Smoke Detector Alarms

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

What is it with smoke alarms that decide to go off at 1 AM....with no fire or smoke to set them off.

We have interconnected battery back up alarms, and we have replaced all of them about 3 years ago (based on the recommendation that these only last a maximum of 10 years and should be replaced).

Now, 3 alarms have intermittently and randomly beeped or gone off, most of the time during the wee hours.

The alarms are on direct current, and have battery back up...we have had no power surges, and we have checked the batteries, replaced them, and cleaned out the chambers. But still, out of nowhere.... BEEEP!

A royal pain!

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I dunno, but we've had similar problems with both the smoke detectors and our carbon monoxide detectors.

How do you discard your old smoke detectors? They have mercury in them, so you're not supposed to just toss them, and even at the "hazardous material events" around here they will not take smoke detectors. What to do? I have a pile of them....

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

How do you dispose of them? That is a darned good question. I went to the epa site and still don't know.

Disposing of Smoke Detectors | Radiation Protection | US EPA

Both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms contain plastic and electronic circuit boards and in some cases batteries (alkaline or lithium). Ionization technology also includes a chamber containing radioactive material incorporated into a gold matrix. Because of the long half-life of americium-241 the amount of radioactive material in the smoke alarm at the end of its certified useful life will be about the same as when you bought it.

EPA's household waste program encourages waste reduction and minimization. State and local practices for safe disposal of smoke alarms vary, but most communities seek to limit the amount of material that requires disposal in a municipal solid waste landfills and incinerators. Waste minimization reduces costs and protects the environment.

Some State Radiation Control Programs conduct an annual round-up of ionization smoke alarms similar to the roundup of batteries or hazardous household chemicals. Other state or local governments recommend that you return the used smoke alarm to the supplier. The address of the supplier is usually listed in the product warranty or user's manual. If the smoke detector has a alkaline or lithium battery, check with your local community recycling program for disposal instructions.

And from another site:
Hazardous Waste Management - Smoke Detectors

Although it is legal to dispose of your ionization detector in the trash, we encourage you to return the product back to the manufacturer. They are mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory law 10 CFR 32.27 to see that the radioactive waste is disposed at a nuclear waste disposal facility. When sending back a smoke detector, you should NOT take it apart. The entire smoke detector needs to be returned to the manufacturer or store by UPS ground mail (not airmail). The batteries, however, should be removed and properly disposed of or recycled. No special shipping is needed for your smoke detector: just put it in a box, maybe with some newspaper for padding, and send it.


If unable to return smoke detector to manufacturer, remove battery from smoke detector and deliver battery to household hazardous waste disposal event or facility; dispose of smoke detector in the garbage if no other options exist.