How to Troubleshoot Hard-Wired Smoke Alarms
Ionized alarms and photoelectric technology alarms work slightly differently. Ionization technology tends to be better for detecting small particles, which are common in flaming fires. Photoelectric technology is generally better for large particles, like the kind you get in a smoldering fire.
Tip
In the unfortunate event that the alarm failed to go off during an actual emergency check that it’s not in a dead air space. Dead air spaces can keep smoke from reaching the alarm. They tend to be close to the corners where ceilings and walls meet. Keep the smoke detector four inches from a ceiling/wall intersection and out of corners.
Both types generally warn you if they aren’t working properly. They chirp, or go-off for no apparent reason. Even hard-wired alarms can run into battery power problems, because they have backup batteries in them.
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Check the red light emitting diode (LED) on the face of the unit. It flashes in patterns depending on the event the device wants to report. If the red LED flashes once a minute and the device chirps once a minute, it’s telling you the battery is low or missing.
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Check the LED again. If the red LED flashes rapidly and the horn pattern is three beeps followed by a pause, and then three further beeps followed by a pause, then the alarm has sounded. The unit with the rapidly flashing LED and the horn is the one that triggered the alarm, false or not. This condition requires your attention, don’t ignore it. Verify it’s a false alarm and not an actual fire.
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Clean the unit if you experience continual false alarms. You can also try relocating the alarm. Avoid air streams near kitchens; keep it at least twenty feet from furnaces and water heaters. Keep the alarm away from very damp or humid areas like near bathrooms, and away from dusty, dirty or greasy areas, and also away from drafty areas.
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Make sure power is supplied to the unit. Press the Test/Silence button on all the alarms periodically. Hold it down and verify the horn sounds.
The Drip Cap
- Ionized alarms and photoelectric technology alarms work slightly differently.
- Photoelectric technology is generally better for large particles, like the kind you get in a smoldering fire.
- If the red LED flashes once a minute and the device chirps once a minute, it’s telling you the battery is low or missing.
- Avoid air streams near kitchens; keep it at least twenty feet from furnaces and water heaters.
- Press the Test/Silence button on all the alarms periodically.
Writer Bio
Patrick Nelson has been a professional writer since 1992. He was editor and publisher of the music industry trade publication "Producer Report" and has written for a number of technology blogs. Nelson studied design at Hornsey Art School.
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