Comment on My CO2 / Smoke Detector Scared a Year off my life today, and I have questions. Long.
spittingimage@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I’ve had a smoke detector that would routinely trigger when the clothes dryer was operating. I think they detect steam as well as smoke.
sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
I had an old one that would go off every time anyone would take a shower. Just another vote for steam setting it off.
JackFrostNCola@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Certain types of smoke detectors dont detect ‘smoke’ or ‘steam’ exactly, but they monitor a small section of air in the unit and if there is enough particulate matter in the air the sensor is triggered and it goes off.
Because of this they are sensitive to aresols too, such as spray on deoderant.
skulblaka@kbin.social 8 months ago
This is almost certainly the correct answer. If it's a photoelectric-type detector it'll be set off by any interruption of the beam. This can be smoke, steam/vapor, dust, etc.
You can replace them with ionization type smoke alarms (or "dual type" alarms) and this will make it less sensitive to non-smoke interference.
LemmyFeed@lemmy.world 8 months ago
This is also why vaping can set off smoke alarms.