Ants in the smoke detector

[Easy Mac]

We have a smoke detector in the living room. It has now gone off four times randomly today. After the second time, I changed the battery in all the smoke alarms, since I couldn't determine which one was beeping.

When I took off the detector to change the battery, I noticed 5 or 6 ants crawling around. I've since sprayed up there, but it hasn't helped. I think the ants are shocking themselves and setting off the alarm every few hours.

Anyone experienced this before it have any recommendations? I'd say I've seen maybe 20 ants in the past 5-6 hours, but I can't see any poor of Orion in the detector.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is it photo-electric by chance? A little Googling turns up quite a few articles/forum posts talking about ants frequently setting them off.

[Easy Mac]

It appears to be an ionizing one.

I know I can probably see more if I were willing to take the entire unit out of the ceiling as oppose to just unscrewing the main part, but I think a gaping hole in the ceiling is not my wife's idea of a good time.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I think a gaping hole in the ceiling is not my wife's idea of a good time.

Heh, understandable.

[nol]

Maybe they were... *pulls sunglasses down* ... fire ants.

/leaves thread

[Easy Mac]

Well played. They were black though.

Hasn't chirped in about 90 minutes, after all five alarms in the house went apeshit for 15 minutes. Haven't seen any ants of late. My ears are still ringing. Sent my wife, daughter and dog to my inlaws for the night in case these things freak out again. Will likely call an electrician in the morning if they start going off later.

Also, I hate the vaulted ceilings in my master bedroom. Nothing better than climbing up a ladder leaning against a wall trying not to fall while changing a battery in a smoke alarm that's ringing at Defcon 5.

[PilotMan]

Maybe they were... *pulls sunglasses down* ... fire ants.

/leaves thread

:bowdown:

[britrock88]

Maybe they were... *pulls sunglasses down* ... fire ants.

/leaves thread

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7yaAXjTMEU/T3k5NoqXMII/AAAAAAAAAtQ/0s57U2FK8Zo/s400/csi_miami_yeah_super.jpg

[CU Tiger]

Ants should not be able to set off an ionization smoke detector.
Ant spray ( or hair spray for that matter) would.

If these are the hard wired home detectors you should be able to breaker them off, though you will likely get some other stuff you don't want off with them.

There *should* be a light indicator which shows which detector triggered the alarm and which ones are relaying. Assuming it was all installed correctly.

[fantom1979]

Nothing better than climbing up a ladder leaning against a wall trying not to fall while changing a battery in a smoke alarm that's ringing at Defcon 5.

Not to stray completely off topic, but Defcon 5 is all clear. Defcon 1 is all hell is breaking loose.

DEFCON - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEFCON)

[Easy Mac]

I knew I was screwing that up.

All quiet through the night. So I'm hopeful it was a temporary glitch. No odd flashing patterns in the detectors LED. Of course, who knows what hell broke loose at work.

[fantom1979]

Hopefully the issue is resolved. Nothing is worse than that ear-piercing sound going off and trying to find a ladder to shut the thing off.

[sterlingice]

Maybe they were... *pulls sunglasses down* ... fire ants.

/leaves thread

I missed this thread the first time around, but it still deserves a :D

SI

[cartman]

Did tcyjunkie change his screen name?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Ants in the smoke detector should be the sequel to Snake on a Plane

[Chief Rum]

I'm stunned no one told Easy Mac to "smoke 'em out".

[Julio Riddols]

Perhaps I should take e-cigarette too.

[TCY Junkie]

Did tcyjunkie change his screen name?
I would but then someone else would grab it.