Why does my smoke detector chirp?
Usually when a smoke detector is chirping intermittently, it’s time to replace the battery. If replacing the battery in your smoke alarm does not eliminate the chirping, contact us.
How often should I change the battery?
Alarms randomly going off?
Your alarms need to be reset and cleaned. Alarms that within date (10years or newer) still have life on them. If they are older than 10years, they need to be replaced. To clean a smoke alarm you need to take it down, detach the wires, take the battery out and hold down the test button for 30seconds. Once the alarm is drained take a can of compressed air and clean them, you will see all the dust and bugs comes out. Once it is cleaned, install a brand new battery in it. and reinstall in the resverse order. Once done make sure to do this to every smoke alarm in the home and test them all once done. If one or more is not functioning then replacement is necessary.
I have an older home that does not have the amount of smoke alarms needed.
Older homes have old wiring and are not up to today’s fire codes. Smoke Detector Pro recommends making your home up to date in todays fire standards by installing a wireless system in your home.
How many smoke detectors do I need to have?
Although building codes vary from city to city, most manufacturers and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggest placing one in each bedroom. There should be one in the hallway between the kitchen and sleeping areas. If the hallway is 30 feet or longer, there should be one on each end. Stairways should have one as they act as a chimney for smoke and heat. If you aren’t sure, Smoke Detector Pro can recommend the best locations for your detectors.
I have a finished basement/finished addition room and need a smoke alarm(s) installed.
Have room additions or finished basements and want to interconnect your alarm system? We can easily interconnect your upstairs already installed smoke detector system to intergrate with your basement. Finished basements need the same amount of protection if not more as the rest of the house. Here at Smoke Detector Pro we install a wireless fire protection system in these areas.
How often should I test my smoke detectors?
Most manufacturers recommend Monthly testing. Using the test button is the most accurate way to test it. All smoke alarms will go off in the household. If one does not go off call Smoke detector medic to diagnose.
Which type of smoke detector should I have?
There are two type of smoke detectors: Ionization and Photo-electric:
- Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires.
How they work: Ionization-type smoke alarms are generally more sensitive at detecting small particles, which tend to be produced in fast moving fires, commonly found in kitchen or garage fires. - Photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to smoldering fires.
How they work: Photoelectric-type alarms are more sensitive at detecting large particles, which tend to be produced in slow moving fires, such as a couch or bedding fire.
Fire safety device installation and maintenance in a residential structure.
1) At least one smoke detection device shall be installed to protect the sleeping area within each dwelling unit. A sleeping area is defined as the area or areas of the dwelling unit in which the bedrooms (or sleeping rooms) are located. Where bedrooms or rooms ordinarily used for sleeping are separated by other-use areas (such as kitchens or living rooms but not bathrooms or closets), or are located on different stories or floor levels, they shall be considered as separate sleeping areas for the purposes of these rules.
(2) Dwelling units with more than one sleeping area shall require the installation of additional smoke detection devices to protect each sleeping area.
212-10-040 Location of smoke detection devices.
(1) Smoke detection devices shall be installed outside of bedrooms or rooms used for sleeping purposes but in the immediate vicinity of such rooms, centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to the rooms. In dwelling units without separate sleeping rooms, the smoke detection devices shall be centrally located in the main room. Smoke detection devices shall be located on or near the ceiling. NOTE: Smoke detection devices should be installed in those locations recommended by the manufacturer except in those cases where the space above the ceiling is open to the outside and little or no insulation is present over the ceiling. Such cases result in the ceiling being excessively cold in the winter time or excessively hot in the summer time. Where the ceiling is significantly different in temperature from the air space below, smoke has difficulty reaching the ceiling and to a detector which may be placed there. In this situation, placement of the detector on a side wall, with the top four inches to twelve inches from the ceiling is preferred. In dwelling units employing radiant heating in the ceiling, the wall location is the preferred location. Radiant heating in the ceiling can create a hot-air boundary layer along the ceiling surface which can seriously restrict the movement of smoke to a ceiling-mounted detector.
(2) A smoke detection device installed in a stairwell shall be so located as to assure that smoke rising in the stairwell cannot be prevented from reaching the detection device by an intervening door or obstruction.
(3) Smoke detection devices in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than one-foot rise per eight feet horizontally shall be located at the high side of the room.
(4) Smoke detection devices shall not be mounted in front of an air supply duct outlet or between the bedroom and the furnace cold air return.
212-10-050 Maintenance.
It is the responsibility of the occupant of all new or existing dwelling units, owned by other than the occupant, to maintain and test all smoke detection devices installed within the dwelling unit by the owner. Actual costs of maintenance, repair or replacement of smoke detection devices shall be as agreed beforehand by the occupant and owner. However, failure of the owner to abide by the terms of any such agreement does not relieve the occupant of the responsibility to maintain the smoke detection devices in a fully operational condition at all times.