Three out of five home fire fatalities occur when there’s no working smoke detector. There’s always the possibility that you’ll forget to put it back up, uncover it, or put the batteries back in, which could be a fatal mistake. Removing a smoke detector, covering it, or taking the batteries out is a risky move. However, it doesn’t interfere with cooking because it doesn’t get set off with steam, smoke, or normal cooking temperatures. Heat detectors work by detecting quickly rising temperatures, or trigger when the air reaches a certain temperature. That’s why we recommend heat detectors to protect against kitchen fires. No matter what, safety is the ultimate goal. #Hard wired smoke alarms going off for no reason installIf you can’t avoid having a smoke detector in your kitchen, we recommend that you install a photoelectric smoke alarm, which will generally be less sensitive to standard kitchen smoke than an ionization smoke alarm. However, the NFPA requires that a smoke detector to be installed in at least one common area on each floor, and at the bottom and the top of your staircase.įor some homes, this means that the smoke detector is in or is close to the kitchen. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) doesn’t require a smoke detector in the kitchen, because it will often trigger false alarms. That being said, too many or poorly placed smoke detectors can be a bad thing. Good idea: Installing a heat detector in your kitchenĪt HomeWiz, we’re huge proponents of smoke detectors. Now, let’s go through some potential solutions to a smoke detector that frequently goes off when you’re cooking. To achieve a similar result, fire marshals recommend that you install both photoelectric and ionization smoke detectors throughout your home. Dual-sensor alarms combine both technologies in one unit.Photoelectric smoke alarms are particularly responsive to fires that start with a long period of smoldering – like fires that start with unattended candles or cigarettes. When smoke enters that chamber, it reflects light onto the sensor and triggers the alarm. Photoelectric smoke alarms contain light sensors in a sensing chamber.Ionization smoke detectors are good at detecting fast-moving, flaming fires – like kitchen fires. If smoke enters that area, it disrupts the flow of ions, which activates the alarm. This material ionizes the air (hence the name), which causes a current to flow. Ionization smoke alarms contain an insignificant amount of radioactive material between two electrically charged plates.Different types of smoke detectorsįirst, it’s important to recognize that there are different smoke detectors, and they work differently to detect the danger of a fire. Solutions to the types of false alarms you’re facing include replacing your smoke alarm with a heat detector, which doesn’t interfere with cooking, or installing a range hood to collect and release fumes, smoke, and steam. If you find that your smoke detector goes off even when you’re not burning anything, it could be because of poor placement or too many alarms in close proximity of each other. Both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are so sensitive to foreign objects that even a cloud of dust could trigger the alarm. Your smoke detector may go off when you’re cooking because vapor, smoke, or steam is entering the device. There are some less-than-ideal options, and some solid long-term solutions.īefore exploring potential solutions below, let’s quickly review why your smoke detector might be going off when you're cooking. Is your smoke alarm too sensitive? If you’re unable to cook a meal without the smoke detector going off, you should consider your options. Nothing ruins dinner more quickly than a headache-inducing smoke alarm. That satisfying sizzle of the steak on your stovetop is quickly followed by the screeching of the smoke detector. Picture this: you’re about to sear a beautiful ribeye on your stovetop.
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