Smoke Alarm Sounding When It's Cold Outside? Here's Why

If your smoke alarm sounds when it's cold outside, there's a chance it could be something other than a fire. 

According to Macomb fire officials, your smoke alarm might sound when it’s very cold outside, or if a door adjacent to a heated area is opened, like in an entryway. 

This is due to condensation, or water vapor, in the detection chamber. The sensor is a particle-sensing device and when water condenses in the sensor, the unit will go into alarm.

The operating temperature of a smoke alarm is between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  If the unit is in a garage or attic, you might want to consider replacing it with a heat alarm, which is not affected by condensation.