Annoying smoke arlarm

[missyjones]

Hi. I've just moved and inherited two smoke alarms, one in the living room and one in the kitchen. They are electric with a battery backup. Every time I use the toaster, grill or oven the kitchen alarm goes off, which then sets off the one in the living room. I've looked at the fuse box and tried putting each one off in turn to see what they did but the alarms still had their green light on. The idea was to switch them off when I'm cooking. It's really loud and my neighbours are starting to complain. And no, I don't burn my food! Any ideas on how to stop the one in the kitchen going off every single time??

[Clanad]

It sounds like the target is somewhat dirty and with the addition of only a little amount of smoke particles it goes off. The target is a small (about 2 inch diameter) metallic "dish" inside of the detector (Looks like a small metal bowl). Make sure the hardwired electrical supply is off (pull the appropriate circuit breaker or fuse) and using a tissue or clean dry cloth, wipe out the inside of the target. This should solve your problem... Best of luck!

[missyjones]

Thanks for that Clanad. I've tried each fuse and they don't seem to go off - the green light was still on after switching each fuse off one by one! Can I take the cover off with the light still on?

[Golden Shred]

If you pull out all the fuses then you are safe. The battery takes over when there is no electricity, hence the little green light still on. With the battery only you are quite safe, so pull out all the fuses.

[Alibobs]

I would not have a smoke alarm in the kitchen for this very reason. I have one in my downstairs hallway, outside the kitchen and one on the upstairs landing, The one in the hall still goe soff if I am cooking lamb chops etc

[bricro]

The fire-brigade visited us and I think they installed an alarm free but only in the hall:we have to keep the kitchen door shut when cooking.

[WendyS]

These alarms can be really annoying, but that's specifically what they are meant to do, to ensure everybody is alerted to the possible risk of fire.
Our downstairs smoke alarm is fitted just outside the kitchen door because when we fitted it in the kitchen it went off about 20 times a day. Even so, it still goes off in the lobby when we grill food.
Perhaps the answer is to fit a battery smoke alarms, one just just outside your kitchen door and the other in your lounge or on the landing. These are easy to stop screaming if you waft a newspaper or magazine under them.

[Yodel]

We've got a heat-sensitive alarm in our kitchen, as opposed to a smoke-sensitive one. It's a bit more expensive but worth it if you're always burning toast like me!

[missyjones]

Hi GoldenShred. It never entered my mind that the green light would show anyway because of the battery taking over!! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions - I'll give it a clean and if that doesn't help I'll look into having it moved. Who put it there in the first place? Thanks.

[gasman]

only a fool would fit a smoke alarm in the kitchen you should have a heat activated one in the kitchen not a smoke detecting type ...

[missyjones]

Hi Gasman. Sorry for the delay in replying! If I was to get the kitchen one removed it'd leave a round hole in the ceiling. Any idea how I'd fix the hole without having to remove the plasterboard and fix a new one?