Definition of Smoke Alarm?

[DaisyNonna]

Cooking earlier. Smoke alarm screams at me. No one smoking, nothing under the grill, nothing on the hob. Door open between kitchen and hall (where alarm is). Oven on. Kitchen too small to keep door closed without suffering heat stroke. Have to stand on a stool to open window in kitchen. No window in hall. Not a smoke alarm but a heat alarm surely? Rented property, no choice of alarm. Landlady abroad. Any suggestions? (Apart from ear plugs.)

[Prudie]

Our smoke alarm goes off at least weekly without there being smoke. Toast is often the culprit. Just be glad yours works.

[EvianBaby]

When I have a shower the smoke alarm goes off. I have to hop around the landing waving the nearest bit of clothing I can find around the alarm whilst trying to keep hold of a towel to protect my modesty.

Short of disconnecting it I'm not sure there is a solution.

[janzman]

Smoke alarms work on whats called particulate smoke ie raw smoke from a fire or burnt toast, for example.Cigarette smoke is refinined ie its gone through your lungs and will not activate an alarm.Heat alarm obviously works on heat alone but smoke will kill you long before the heat ....for everyday living areas kitchen bedroom living smoke alarms every time.

[Buenchico]

Most domestic smoke alarms have a flat surface:
http://www.safety-sel...%20Smoke%20Alarms.jpg

Most domestic heat detectors have a 'knobbly bit':
http://www.chrislewis...t-shots/heat-detector
or
http://www.fire-safet...0972d/E/i/Ei154TL.jpg

However, from your description of the circumstances, it still seems more likely that it's a smoke alarm. Mine goes off several times a week when I'm cooking.

[scotman]

I have usually found the same with smoke alarms. Whenever I have positioned them as indicated on the instructions they have kept going off for no reason.

[chrissa1]

I can't fry (not burn) bacon without mine going off.

[janzman]

Put a heat detector in your kitchen and smoke detectors in other rooms/stairs.That way you can happily fry your bacon, make toast etc and only if the invisible smoke gets to the other sensors will the alarm go off.If theres a real fire then both smoke and heat alarms will sound.