When your fire alarm is going off randomly, it can be frustrating to figure out why it’s happening. It’s especially if you live in an apartment building or if you’re trying to sleep! Fire alarms can go off for a number of reasons, some more concerning than others.
Here are 10 reasons why your fire alarm is going off:
1. It’s From Smoke from Cooking
A common reason why your fire alarm is going off is if you are cooking and producing smoke. Smoke from your oven, stove, toaster, microwave, or any other cooking appliance can cause smoke that’ll make your alarm go off especially if you have an alarm right in your kitchen. Be sure to use caution (and proper oil) when you are cooking to prevent this.
2. It’s From Steam or Humidity
Depending on the type of fire alarm you have, it may be going off due to excessive humidity in the air or steam from hot water in your sink or shower. High humidity carries dense moisture particles that your smoke detector may confuse for smoke particles. In extreme cases, the air is dense enough to scatter the light beam of a photoelectric sensor or cling onto the ions in an ionization chamber. No need for worry here, just disperse the steam by turning on a fan!
3. There Are Bugs In It
There are tiny vents that lead in/out of a fire alarm that tiny bugs can crawl into and mess with the sensors causing it to go off.
4. It’s In A Bad Spot
Although you should have a fire alarm in every room at your property, it is likely that it will go off more often if it’s in places like your kitchen, attic, basement, or bathroom.
5. It’s Because Of Your Fireplace
If you have a fire alarm near your fireplace and the smoke from the fire isn’t properly venting up through your chimney, it could make your fire alarm go off.
6. It’s Because Of Chemicals
When using chemicals like strong cleaning products or painting, the fumes may cause your fire alarm to sound. Make sure for the safety of you and the people at your property and to prevent your fire alarm from mistakenly going off to ventilate when doing such activities like cleaning or any home remodeling/repairs.
7. It’s Old
Fire alarms have a life expectancy of around 10 years, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). When your fire or smoke alarm gets too old, it may not function properly and go off sporadically.
8. It’s Because Of Dust
Dust can get trapped in the vents of your alarm, just like bugs, and mess with its sensors causing it to sound.
9. It’s Because The Battery Is Low
We’ve all heard the dreaded chirp of a fire or smoke alarm with a low battery. Be sure to change out the battery as soon as you hear it chirp so that there is no lapse in protection for you, your family or staff/clients, or your property.
10. It’s Because There’s A Fire
The most obvious reason why your fire alarm is going off: there’s a fire! Get out as fast as possible and call 911. Make sure when you are exiting your property that you stay as low as possible as standing up and inhaling smoke for even a second can cause damage to your lungs and possibly cause you to pass out. After the fire department comes out, your next call should be to a fire damage restoration company. Usually fires result in not only fire damage, but also smoke and soot damage, water damage, and sometimes even mold damage if a restoration company isn’t called soon enough.
Disaster can strike at any time
If you do experience any kind of property damage emergency, RI Restoration is open 24/7, 365 days a year to immediately come out and begin the restoration process at your home or business.
