Hull: Smoke Alarms In Cold Weather

Humberside Fire authrorities are taking numerous calls to their reception and Public Safety Centre regarding domestic smoke alarms sounding randomly during this cold spell.

Unless there is an actual fire in the home, an alarm activation is nothing to worry about unduly and may in fact be due to the cold weather. Alarms may simply need resetting, as batteries do not function as effectively if the temperature drops significantly and the sensor can be triggered by sudden temperature change.

As heating turns off late at night on a timer or kicks in early in the morning, sudden changes in temperature can activate the alarm unnecessarily. Simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions and reset your alarm (often a long continuous press of the button).

Please don’t lose patience and remove the batteries or the alarm itself from the ceiling. It could save your life one day!