Do You Vacuum Your Smoke Alarms?

Do you vacuum your smoke alarms?

I didn’t think so. And neither did I. Then I read the following instruction from one of the biggest alarm manufacturers in the world:

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The idea of climbing up a ladder, Hoover in hand, to “gently vacuum” a smoke alarm once a month seems ridiculous, but maybe I’m wrong.

Maybe smoke alarms are just so sensitive that they need asemi-fortnightly spa treatment.

Or maybe manufacturers want some language to coverthemselves if an alarm fails. (“Well, did you vacuum it?”, “Did I what??” “The user manualtells you to vacuum it. If you didn’t, it isn’t our fault that it failed.”).

Arnau and our brilliant engineering team are working hard on Phare (coming soon), but, for now, take care of your smokes. Test them regularly (best with earplugs!). And if you can, keep them dust free. Vacuuming works. Gentle compressed air does too (remember thosekeyboard cleaning cans?).

It might seem ridiculous – it might be ridiculous – but, if a fire breaks out, it might be one of the best silly things you’ve ever done.

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Filed Under: Smoke Alarms

Main Image: ChatGPT's depiction of vacuuming a smoke alarm.