Why does my alarm go off when I turn on my heater?

When the heat is turned on for the first time of the season, the dust on the heating elements will be burned off, creating a smoke or fire smell. Sometimes, the smoke smell is strong enough to activate the smoke detectors. If that happens, reset the smoke alarms. The smell should dissipate shortly.

Can heat cause a fire alarm to go off?

Temperature. Certain fire alarms are sensitive to heat and will go off if they sense a change in temperature (in fact, most fire alarms are a combination of heat- and smoke-activated). Think about this—during the summer, unventilated attics can reach up to 120 F or hotter, more than enough heat to set off a fire alarm.

Does smell trigger smoke alarm?

Strong chemical odors like ammonia or paint fumes can set off a smoke detector. Replace your batteries annually. Don’t wait for that high-pitched chirp to take action.

What to do if your electric water heater is not hot?

No Hot Water All electric water heaters and gas heaters that use electricity: The first issue to troubleshoot is a lack of power to the unit. If the water from the hot tap goes cold, give a gas unit 15 minutes and an pressure relief valve 30 minutes to start making enough hot water for you to notice at the tap.

What should I do if my water heater pilot light keeps going out?

The solution: First, cut off the gas supply, switch off your heater, and wait for the thermocouple to cool off. You’ll have to manually bend or straighten the thermocouple back to position.

What should I do if my water heater is leaking?

A leaking water heater tank can extinguish the pilot light. In some cases the leak may only occur when the tank is heating. As water is heated, the water volume expands and puts pressure on the seams of the tank. If you think or know that your water heater is leaking, call in experienced plumbers to fix the problem immediately.

Can a tripped circuit breaker shut down an electric water heater?

A tripped circuit breaker will shut down an electric heater and gas models that use electricity. Gas: Check if the gas valve has been turned off. If you use propane, your tank might be empty. If the unit has a pilot light (see your manual), check to see if it is lit.