Smoke alarms ( hard wired )

[tflfb]

Is there a life expectancy for smoke alarms that are hard wired into a home.

Today the hard wired smoke alarms went off, nothing burning in the house.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Tom

[James Nipper]

Are the alarms accessible in the sense that you can vaccum up dust, etc from them ? I have read that dust and debris buildup can cause alarms to go off.

I would also give them a "test", using a match (with the hot flame), and then ten minutes later, test them again with smoke, to see if they go off.

If you are not absolutely sure, just replace them.

--James--

[SQLit]

the match theory only works on heat detectors. Today's modern smokes are usually ion or a combination of ion and heat. Take them apart blow them out with compressed caned air. Clean with a q-tip and to not touch any of the parts inside with your fingers. The oils on your hands will have you doing this again in a few months. I clean mine yearly as well as testing them.

[JJ]

That happens to us occasionally - usually around 3AM :-(

For us, it seems to occur when it is very humid.

[Retiredff]

If I am not mistaken, it is now suggested they be replaced every ten years.

Are you sure they do not have a battery back-up? If they don't, it may be as simple as blowing they dust out of them, making sure not to cause any damage to them.

[donald girod]

I had this problem, posted to the group, and was advised to blow the things out with compressed air. I did this (ordinary air-compressor air, no fancy canned air), and it cured the problem. Spider webs are often a problem, apparently.

[Jeff Wisnia]

Could be insects crawling into them. I've had that happen in our home. A puff of insect spray around them fixes that problem.

Jeff

[Gel]

[Sligo]

I turned on my ceiling fan after a long period of inactivity and found that the dust expelled from the fan blades activated the smoke detectors. Seamus J. Wilson

[Phisherman]

[chris]

*can I just buy a rittenhouse alarm cover?*