why didn't my smoke alarms go off?

[Saffy]

I accidental burnt sausages other day until they turned to charcoal, most of the house had stinking acrid smoke throughout. There's pretty much a smoke alarm in every room and hallway, about 9 in total and they all bleep when test button pressed but not one went off whereas in my mother house the smoke alarm  pretty much goes off soon as you look at it.

[Mutz]

The test button just makes sure the sounder works, it bypasses the sensor which detects the actual smoke; so pressing the" test" doesnt mean it will detect smoke.

Are your detectors mains operated with battery backup?

Are they interlinked with each other?

Are the batteries all working?

How old are they?

Are they out of date, they only have a limited life appx 10yrs.

Are they smoke detectors and not heat detectors?

[Saffy]

The test button just makes sure the sounder works, it bypasses the sensor which detects the actual smoke; so pressing the" test" doesnt mean it will detect smoke.

Are your detectors mains operated with battery backup?

Are they interlinked with each other?

Are the batteries all working?

How old are they?

Are they out of date, they only have a limited life appx 10yrs.

Are they smoke detectors and not heat detectors?

non interlinked, non mains, battery powered 3 to 5 year old, maybe a couple are older. Batteries replaced as and when they start to chirp (low battery warning). Do not know what type they are other they said 'smoke alarm' on packaging. Various Brands. Have bought 2 more today.
Should I smoke test them with a smoking match or something 

[Mutz]

get a ciggy and try blowing smoke gently into them, or you can buy "canned smoke" to test them, electrical wholesalers should keep it in stock.

Battery only ones arent that good, advise getting a local sparky to give you quote for mains with battery back up.

If you cant get a can of smoke let me know and i will get you a can.

Graham

[trecfive]

Get the donkey c@ck of the hoover and give them a good suck out.

[Saffy]

get a ciggy and try blowing smoke gently into them, or you can buy "canned smoke" to test them, electrical wholesalers should keep it in stock.

Battery only ones arent that good, advise getting a local sparky to give you quote for mains with battery back up.

If you cant get a can of smoke let me know and i will get you a can.

Graham

Thx, I'll see what I can do, there's a few wholesalers around here.

[Ridgeback]

I got some from B&Q about a year ago and I think I paid extra for ones that are not sensitive to cooking smoke.
Not sure what that means but if you burn something and it smokes a lot then they do go off. They are better then what I had before because the old ones went off as soon as you open the oven door.

[Suvvey]

I'll swap you yours for mine! Bloody things go off if i leave the door a jar when having a shower :shock:

[Gordo]

Give your local fire station a ring (no, don't call 999  :roll:) and someone will come round and fit some new alarms FOC.

I've got two brand new ones with a red flashing light to say they're working, and the new technology apparently means that steam and light cooking smoke won't set them off, but a proper fire will.

They make enough noise to wake the dead too...

[hairyasswelder]

get a ciggy and try blowing smoke gently into them, or you can buy "canned smoke" to test them, electrical wholesalers should keep it in stock.

Battery only ones arent that good, advise getting a local sparky to give you quote for mains with battery back up.

If you cant get a can of smoke let me know and i will get you a can.

Graham

Buy a candle, let it burn and then blow it out....... the smoke from the burning wick SHOULD set the alarm off  ;) Waft it with the newspaper to stop it  ;)

Ciggy smoke should NOT set older alarms off as we were once allowed to smoke in our own homes  :lol: :lol: :lol:

[POTASH]

Get the donkey c@ck of the hoover and give them a good suck out.

:-# :lol: