Smoke Detector Basics and Troubleshooting
2011 August 24 by Mark Ingraffia
Every once in a while, Ingraffia Home Inspections likes to browse around the Internet and find interesting articles on subjects that a Home Inspector in a different area may have to deal with. Just recently, we ran across a well-written article regarding the importance of smoke detectors, so we thought we would share it with you. When you are ready for your home pre-purchase or pre-sale home inspection, do not hesitate to call us at (714) 371-8422.
This article was written by an author named Josh on the InspectingPhoenix.com website. You may see the original article by clicking here, or you may read the article below.
“Smoke detectors are a vital safety feature that should be installed in every home; they save lives and protect property. Not only is it important to have enough properly located smoke detectors but they should also be properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. A poorly maintained smoke detector can lead to nuisance alarms or an inoperable unit.
During the course of our home inspections we inspect the smoke detectors for proper operation. It is all too common to find missing or inoperative smoke detectors in people’s homes.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards recommend:
- A smoke detector on every level of the home
- A smoke detector outside each sleeping area
- A smoke detector inside each bedroom
- Locate smoke detectors on ceiling at least 4 inches from the wall
- Locate smoke detectors high on a wall between 4 and 12 inches from the ceiling
- Interconnected smoke detectors that all sound when one alarms
- Use combination Ionization and Photoelectric smoke detectors
There are some areas that are not ideal to locate smoke detectors, avoiding these locations can reduce nuisance alarms and ensure your smoke detectors stay in proper working order longer. Below are some basic guidelines to use for proper placement of the smoke detectors:
- Try to locate smoke detectors at least 20 feet from appliances such as furnaces and ovens
- Locate alarms at least 10 feet from high humidity areas such as a shower
- Locate smoke detectors at least 3 feet from heating and air conditioning vents
Maintenance of your smoke detectors is very important to insure proper operation. Below are some general maintenance guidelines. Manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed.
- Replace batteries annually or when the smoke detectors start chirping
- Vacuum the smoke detector regularly using the soft brush attachment to prevent dirt buildup in the detection chamber. This will prevent nuisance alarms due to false indications.
Troubleshooting smoke detectors can require a little bit of trial and error, especially in interconnected systems. Following these steps should help in diagnosing and fixing the problem.
Chirping – Smoke detector emits a high pitch chirp about once a minute:
- Low battery – Smoke detectors typically chirp to indicate a low battery. In an interconnected system only the smoke detector with the low battery should chirp.
- Battery drawer open – If the battery drawer is not fully closed the batter will not make contact with the terminals. Ensure the battery drawer is fully closed.
- Battery pull tab not removed – New smoke detectors are shipped with a plastic pull tab between the battery and battery terminals to prevent operation. If this is left in place the smoke detector does not sense the battery and assumes it is dead. Remove the tab.
Nuisance Alarms – These are just a few of the things that can cause nuisance alarms. Unplugging a smoke detector due to nuisance alarms is dangerous and provides no protection in case of a fire.\
- Dust or dirt – If there is dust or dirt in the sensor chamber the smoke detector can sense this as smoke. You should vacuum the smoke detector with the soft brush attachment.
- Grease or cooking vapors – If the smoke detector is located in an area with cooking vapors, grease, combustion gasses or other contaminants the sensor chamber can develop a greasy film. This greasy film can cause the alarm to sound. Due to the difficulty of cleaning this film and the risk of damage to the smoke detector, I recommend you replace the smoke detector.
- Power interruption – In a hardwired smoke detector the alarm will sound briefly if the power is interrupted and then restored. Power interruptions can be caused by loose wire connections. Ensure that the wires are properly and securely connected. Use caution when working with hard wired smoke detectors as they are connected to the homes electrical system. Always ensure that the circuit breaker for the smoke detectors is off when working on this system. Call a qualified electrician if you do not feel comfortable working with electricity.
- Interconnected Alarm – In an interconnected alarm system if one smoke detector goes off all others will alarm making it difficult to diagnose. Every manufacturer is different but most have a way of indicating which smoke detector is initiating the alarm. Look at the lights on the detectors, usually the one initiating the alarm will have a flashing light during the alarm to let you know it is the one that sounded the alarm.
- Location – Ensure the smoke detector is not located near furnaces, ovens, showers or supply air vents. You may need to relocate a smoke detector if it is not in an ideal location.
- Replacement – Smoke detectors are fairly cheap. If you try everything else and cannot get the detector to stop going off try replacing the unit.
This is just a general guideline to help you with smoke detector location and troubleshooting, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and the NFPA guidelines when working with smoke detectors.”
Huntington Beach Home Inspector
2011 January 7 by Mark Ingraffia
Invest in your greatest asset by having the top-preferred home inspector in Huntington Beach, CA done by Ingraffia Home Inspections; saving you time and money on repairs of your future home. Call (714) 371-8422 and make an appointment with our friendly reps today to ensure that your home has been properly cared for and maintained.
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