Smoke Detectors - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Fuzz · 05-04-2016, 02:43 PM

I'm at my wits end with these things. Every one I buy is way to sensitive. I cook toast, BEEP BEEP BEEP, eggs, BEEP, anything in the oven, BEEP freakin BEEP!

Any recommendations for brands? The only ones I've had are Kiddie brand as they are in every store. My current one has a remote, which is handy, except the dillhole who programmed it has it beep at least 2 more times after you hit the button, just so you get to guess if that time actually silenced it, or maybe you held it to long and activated the test feature. Ugh.

I have tried using incense to follow the air flow from my kitchen and moved it out of the hallway into what looked like a clear space, which is marginally better. Still horrible. Should I move it form the kitchen/hallway to the living room?

I know there are a couple types and that I should have a dual sensor? This site:
http://www.asecurelife.com/best-smoke-detector/
recommends photoelectric smoke detectors, not dual. So maybe one of those...

HELP!

oilyfan · 05-04-2016, 02:48 PM

The NEST smoke detectors have the ability to silence with a wave of a hand.
Not sure how well they work though.

Fuzz · 05-04-2016, 02:52 PM

Ya, I've heard bad things about those. And I think they are going under. Oh, and I'm a cheap B. Those are expensive!

Wormius · 05-04-2016, 02:59 PM

Do you have any choice in the placement of the smoke detector? I have the Kidde ones and they are fine. No false alarms, the only time my cooking set them off was neglecting some nachos I had under the broiler, and technically that was a fire so...

Yeah, and NEST is going through some pretty interesting times. Best to avoid that if you plan on needing any support, not to mention the gimmickiness of it all.

Tacopuck · 05-04-2016, 03:14 PM

I have a nest smoke detector, its quite nice actually. Before the alarm goes off it gives you a 'heads up' that smoke levels are rising.

More importantly it gives these warnings alarm in a speaking voice AND as an alert on your phone. If you are at work say and a fire starts in your home, you will know (assuming the fire doesn't knock out the internet connection before the smoke detector detects anything - which i see as very unlikley)

Fuzz · 05-04-2016, 03:16 PM

Well I can put it anywhere. I've tried in the hallway, but incense burning showed a strong draft that direction, so I moved it into the kitchen, but away from the stove. I could try the living room, but it has a popcorn ceiling that would get damaged. I also read you could mount it on the wall down a bit from the ceiling to prevent false alarms.

Funny, was just checking at Canadian tire, they sell Kidde, Garrison and Lifesaver, which are all Kidde brands....

You Need a Thneed · 05-04-2016, 04:04 PM

I have Nest units as well, as when I moved in to my house, all of the smoke detectors were past expiry.

Haven't had issues with them, except one unit, which got replaced free of charge directly through Nest, and the customer service was quite good.

It is nice that it talks to you first before going off.

Reaper · 05-04-2016, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Well I can put it anywhere. I've tried in the hallway, but incense burning showed a strong draft that direction, so I moved it into the kitchen, but away from the stove. I could try the living room, but it has a popcorn ceiling that would get damaged. I also read you could mount it on the wall down a bit from the ceiling to prevent false alarms.

Funny, was just checking at Canadian tire, they sell Kidde, Garrison and Lifesaver, which are all Kidde brands....

Are you using a smoke detector intended for kitchens? They tend to have a higher threshold for fumes/smoke than a standard smoke detector.

GoinAllTheWay · 05-04-2016, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I could try the living room, but it has a popcorn ceiling that would get damaged.

I wouldn't worry too much about damage tbh. One of mine is on a popcorn ceiling and putting it up did no damage. Any damage you could do would be minimal and likely covered up by the smoke alarm anyways. Most are sold with a base ring of sorts that you screw into place first and the alarm itself snaps into it.

PaperBagger'14 · 05-04-2016, 11:08 PM

Before you go buying a thermostat and spending $60 on one I would go out and look at your exhaust ports on the side of your house. See if they're cracked or damaged. Birds got in mine and once I cleaned out their nest the issue cleared itself.

calgarywinning · 05-04-2016, 11:45 PM

The real trick to smoke detectors as well is that it relies on lack of light refraction to set off an alarm.

So, as dust builds up naturally over time, the light doesn't refract. They become more sensitive over time.

Simple fix, canned air and a good blow out every couple of years.

calgarygeologist · 05-05-2016, 09:49 AM

NM, wrong thread.

Fuzz · 05-09-2016, 01:14 PM

So I ended up getting one of these today:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/th...-1999333p.html

It is seriously small. Good reviews on Amazon, and I like that i can monut it on the wall, not the ceiling and it isn't to obtrusive. At least I can hit the silence button without a chair, or rip it off the wall and throw it across the room.

It was actually on sale for $20 at Canadian Tire, Costco has a 2 pack for $40ish.

I will report back, hope for no more false alarms. My biggest issue is it takes a weird battery that may be expensive or harder to find. I certainly won't have one sitting around at 3am when it decides to die.

GoinAllTheWay · 05-10-2016, 01:32 PM

Wow, that thing is tiny.

Fuzz · 05-10-2016, 01:44 PM

Looks tech, too. Every time I walk buy it I think there is a robot on the wall watching me.

Oh, after a bit more research, I found the photoelectric are by far the most recommended, which is weird because most are ionization. Apparently ionization don't detect smoldering fires very well, and some go 40 minutes before sensing it. Combo are supposed to be just as bad. Photoelectric aren't supposed to detect as many normal cooking smoke issues. We will see.

GoinAllTheWay · 05-10-2016, 04:14 PM

May take a page out of your book. I need at least one new one on our top floor, might as well replace the other one on the main floor for that price.

Fuzz · 05-25-2016, 06:10 AM

Just to update, I have been burning the crap outa stuff for the past few weeks and haven't had any nuisance alarms. So, uh...ya. If your cooking philosophy is like my dad's, "when she's smokin' she's cookin, when she's black she's done" then this little Atom is the way to go.