Smoke detector sensitivity

[faraway]

Need some advice please. I have a Fire Angel combined smoke and carbon monoxide alarm in a Chausson Flash 10. The alarm is mounted above the hab door, just below the ceiling. Even if I have the kitchen window wide open and the skylight almost above the kitchen open, the alarm keeps going off almost every time I use the gas cooker. The alarm sound is for “smoke”, which there usually isn’t any. Is there any way of reducing the sensitivity of the alarm or is there something else I’m missing?

 

[Vipar]

Never tamper with the sensitivity. Give it a good blow job with the vacuum cleaner. Or you could put a sock over it????? best replace it, after all it could save your life.✔✔✔✔

 

[glenn2926]

When it goes off if you press the big shut up button it will stop sounding. However if it still sense smoke it will sound again. If I’m cooking bacon I just take it down and put it back when done. It can be removed by turning it anti clockwise. It cannot work when not connected to the backplate.

 

[faraway]

Thank you.

 

[Pausim]

I believe that optical smoke alarms are less sensitive to cooking than the older ionisation type. No idea what type yours is but whatever type it is, it might be worth trying the other.

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[icantremember]

Combined alarms are not ideal for a motorhome, or at home either.
A smoke alarm should be on a ceiling, not in a corner where the ceiling meets a wall and not too close over a cooker.

A Carbon monoxide detector is better at mid height and ideally approximately level with bed height.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Smoke detectors are best at least 500mm from a wall because of dead air not always easy in a motorhome. You can mount smoke detectors on a wall but there are set dimensions and spacings for it to be effect but a smoke detector will always be better mounted on a ceiling as above recommended to separate detectors also detectors have a recommended life of 10 years depending on environment. Ionisation are best for clean burning fires paper ect but more likely to false alarm from draughts ect optical is the best bet

 

[pappajohn]

Cooking area..... Fixed rate heat detector

Only problem they do need proper heat, about 60°c, so your van could be on fire well before it goes off.

 

[Vanderek]

Fire Angel do a toast proof smoke alarm....I have used these and don't have any problems. ?

 

[Reallyretired]

Mine has a reduced sensitivity button that lasts for around 10minutes to allow bacon to be fried. I have only seen this on smoke only detectors not combined ones.
We have separate smoke,CO, and gas (at floor level) alarms. The gas one has only gone off once (dog fart)

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[peterc10]

Our smoke detector is on the ceiling in the bedroom, and sometimes goes off when we are cooking. Easy to take off (which stops it) and stuff it under the duvet. Which is where I usually find it when we go to bed

We have a separate CO alarm fitted at eye height in the lounge area.

 

[Off da Grid]

Toast is done when it goes off!
We take ours down at breakfast time, thinking of getting one of those toast proof ones.

 

[faraway]

Useful advice from everyone, thank you. Think I’ll will get two separate ones instead of combined.

 

[Lenny HB]

For a start they shouldn't be mounted near the hab door certainly not above it.
They is no ideal position in a Motorhome you have to do your best.

I have a Fire Angle Atom on the ceiling in the bedroom behind the shower so it is not in direct line of site with the hob. It's an optical sensor & you can lower the sensitivity for 15 min. Only ever gone off once when I severely burnt something.

Also have a Fire Angle CO dectortor on a wall in the bedroom.

 

[faraway]

For a start they shouldn't be mounted near the hab door certainly not above it.

For interest, why the above? I have a central drop down bed so am limited as to space to put the detectors.

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[Lenny HB]

For interest, why the above? I have a central drop down bed so am limited as to space to put the detectors.

Read the instructions and you will see why.
Should be mounted in an area with clear space around the detectors at least 150 mm below ceiling and not near doorway.
If mounted near a door and the door is open it may not detect the build up of CO due to air around the detector. I know you can say the door is open so what but you could have dangerous levels in other areas, CO is not to be messed with, you can't smell it and it's leathal.

 

[faraway]

Ok, thank you.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

answer is to learn to cook and not incinerate the food
I still have trouble with my co alarms.x 2. going off when under EHU at home when the fridge is cooling down.. It is the batteriesX 3. giving off gas, so I have joined all the vents to a pipe going out of the side door of the battery compartment. No more trouble now.