Residential smoke detectors

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nizak

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Here in the Midwest we've recently had low temps in the negative teens. I got a call from a homeowner who's house I wired two years ago.

He's telling me that in the last few days he's been getting "chirps" from a smoke detector that is placed on a vaulted ceiling. The space above is non accessible attic.

Has anyone here had any experience where extreme cold has caused issues with smoke alarms?

It's the only device out to 7 total that is an issue. It's also the only one where the outlet box is in the extreme cold environment.

Thanks
 
The battery is in the unit tho, in the climate controlled space. Probably coincidence, but if there is air infiltration thru the box to the back of the detector, and there very well may be, seal it up while you're up there on that high ladder changing out the battery to prevent it from happening again.

Cold weather does kill batteries, hence CCA on auto batteries... no one cares what they'll put out at 86*F.
 
You think the high vaulted ceiling is a cold environment? NOT

If this is a AC w battery , and the battery has never been replaced , I suggest you tell them to buy a ladder and batt. or have you come by and change it.
 
Sierrasparky said:
You think the high vaulted ceiling is a cold environment? NOT

If this is a AC w battery , and the battery has never been replaced , I suggest you tell them to buy a ladder and batt. or have you come by and change it.
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Nope, heat rises, and the ceiling peak would be the warmest spot... tho if the house has negative pressure on it at all, cold 'attic' air would be drawn thru the box and right onto the battery. Could be the difference between 75*F locally and -5*F locally... locally being on the SA mounting plate and battery compartment.
 
First off - what brand of smoke alarm did you install ? Not trying to use this post to bash any one manufacturer but the majority of problems I've had over the years were with Firex.

Having said that, it is possible there could be :
  • Component failure (transistors, diodes, etc.)
  • Low battery
  • Bugs infested inside (don't laugh - I once found a roach in one)
  • Dust
 
It wasn't long after the battery BU requirement that we started to find a number of smokes, mostly in tenements , in the trash ......~RJ~
 
Hot or cold doesn't matter, recurring "chirp" is low battery indication, includes missing battery or battery not making proper contact when you have a unit that is also AC powered.
 
New smoke alarms do fail even in a short amount of time. I had a brand new unit in my house fail after only 6 months.
 
Agreed. If you consider a prematurely low battery to be a warranty issue that you are still covering, then go change the battery and if it stops chirping, you're done, unless it happens again in a relatively short period of time. Else, just tell them to replace the battery and call you back if that doesn't fix it.

EDIT: I just reread the OP. It's been two years. This is just the first device to need a new battery in that time. I wouldn't consider this a warranty at all, even if you normally get longer than that out of a back-up battery.
 
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MAC702 said:
I just reread the OP. It's been two years.
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Good pick-up - I missed that. Usually the FD's here in my area send out reminders every Halloween to replace batteries in smoke alarms irrespective of whether they're chirping or not. IMHO $10 worth of batteries every year is worth the investment.
 
MAC702 said:
Agreed. If you consider a prematurely low battery to be a warranty issue that you are still covering, then go change the battery and if it stops chirping, you're done, unless it happens again in a relatively short period of time. Else, just tell them to replace the battery and call you back if that doesn't fix it.

EDIT: I just reread the OP. It's been two years. This is just the first device to need a new battery in that time. I wouldn't consider this a warranty at all, even if you normally get longer than that out of a back-up battery.
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The ones I buy come with a battery. I'd bet 5-10% of them are already weak enough to set of the low bat chirp as soon as you put them in service.

I'd say 2 years of service is realistic for a battery in these things - they recommend changing them annually just to be sure you don't lose protection the device offers. If you are a cheapskate use the remaining charge in something that isn't a life safety device.
 
Residential smoke detectors

kwired said:
The ones I buy come with a battery. I'd bet 5-10% of them are already weak enough to set of the low bat chirp as soon as you put them in service.
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I just had to replace one of my alarms 2 weeks ago. Low battery immediately upon installation.
 
romex jockey said:
I sometimes think this entire alarm industry revolves around the concept of planned obsolescence ....


~RJ~
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No doubt about it + you don;t know how long the smoke alarms have been on the shelf. Believe it or not, batteries do have a shelf-life.
 
It's worse here Gold one, my state just has to adopt whatever new 'notification device' is on the market, like we're some test pilot for manufacturers....~RJ~
 
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