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Smoke Alarm
Jul. 17th, 2004 08:35 pmI don't get along well with smoke alarms. I realize that one could save my life some day but so far all they've ever done is wake me up with malfunctionous complaint. I had to replace one about six months after I moved in here because it kept going off in the middle of the night. Luckily, Sparky had an extra new one of the same brand (important as they interconnect) lying around.
I had been on the phone quite late with Krishna and had only been asleep for about two hours when it went off this morning. It didn't go off steadily, it just chirped four loud chirps, startling me awake. I got up and groggily looked around but everything was groovy. There are two smoke alarms in my place (one in the bedroom and one in the hall) and from those short bursts, I couldn't tell which it was. As I was trying to go back to sleep, it did it again and I could tell that it was the one in the bedroom. Unfortunately, that one is about twelve feet high and I only have a six foot ladder.
I grudgingly got out of bed and pulled out the smoke alarm manual. I thought it might be a low battery (backup only as mine are AC wired) but that pattern didn't match any given signal code. I decided I was too tired to mess with it further and decided to try my luck at sleep. I got about three more hours before it did it again and this time I was feeling more up to the task. I pulled out the ladder and by standing on the notta step I was able to reach it and take the battery out. The battery checked fine but as they both had been in for about 2.5 years I made a note to change them. I attempted to remove the smoke alarm from the wall, but it was tightly wedged and I couldn't get enough leverage from my perch. I decided to make breakfast and wait until later in the day to borrow Sparky's eight foot ladder.
I went about my day and the smoke alarm continued to do four chirps about every two hours. I consulted the all-knowing Internet and discovered that the culprit was probably dust or spider webs and that the suggested remedy was to vacuum it and/or use compressed air. After running some errands and visiting with Sparky (and running into Judy, whose new haircut I was almost successful at noticing), I returned with the ladder.
I removed the smoke alarm and vacuumed the fuck out of it then blew it out with compressed air. I set the smoke alarm down on the counter and a spider ran out of it! Well I guess that fucking explains it. I replaced the battery with a spiffy Ultralife 9V Lithium (guaranteed for 10 years) then remounted and tested the smoke alarm. I gave the other one the same treatment for completeness.
I had been on the phone quite late with Krishna and had only been asleep for about two hours when it went off this morning. It didn't go off steadily, it just chirped four loud chirps, startling me awake. I got up and groggily looked around but everything was groovy. There are two smoke alarms in my place (one in the bedroom and one in the hall) and from those short bursts, I couldn't tell which it was. As I was trying to go back to sleep, it did it again and I could tell that it was the one in the bedroom. Unfortunately, that one is about twelve feet high and I only have a six foot ladder.
I grudgingly got out of bed and pulled out the smoke alarm manual. I thought it might be a low battery (backup only as mine are AC wired) but that pattern didn't match any given signal code. I decided I was too tired to mess with it further and decided to try my luck at sleep. I got about three more hours before it did it again and this time I was feeling more up to the task. I pulled out the ladder and by standing on the notta step I was able to reach it and take the battery out. The battery checked fine but as they both had been in for about 2.5 years I made a note to change them. I attempted to remove the smoke alarm from the wall, but it was tightly wedged and I couldn't get enough leverage from my perch. I decided to make breakfast and wait until later in the day to borrow Sparky's eight foot ladder.
I went about my day and the smoke alarm continued to do four chirps about every two hours. I consulted the all-knowing Internet and discovered that the culprit was probably dust or spider webs and that the suggested remedy was to vacuum it and/or use compressed air. After running some errands and visiting with Sparky (and running into Judy, whose new haircut I was almost successful at noticing), I returned with the ladder.
I removed the smoke alarm and vacuumed the fuck out of it then blew it out with compressed air. I set the smoke alarm down on the counter and a spider ran out of it! Well I guess that fucking explains it. I replaced the battery with a spiffy Ultralife 9V Lithium (guaranteed for 10 years) then remounted and tested the smoke alarm. I gave the other one the same treatment for completeness.
