Smoke Alarm

[spudqueen]

Why would my electric smoke alarm have given off a sharp blast at 6am this morning? Got up and had a look round but couldn't see anything anywhere, even had a nose through next doors windows (they are away at the mo) and felt the walls in case there was a fire next door, but nothing. It is now nearly 8am, the smoke alarm has not sounded again but I haven't had enough sleep!

[spangle111]

Could have been a short break in power - this is to alert you to the fact that the power source has been broken - a bit like when a battery in a smoke alarm is running low it beeps intermittently.

[Robinia]

Yes spudqueen I'd agree with spangle although it could also be deteriorating. In my experience they don't last more than a few years.

 In my mind I have a plan of action for fire but when it went off in the night (for no reason thankfully) I just calmly got up, half asleep with a little voice in my head saying 'Fire, fire' & checked the bedrooms, staggered down the stairs, looked around & went back to bed.  And then I woke up properly & panicked!!

[spudqueen]

Hi guys, thanks for your replies. I suppose it could have been a short break in power (we do get power cuts fairly frequently as we're still on overheads), though the smoke alarms are only 3 months old and have a back up battery. The time on the clock radio didn't alter either, a usual indication of a power cut.

I think I might have to put it down to the same mysterious force who switched on the television at 5.45 one morning last month when my friend was staying on the bed settee in the living room (frightened her half to death!).

[Clanad]

You don't actually say that the detector is hard wired into the house electrical system.  If it is, perhaps a power spike could have set it off, but I suspect one of two things;  perhaps it is battery operated and batteries need replacing.  If not, then the "target" may be getting some dust or other contaminate on it.  To check, turn of the power to the detector and remove the cover.  Usually, the conver  just snaps on.  Inside there will be a small (about 2 inch in diameter) "cup".  In the US, this is called the target.  This is where the smoke particles settle in use and are detected.  If dust begins to accumulate on this it will give an intermittent signal that will only increase in repetition.  The target can be cleaned with some tissue paper.  Don't use anything damp or wet or soap of any kind, since this leave a residue.  At least this is an accepted procedure in the US, and I assume the detectors are similar... Good luck...

[twiglet4frog]

if it has a backup battery in it maybe the backup is flat and needs replacing, does the alarm not have instructions? if it is only 3 month old maybe u kept them?

[smee.tracey]

could have been a power surge. My alarm (and everything else) goes off then

[flaming]

One I have gives an occasional chirp when the battery is going.  The other one is a 'de luxe' model having a carbon monoxide detector combined.  A 'voice' shouts out telling me if there's carbon monoxide present. Well, I hope it will if the need arrises.  As yet I have heard only the test which I activated.

Funny about the T.V.  Mine goes off by itself occasionally.  At first I thought it might be someone in an adjoining flat using their off button on a remote, but realised soon after this was not possible.  I live near a huge electomagnetic field, i.e. the tube train tracks and as the power is switched off in the early hours, some interference might happen, likewise when it is switched on again later on.  Is that possible I wonder?