It probably can be a real baffling matter when you will notice that your smoke alarm has gone off for a few seconds and then again working as if everything is normal.
In such situations, you may ask yourself why suddenly your smoke alarm went off, thus, the explanations answering this query of yours have been added below. Keep on reading till the end to find out.
Why Did My Smoke Alarm Go Off For A Few Seconds?
A smoke alarm suddenly goes off for a few seconds when the battery is expiring or when it’s nearly a 10-year-old unit. Also, a buildup of dust, smoke from cooking/burnt food/the fireplace, steam or high humidity, or pesky insects inside the smoke detector’s chamber can make the device go off.
As it becomes quite easy to solve the smoke alarm going suddenly off for seconds problem when you can identify the reasons and detailed explanations regarding the reasons.
Thus, go through the following explanations listed below to get to know all of the most potential reasons.
Expiring Battery:
On average, a smoke detector’s battery tends to last for about 15 months but it’s not guaranteed, so the battery’s life can expire just in a year.
So after that time if you didn’t have replaced the battery, that expiring battery will surely cause the smoke detector to go off unexpectedly for a few seconds.
Old Smoke Detector:
Usually, a smoke detector comes with a useful lifespan of about 10 years on average, and after passing 10 years, the device really needs to be replaced with a new one.
But if you don’t change the smoke detector after 10 years of using it, it can malfunction and go off abruptly for a few seconds.
Sometimes after using a smoke detector for 7-8 years, it can malfunction and cause the device to go off for seconds.
Dust:
Dust particles in the air can create a pile and lodge within the smoke detector’s chamber clogging the device as well as interrupting the sensors. And this buildup of dust cause malfunctioning and make the smoke alarm go off for seconds.
Smoke From Cooking/Burnt Food/Fireplace:
If you have a smoke detector placed within 10 feet range of your cooking stove or other cooking appliances, the smoke coming while cooking or burnt food can cause the device to go off abruptly for a few seconds.
Also, when the smoke detector is placed near your fireplace, it will go off every time while firing the grill up.
Steam Or High Humidity:
If your living area is highly humid, those dense water particles can cause your smoke alarm off for a few seconds.
The same can happen if the smoke detector is placed outside your steamy bathroom, as steams are dense as much as the smoke and that can trigger the smoke detector to go off.
Pesky Insects:
Some insects are small enough to enter the smoke detector’s changer and interfere with regular functioning which can cause the smoke detector to go off all of sudden.
Can A Smoke Alarm Go Off For No Reason? Does Heat Set Off A Smoke Alarm?
A smoke detector is sure to go off unexpectedly for no reasonable reason when you have not changed the battery in the smoke detector in a long time, and it makes one of the most feasible reasons.
Besides, the placement of the smoke detector matters too as if you have placed your smoke alarm just outside your washroom, the hot steam while taking a hot shower can make the device go off for no apparent reason.
And this goes the same when you’ve placed the smoke detector near your kitchen or fireplace, as the smoke will send a false indication to the device to a go off.
Moreover, strong-smelling chemicals in the house can interrupt with its normal functioning and make it go off.
Also, for your knowledge know that heat can set a smoke alarm off because most smoke detectors come with a detecting system that will activate upon detecting both smoke and heat.
Thereby, when your smoke detector will detect the heat level has reached the highest temperature, it will go off.
Why My Smoke Alarm Is Going Off Every 5 Minutes?
When the battery of your smoke alarm isn’t able to connect to the terminals due to having a completely closed battery drawer, your smoke alarm is going to go off every 5 minutes of interval.
It happens because the smoke alarm is now too weak to function properly, thus, it will beep every 5 minutes to warn you about that the device is in need of urgent battery replacement.
And note that only if there is a low battery issue, your smoke alarm will go off every 5 minutes.
What To Do If Smoke Alarm Goes Off In The Middle Of The Night?
When the smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night, it can be a terrifying experience for anyone, so does for you too.
Therefore, go through these 5 following tips added below to know what should you be doing if the smoke alarm goes off suddenly in the middle of the night.
Keep Yourself Calm:
When you will hear the smoke alarm going off in the middle of the night, keeping yourself calm is the key to handling the entire situation effectively.
It’s because when you are calm, you will think and make a decision rationally, rather than emotionally. Thus, it would help in solving problems more efficiently, even if there’s an emergency.
Be Sure It’s Not A False Alarm:
Next, you should confirm whether it’s a false alarm beeping or not. So read out any notification that is showing up on the display and check the fire alarm.
However, be careful about not putting yourself in any danger too, especially when you have a strong doubt that there might be an actual fire act happening inside or around the house.
Keep Your Mobile Nearby:
Keep your phone near you so that you can make a phone call to your acquaintance, friends, or relatives to get help in an emergency situation. Also, to instantly inform your housing security company.
Know The Password:
Remember your password to have some flexibility in the alternatives for you. For instance, when you will be asked for passwords by the security company or when it’s a false alarm and you don’t wish to inform the polices.
Have A Plan:
Lastly, you should have an effective plan that all of your family members know because if there is an emergency, you can use your plan to protect yourself and others from a fire risk.
How To Fix A Smoke Alarm That Keeps Going Off?
3 effective ways to fix your smoke alarm has been listed below, according to the actual problem going on with your smoke alarm, you can follow any one of them.
Replace Old Battery:
First, remove the battery from your smoke alarm, then ensure that the positive and negative sides of the battery match with the positive and negative sides of the device, lastly, install the new battery.
Press the smoke alarm’s test button to check if it’s working or not.
Reset The Smoke Alarm:
If the smoke alarm still continues to beep, remove any residual from the device and take it down from the unit on the ceiling. Then take out the battery and press the testing button for like 15 seconds. Then reinstall the battery or change it.
Clear Dust:
If piled-up dust is causing the issue, clearing the build of dust will help in fixing that going off issue of the smoke alarm.
You can use commercial wipes to wipe the dust from the unit’s exterior and clean dust from vents from the outward casing. Or you can use a vacuum cleaner, just take off the faceplate and use the soft brush fixture to clean the dust.
Note: If none of the methods work to fix the smoke alarm, you might need to replace it.
How Do You Stop A Hardwired Smoke Detector From Going Off?
To stop a hardwired (AC) model smoke detector from going off unexpectedly, first you have to turn the circuit breaker off which regulates the electricity power for the smoke detector.
Or just take off the smoke detector from power source. Then remove the batteries and press as well as hold onto the silence button of the smoke detector for 20 seconds, or until the device goes off.
Lastly, replace the batteries, reconnect the device to the power, and turn on circuit breaker.
Final Thoughts
Usually, a smoke detector goes off when it’s low on battery or it’s old enough to malfunction, so, it’s not properly working. Except for these two, sometimes a dust buildup, smoke from both the fireplace and cooking, humidity, steam, and insect in the smoke detector can cause it to go off suddenly.