Dealing with False Alarms
The majority of smoke detectors are ionization
detectors that detect very small particles and can be triggered by
things other than combustion vapor from a fire, including cooking vapor,
steam and dust. If the alarm activates, such as while cooking or
dusting, do not disconnect the alarm or remove the battery. Instead,
fan the air around the detector until the alarm turns off. Some newer
smoke detectors come with reset
buttons that will temporarily disable the
alarm for approximately ten minutes. Cleaning
the dust from the detector and replacing the battery
may reduce the number of false alarms. If false alarms continue,
replace the smoke detector or consider moving
the
detector to a more suitable location.
In areas that are prone to other vapors that trigger ionization
detectors, photoelectric detectors may be a useful alternative. Photoelectric
detectors are less sensitive to the smaller particles and they may be useful
in confined areas (e.g. small apartments), in or near cooking areas, or near
a heating device.
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