HELP!! Smoke Detector going off all the time.

[Jesterarts]

Hey guys... I have an issue.

I have a smoke detector in the bedroom and it keeps going off randomly.

Brand new smoke detector, goes off every 2 minutes or so...

I've replaced the battery, replaced the smoke detector, replaced the battery in the replacement smoke detector and tried moving it around the room...

Same thing... driving my up the wall!

I read that dust can cause them to go off randomly but they are brand new and within 2 minutes of being in the room they are going off!!

Anyone have any idea wtf iw going on?

[hsvpunk]

well i was going to suggest replacing the batteries, but you have done. I am stumped as to why it would be doing it too.

[nicko]

another $6 detector from bunnings should do the trick.

[alien]

You could put out the fire in your room? Or stop smoking?

If they keep going off i would say that the air wherever they are isn't clean enough. Take the smoke detector outside and see if it still does it. If it does it's the detector. If not your air inside is dirty! :P

Basically the way they work is there's a radioactive sample in there emitting alpha radiation (dont worry, not enough to do any sort of damage to you unless you open it up and play around with it). If you do open it up and work on it, make sure you wash your hands before eating. Anyways, so yea it emits radiation and the receiver picks up how much radiation is getting to it. If there isn't enough getting to it it will set off the alarm. Smoke basically blocks the Alpha radiation particles and sends them flying in a different direction, so does contaminants in the air.

[Jesterarts]

Neither of my detectors are going off outside... so my "inside air is dirty"... only issue I have there is that we always have atleast one window open at all times to the air inside is fresh.

One thing i will try... right near the detector I have a big tribal mask that was painted black... ages ago... but if you sniff it you can smell paint... is it possible that that little big of pain fumes is setting it off?

[hsvpunk]

no paint wont do it... at my house we have just had some rooms painted, and neither of the detectors have gone off. and we change batteries once a month n check the detectors.

[zerodown]

Sure it's a smoke detector and not a Halitosis detector?

[alien]

hsvpunk, paint fumes CAN actually set off smoke detectors. If the fumes atomic composition is heavy enough radiation will bounce off it, especially in fairly big concentrations. Even H2O in the air (steam) can set off a smoke alarm if concentration is enough. Usually paint fumes only set them off after you paint though and not after 2 years. Try move it as far from it as you can?

Even found one question on the interweb and also an article:
MMH: Product, Material & Finishes, Rooms, Outdoors, Systems, Structure & Exterior, Moving
TheDartmouth.com | Paint fumes set off Baker-Berry library alarm system

[commsirac]

hsvpunk, paint fumes CAN actually set off smoke detectors. If the fumes atomic composition is heavy enough radiation will bounce off it, especially in fairly big concentrations. Even H2O in the air (steam) can set off a smoke alarm if concentration is enough. Usually paint fumes only set them off after you paint though and not after 2 years. Try move it as far from it as you can?

Even found one question on the interweb and also an article:
MMH: Product, Material & Finishes, Rooms, Outdoors, Systems, Structure & Exterior, Moving
TheDartmouth.com | Paint fumes set off Baker-Berry library alarm system

Interesting about the paint fumes.
Just a small point, alpha radiation is ionising radiation, ionises the air within the detection chamber and allows a current to flow between charged plates. Typically smoke particles stop this from happening, absorbing the particles and not forming charged ions, hence the detector current stopping. Other gases do likewise and are unable to from charged ions like the oxygen and nitrogen in the air.

[VNexecutive]

while we're on the topic, im pretty sure that cigarette smoke doesnt affect smoke alarms. maybe new ones, but not that im aware of.
deoderants etc do though.

[Evolution_Ends_Here]

i had the same problem with my house alarm it was going off every second and that meant i had to replace the battery

[commsirac]

while we're on the topic, im pretty sure that cigarette smoke doesnt affect smoke alarms. maybe new ones, but not that im aware of.
deoderants etc do though.

Small amounts of any smoke wont affect them, but a big cigarette fire will. Yes, there are alarms that will detect smoke in small amounts, and can be tuned specifically to cigarette smoke and these can be used where they want to deter people from smoking.

[SAV_117]

this alarm will sound every 3 seconds unless something isnt okay lol maybe you bought one of them lol sorry mate i have no idea call in an electrician maybe??

[delcowizzid]

sometimes drafts from open windows sets them off too

[Nanos]

stop buying cheap detectors.

also check what type of battery you are using, alot of smoke detectors will think thye have a low battery when you use a iridium battery.

[HoldrodeoLT]

Steam from a hot shower can set them off..

[VrWagz1]

Sounds shagged. Buy a proper one if its a cheapy. Especially if it one of those battery only operated ones. 230v with battery backup in a quality unit. Will cost less than $100.

[greenfoam]

I have no idea but I once rented a house that had one in the kitchen. Everytime my wife or I wanted to cook something one of use had to wave a towel at the smoke detector while the other cooked. Fun times

[greenfoam]

sometimes drafts from open windows sets them off too

Depends what kinda neighbours you have

[nick3110]

Depends what kinda neighbours you have

ah so true :P

[mulligan-can]

Sounds shagged. Buy a proper one if its a cheapy. Especially if it one of those battery only operated ones. 230v with battery backup in a quality unit. Will cost less than $100.

This guy is on the money. A cheapie is just bad news.

Get a sparky to come out and fit one for you. Unless it's a rental in which case it should have some fitted already?!

[Jesterarts]

Yeah cbf hard wiring one in... it's just in a garage I converted to a bedroom + bathroom + wardrobe...

They go off even when the bathroom hasn't been used though there is a window open so if a breeze sets them off... maybe that's it.

Thanks for the input guys... I'll have to have a fiddle this weekend?

Is is possible they are just a bit touchy straight out the box?

[mulligan-can]

Yeah cbf hard wiring one in... it's just in a garage I converted to a bedroom + bathroom + wardrobe...

They go off even when the bathroom hasn't been used though there is a window open so if a breeze sets them off... maybe that's it.

Thanks for the input guys... I'll have to have a fiddle this weekend?

Is is possible they are just a bit touchy straight out the box?

Nah, they shouldn't be that touchy, ever.

Perhaps try another one? I'd be taking that one back to the store mate.

[Jesterarts]

^^^ Other 2... but yeah... back to bunnings they go... lol

Though one was left touchy than the other... so i will just leave it at random spots around the room and see if it goes off...

There has to be a reason for this... other than one which would have resulted in me being 6 foot under already...

[delcowizzid]

i re read your first post does it only do it in that one room