Did you know that a little spider, the size of a pinhead, can string a small amount of web in just the right spot to set off a smoke detector?

Did you know that if you assume that the problem with the alarm going off is battery related and replace it, that the alarm system will sound again because the actual problem wasn’t addressed?

Did you know that modern fire detection systems are just that, systems? That if one goes off they all soon go off?

Did you know that the control panel for the alarm system is also wired for sound, and also sounds an alarm that may be even louder than the shrieking sound coming from the smoke detectors?

Did you know that after the recorded warning, “FIRE!” plays (repeatedly) that a person from the alarm company will call to confirm the presence of fire? Did you know that person will be trying to talk to you while you’re trying to silence the alarms with them shrieking the whole time?

Did you know that these fire alarm systems are incredibly loud and piercing?

Did you know that after taking down the smoke detector and removing seemingly an insignificant amount of web material you can find the little culprit crawling on your arm?

Did you know that incidents like this always happen during the night, usually after you’re asleep?

Yep.

Did you know you can blast them lightly with canned air when you change the batteries?

quote:

Originally posted by vinnybass:
Did you know you can blast them lightly with canned air when you change the batteries?

Yeah, did you know there’s a reason for the old saying, “When you’re up to your ass in alligators…?”

All false alarms occur after 11pm and prior to 4 am...

Of course they do - and that's also when all 9V batteries are pre-programmed to fail.

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Of course they do - and that's also when all 9V batteries are pre-programmed to fail.

I have a theory that this is when the ceiling area of a house is the coldest and the battery voltage drops below the beeping threshold.

When you replace your batteries next time, take the unit down, look at the manufacture date. These things are good for ten years. Write the date down, keep track of it in your records (or put it in your digital calendar), and when they get to ten years old, replace it.

What's your life worth? Don't be lazy and live with 15, 20, 30 year old smoke detectors. I like to think my life is certainly worth the $100 cost to replace them every ten years.

Good advice, Bubba, thanks

Add to this, that the "bip" that they give out when the batteries are dying is a non-directional sound, only happens about once every 45 seconds, and as noted above, batteries only die at 0300. Or so.

So you wander the house like the ghost of Jacob Marley standing under each detector that you can remember hoping against hope that this one will be the one emitting the infrequent "bip".

Upon location, this particular one will be out of reach without a ladder.

I actually knew that. Had that same experience at two in the morning about ten years ago.
And why do these things always happen at two in the morning?

Or, you can spend a little more and get the type that communicates with an app in your phone, telling you which is alarming due to low battery/spiders (assuming not a real fire) and lets you silence it from the app so you can go back to sleep and fix it in the morning. Your blood pressure will still spike when it happens, but won’t stay high as long or turn into rage at the product!

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
Or, you can spend a little more and get the type that communicates with an app in your phone, telling you which is alarming due to low battery/spiders (assuming not a real fire) and lets you silence it from the app so you can go back to sleep and fix it in the morning. Your blood pressure will still spike when it happens, but won’t stay high as long or turn into rage at the product!

This is good information too. Our alarm system is through Vivent. I have an app from them, but AFAIK, it’s not capable of identifying the detector that’s sounding, or putting it to sleep until morning. Is it Vivent I would talk to, or another app?

Years ago I was told they seek out the warmth emitted by the security sensors also as the weather gets colder. Think basement, garage, barn, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
All false alarms occur after 11pm and prior to 4 am...

Not to mention the chance of them happening rise exponentially with the amount of rain / snow or how much below zero it is.


TMats- look at it this way, at least it was a false alarm. How much fun would you have had if the place was on fire?!?

The system that I use has green led status indicators next to the reset button. When one has tripped that particular detector's light will switch to red. Hitting the test button will reset it back to green.

I also got detectors which use AA batteries instead of 9 volt. Not only less expensive based on the number of detectors, but I'm much more likely to have enough of them on hand at any given time.

"ALEXA, KILL THE SPIDER!!!"

"I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that..."

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
I also got detectors which use AA batteries instead of 9 volt.

Use lithium 9v/AAA/AA batteries (non-rechargeable), rather than alkaline. Not only will they last longer, when they are dead and forgotten, they won't leak and crud up the battery compartment with white stuff. They cost a bit more, but this usually comes out a wash due to their longer life. Energizer has a complete line of them, as well as other brands.

Better yet, if you're getting new detectors anyway, just buy the 10 year sealed detectors. The battery inside is good for the 10 year life of the detector.

Did you know that if you use a vacuum cleaner to clean a smoke detector at work a cool fire truck about 60 feet long will answer the alarm?

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
Did you know that if you use a vacuum cleaner to clean a smoke detector at work a cool fire truck about 60 feet long will answer the alarm?

Well no, I didn’t. Huh