Here at Genesis Electric I have often heard the complaint “my smoke detectors are going off for no reason.” Talk about frustrating! Particularly the fact that this almost always occurs in the middle of a deep REM sleep….
What should I do? Is it Carbon Monoxide I can’t see?
If you are at all unsure, especially if this has not happened before, we recommend calling the fire department. This call is free, and they can do a CO test in your home to ensure there are no dangerous gasses present that aren’t otherwise detectable.
- Check your furnace rooms for the smell of gas.
- Check all of your smoke detectors. The unit that experienced the alarm should have a red LED blinking. If experiencing a faulty alarm remove the detectors one at a time until the alarm stops.
- Had construction done lately? Dust can clog optical sensors. The simplest solution is to use compressed air to clean the detector.
- If problem persists remove the offending detector and replace.
My brand new smoke detectors are having false alarms. Should I replace them all?
Unfortunately through trial and error I have experienced manufacturer issues with all 4 of the major brands. My best guess is 1 in 25 new out of box devices will experience false alarms.
- Call your contractor to schedule a troubleshooting service call. Potentially it will be replaced for free if it is a device issue within 2 years.
- Contact the manufacturer to replace it. This will involve shipping the unit for testing, I have heard no good stories about going through this process. Hope your story is different!