and get a new one.

"Give me 10 minutes and a soldering iron and I'll have this insulin pump working again in no time"

 

[bmacd]

another vote for pitching defective smoke detectors. See if they're still covered my manufacturer's warranty, but pick up some new ones in the meantime. A $20 smoke detector isn't worth the cost of your belongings or house, not to mention the safety of others.

-=bmacd=-

 

[falconx80]

maybe its the battery going dead....it usually beeps when the battery is about to die....

if thats not the case...get new ones and also get carbonmonoxide detectors.

be save in 2003!

 

[cyberia]

Last time the smoke detectors went off, I noticed that all of them except one had a red light on while beeping. So, I disconnected the one with no light. The problem has not reoccurred yet. I will go ahead and replace this one. If the problem persists, I will replace all of them.

If they are in $20 range, then it is no problem.

Thanks for suggestions.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: falconx80
maybe its the battery going dead....it usually beeps when the battery is about to die....

if thats not the case...get new ones and also get carbonmonoxide detectors.

be save in 2003!

Re-read the post. The batteries have been replaced, but it didn't resolve the situation.

I remember reading that it was a good idea to replace smoke detectors every 10 years. I have a similar setup to yours: 3 smoke detectors that are all connected together electronically and have battery back-ups installed. More than likely, the detectors probably have dust or some other contamination in them which are causing the issues. I wouldn't mess around with attempting to clean them up. If you go to Home Depot and 4 new replacement smoke detectors run $100.00, I'd consider it a good investment. Buy the set and replace all of your existing detectors.

Additionally, you might want to stop by your local fire station for more information. They should be able to tell you what type of replacement interval you should follow for your detectors.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: wje

Originally posted by: falconx80
maybe its the battery going dead....it usually beeps when the battery is about to die....

if thats not the case...get new ones and also get carbonmonoxide detectors.

be save in 2003!

More than likely, the detectors probably have dust or some other contamination in them which are causing the issues. I wouldn't mess around with attempting to clean them up.

Your smoke detectors can be cleaned by putting a vacuum cleaner wand up to them. It's no big deal. Might save you some money...

 

[Analog]

if they are the ionizing type, they might have dust in them. Dust will set them off. Best thing to do is to remove the cover and gently vacuum the internals. Check the batteries and then see if that helped. If not, replace them.

Ionizing types detect smoke, IR types detect heat. Today, you can buy ones that have both detectors for added protection. FYI - be safe, not cheap.

 

[cyberia]

Thanks for the posts guys. I did go to the manufacturer's website yesterday, and dust IS listed as one of the possible causes. The smoke detectors can indeed be dusted off with a vaccuum. So, I will go ahead and try it.

They are not that old (about 5 years). I think they are scheduled for replacement some time in 2004-2005. If dusting helps, I'll hold off buying new ones until then.

 

[cyberia]

Just an update:

I vaccuumed my smoke detectors a couple of weeks ago, and so far I have not heard them go off. Thanks for the great suggestion, yellowfiero.