What should we do with false alarms?
False alarms still make you worry and also ruin your peace. A fire alarm ringing suddenly awakens a peaceful night where everyone is in a deep sleep, only to find out it’s a false alarm since there are no signs of any actual fire anywhere.
We’ve dealt with false alarms before since it is not that uncommon. However, we have to find out what causes them and how we can stop it from happening again.
False Alarms are Real Concerns
We never assume that it’s a false alarm. We always have to check if it’s a real fire or not.
Search where the alarm sounded from and be sure there are no signs of any real reason that triggered the alarm. You might have been annoyed, but it is still a relief to find out it’s a false alarm.
Never remove your smoke detector’s battery. The most common reason for nuisance alarm is caused by smoke from cooking, which causes homeowners to disable smoke alarms.
Your alarm might sound like a wolf cry, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You wouldn’t want to trade your households’ safety because you were annoyed by a false alarm.
The False Alarm Culprits
Cooking: The most common reason for a false alarm
As mentioned earlier, cooking is the most common reason for a false alarm.
Overcooking something and burnt toast is enough to trigger your smoke alarm. This could alert the whole neighborhood that you’ve just cooked something.
If this issue happens to you often, you might want to check out these smoke detector false alarm prevention tips.
Campfire and Fireplace
Campfire and fireplace smoke is under control, but it’s still challenging to keep the smoke in one place. It’s not advisable to keep your fireplace burning all night!
Besides causing a false alarm, it can build up creosote that can cause a severe hazard if left over time. As a fire safety measure, have your chimney inspected annually.
Even if you’re aware of the burning campfire outside that might have caused it, it is still a good habit to double-check the area and adequately ventilate.
High Humidity
An unwanted alarm can be provoked by steam coming from a hot shower since it can mimic smoke. Have proper ventilation and exhaust fans to avoid too much fog or smoke.
Turn on the fan in your bathroom or open the window to have the steam escape somewhere.
Malfunctioning Device
An unusual number of consecutive false alarms already signifies that you have a faulty alarm system. Smoke detectors might have a life span of ten years, but you still have to maintain them and change their batteries. You might also consider upgrading to the new ones you can see on the market.
There are now smoke detectors that you can link to your smartphones. You can turn off the fire alarm quickly with your phone rather than manually getting rid of the smoke.
Save Yourself a Visit from the Fire Department
A simple fire alarm maintenance and routine check can save you a visit from the fire department. Be aware of these recurring false alarm issues and stop them immediately. Look for these signs and figure out what to do to prevent future false alarms.