Troubleshooting your fire alarm need not be a hassle, this simple guide is designed to help you determine the cause of the fault.
How smoke alarms work.
Before we can understand why your fire alarm is going off, we need to know what type of alarm it is. There are two main types of fire alarm: photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric alarms use a steady ray of light to identify when there are dangerous levels of smoke. When smoke particles enter the internal chamber of the device, the particles scatter the beam to a photocell which activates the alarm call.
Ionization alarms use ions and electrons to determine high levels of smoke. When smoke enters the ionization chamber, it disrupts the natural flow of the ions and elections, triggering the alarm.
Manufacturer faults can cause your fire alarm to go off randomly.
A faulty alarm may be due to a manufacturing issue, causing it to be oversensitive, produce irregular light patterns if it is a photoelectric alarm or have an irregular chemical balance if it is an ionization alarm.
Bad fire alarm placement.
Placing your fire alarm in an area of your home that has poor ventilation or near cooking equipment will cause any alarm to go off unnecessarily.
Overcooked food.
The most common of all false alarms is the result of overcooked food and an overly sensitive alarm. To remedy this, try moving your alarm further away from the kitchen, or adjusting the sensitivity of the alarm.
Humidity, strong chemicals or steam build-up.
If you tend to have hot showers and your alarm is near your bathroom, this can be the cause for your false alarms. Steam carries dense particles that can block the sensors of the fire alarm. To fix this, try ensuring that you have a window open when showering, taking cold showers when possible, or reducing the sensitivity of the alarm. This is the same case for strong chemicals that are used in deep-cleans.
Build-up of dust or insects.
A factor that you may not have considered is the possibility that insects may have gotten into your alarm. As we tend to ignore alarms when cleaning, the build-up of dust as well as bugs will interfere with the alarm system as time goes by. Cleaning the insides and shell of your fire alarm is a fantastic way to ensure that this issue will not occur.
The batteries need to be changed.
Does a high-pitched, repetitive alarm sound keep coming from your fire alarm? This is a good sign that your alarm system needs a new battery. It is recommended that you change your fire alarm batteries once a year.
The fire alarm is older and needs to be replaced
The older a fire alarm gets, the more likely it is that it will suffer a fault. Upgrading your fire alarm system to a modern version will mitigate most of the issues present with an old fire alarm. If you would like to learn more about modern fire alarm systems and how they can protect your home, get in touch with us on 0113 230 4018 to speak with one of our experts.
Taybell alarms has provided home fire and security protection within Leeds and the surrounding areas for over half a century. Our friendly staff are always happy to discuss the different types of fire alarms and what would best suit your needs.
