Smoke Alarm going off

[GuinnessMK]

We have two smoke alarms in our house, one in the hall downstairs and one in the hall upstairs.

About a month ago we got the telltale intermittent beep from one of them. Obviously it started about 3 in the morning. So replaced the batteries in both of them the next morning.

Since then they've both gone off, again about 3 am in the morning. But rather than an intermittent "my battery is flat" sort of way, but in a "GETUPTHEHOUSEISONFIRE" sort of a way.

So do smoke alarms have a life span? Or is it just a case of sticking another set of batteries in.

[condor]

Could be there's some mites in the system - common problem with thunderflies at harvest time.

[Chilli]

Mine did exactly the same, replacing the batteries made no difference. I was forced to buy new ones as I had to take a hammer to them one night, but the replacement ones have been fine. I think they do have a "shelf life". Mine were 5 years old.

[Kinky]

I'm with Chilli on this one.

Had the same happen to me too

[GuinnessMK]

Thanks guys

The downstairs one has been there since before we moved in, and the upstairs one was installed just after we moved in, so they are both at least 9 years old.

[hairyben]

Dust particles can set them off. Try giving them a good vacuum.

That said, design life for a smoke alarm is 10 years anyway so renewal should be considered.

[chris1roll]

They've generally got "replace by" dates inside them nowadays.