Device for detecting smoke and/or fire.
13
votes
3answers
881 views
How do I choose between ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms?
I need to change my smoke detectors but I don't know how to choose between ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms. I guess that there are pros and cons to choose one or the other. Should I buy a ...
11
votes
1answer
196 views
What happens when you test a smoke detector?
When you press the test button on a smoke detector it obviously beeps, but I'm assuming it doesn't just test the speaker. So, how does the test work? I can't see a practical way to release smoke ...
8
votes
2answers
619 views
Where should smoke detectors be located?
In the past, you might have a smoke detector on every floor outside of a bedroom. Now you see a separate smoke detector in each bedroom. Should there also be a detector outside of the bedrooms? What ...
6
votes
2answers
730 views
If I do not have any fuel burning devices, do I need a carbon monoxide detector?
Is there any reason that a home without any fuel burning devices would need a carbon-monoxide detector?
6
votes
6answers
3k views
Why does my smoke detector chirp when my bathroom lights are turned on?
We have an wired smoke detector that is right outside a bathroom. Often, when we turn on the lights in the bathroom, the smoke alarm will chirp. The bathroom used to have a fixture with 4 40-watt ...
6
votes
1answer
434 views
Is it OK to mount a smoke detector vertically?
In my basement I have several lolly columns attached to wooden beams that are supporting the floor joists. On one of these wooden beams I have attached a smoke detector vertically on the side of the ...
6
votes
2answers
196 views
Can I replace an electric smoke detector with a combo smoke and carbon monoxide detector?
My house has electric smoke detectors wired into an ADT alarm system. I'm not using the alarm system but the smoke detectors seem to work anyway. I'd like to have carbon monoxide detectors too. Can ...
5
votes
1answer
330 views
What's the signalling voltage on hardwire smoke detectors? Mix and match?
What is the signalling voltage on hardwire smoke detectors?
Is it acceptable to mix brands?
Is it acceptable to have detectors on different electrical circuits, connected only with an interconnect ...
4
votes
5answers
3k views
Why are my smoke detectors going off when I cook?
Seems like every time we cook anything in the oven the fire alarms (in-home system, all connected) go berzerk. is there any way to make them "less sensitive"? We do blow/vaccuum them out gently here ...
4
votes
2answers
173 views
How can I install a wired smoke detector without compromising the fire rated sheetrock?
We have a connected garage with a bedroom above. It has proper fire rated sheetrock and a fire rated door. We use it for storage (including some paint and other normal chemicals).
For this reason ...
4
votes
1answer
387 views
How do I cap the wires in this electric smoke alarm?
I want to cap these wires with a wire nut so that I can stuff them back up in the ceiling and install a regular, battery-powered smoke alarm. What wires get capped and do I need to do anything with ...
4
votes
1answer
282 views
What could cause the battery in a smoke detector to heat up?
One of my smoke detectors was chirping and when I removed the 9V battery, I found it was hot. In fact, it was making a 'cooking' sound.
Was it the smoke detector causing the battery to cook itself ...
3
votes
1answer
188 views
What do I need to do to safely reconnect an A/C-powered smoke detector?
In an unfortunate incident, the plastic plug for one of my A/C-powered smoke detectors became detached from the wires coming out of the ceiling. My ceiling now looks like so (click for full size):
...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
What should I do about water dripping into my smoke detector from the attic after a heavy rain?
I live in the Midwest of the United States, and we not-too-rarely get a large amount of rain coming down at one time both in the spring and sometimes in the fall. Last night was no different (aside ...
2
votes
2answers
398 views
What to do with these tiny exposed wires?
We discovered a non-functional smoke detector that's hard-wired into the electrical system of the house we recently bought. I removed the smoke detector and am replacing it with a battery operated ...
2
votes
2answers
174 views
Should a fire alarm be installed in the attic?
I installed hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms through the house. I wondered, though, if a fire spread through my attic I might not know about it until the ceiling or roof collapsed.
Should I ...
